The Open Network (TON) is a layer-1 blockchain built to operate at scale, with a focus on applications used by everyday users rather than niche on-chain activity. It was first developed by the team behind Telegram, with the aim of supporting very large numbers of users without sacrificing speed or pushing transaction costs higher. Over time, the project moved away from direct Telegram involvement and is now maintained by an independent, global developer community, strengthening its open and decentralized character.
While many blockchain networks focus mainly on financial activity, TON was built with regular users in mind. Payments, lightweight decentralized services, and app-level integrations were part of the design early on. This approach helped drive adoption. In fact, a big part of TON’s growth came from Telegram games like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat, and TapSwap. As these games spread, millions of regular Telegram users ended up using TON wallets, often without even realizing they were stepping into Web3.
From the Telegram Experiment to a Community-Led Blockchain
TON’s origins go back to 2018, when Telegram shared a whitepaper describing an internal plan called the Telegram Open Network. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was closely involved at the time, and interest grew quickly among early backers. A private funding round followed, bringing in roughly $1.7 billion. From the outset, the plan was not limited to a single blockchain. It included ideas around decentralized file storage, readable naming systems, privacy-focused networking tools, and a broader application layer meant to sit on top of the protocol.
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That progress slowed in 2020 after intervention from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which challenged the token sale on regulatory grounds. Following a court decision, Telegram stepped away from the project altogether.
Development, however, did not stop. Developers from the wider community continued building and maintaining the network themselves. Eventually, the work settled under the name The Open Network (TON), reflecting how it had moved from a Telegram-backed effort to an openly run public blockchain.
TON’s Growing Institutional and Stablecoin Presence
In April 2024, TON picked up additional attention after Tether issued roughly $60 million in USDT on the network. That move placed TON alongside a relatively small number of blockchains used for Tether issuance. Around the same time, Tether also rolled out its gold-backed token, XAUT, on TON.
The launch highlighted what the network does well: fast transfers with minimal fees. When paired with Telegram’s interface, sending value on TON can feel closer to sending a chat message than using a traditional crypto wallet. For users in regions where banking access is limited, that simplicity matters.
Toncoin (TON): Utility, Governance, and Network Security
Toncoin is the native asset of The Open Network. It’s used whenever something happens on the chain, whether that’s sending value, interacting with an app, or covering basic network costs.
It’s also tied into how the network is secured. Validators lock up Toncoin to operate, and other holders can assign their tokens to them if they want to earn rewards. Changes to the network don’t come from a single group either. They’re voted on through a system called “TON VOTE”, where token holders have a say.
Outside of that, Toncoin shows up across everyday network services. Things like “TON DNS” or “TON Proxy” rely on it for payments, which gives the token a working role inside the ecosystem instead of just existing for trading.
Telegram Integration and Real-World Utility
One thing that sets TON apart is how closely it’s tied to Telegram itself. Toncoin transfers can happen directly between Telegram users, without added fees, and without needing people to understand how wallets or blockchains usually work. For many users, it barely feels like a crypto transaction at all.
That connection became more concrete in March 2024, when Telegram said it would start sharing ad revenue with channel owners. Half of that revenue would be paid out on TON, using Toncoin. The news was followed by a noticeable jump in price, but more importantly, it showed a real use case that sits inside Telegram’s own economy rather than on the edges of it.
Leveraging Telegram’s Global Reach
Telegram’s scale plays a major role in TON’s reach. With a global user base well into the billions, the app gives TON access to users without the usual onboarding hurdles. Wallets, apps, games, NFTs, and payments are available directly inside Telegram, which makes interacting with the network feel closer to using a regular app than adopting a new blockchain.
Getting Started on TON
Getting started on TON is fairly easy for anyone who already uses Telegram. The wallet lives inside the app, so most people don’t bother installing anything else. From there, it’s used for holding Toncoin, sending money, and interacting with games and apps on the network. Just in case, if you wanna hold TON outside the inbuilt telegram wallets, “Tonkeeper” is a good option.
Adding Toncoin is usually done in simple ways. Some users buy it through exchanges, while others receive it directly from friends or contacts on Telegram. From there, people tend to explore whatever caught their interest first. It’s often games, small tools, or basic payment features.
A lot of TON-based apps are designed to feel familiar. Many run inside Telegram itself, which means using them doesn’t feel much different from interacting with a normal bot or mini app. Transfers and payments are typically quick and don’t require much setup, which lowers the friction for new users.
There’s more depth for those who want it. DeFi platforms and other on-chain services are available, but they’re not required to start using the network in a meaningful way. Developers can also build on TON using community-maintained tools and documentation, although the environment differs from Ethereum-style development.
Overall, TON tends to work best when it stays in the background. Instead of asking users to learn how blockchains work, it fits itself into tools people already use, which is why many users end up interacting with TON without consciously thinking about it as “crypto.”
Future Growth and Development Outlook
TON is no longer limited to its early use cases. Activity has spread into areas like DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and social-style apps. Most of the current effort is going into tightening its connection with Telegram, making life easier for developers, and scaling the infrastructure so it can support heavier usage.
Work is also underway on things like cross-chain connections and governance, which are seen as necessary steps if the network is going to operate alongside other major blockchains over the long term.
Closing Thoughts
TON’s progress so far shows a network that has taken an unusual path compared to most blockchains. What began as an internal experiment tied to Telegram has gradually turned into a community-driven ecosystem that leans more on everyday use than abstract crypto narratives. Its biggest advantage is not just technical design, but distribution-meeting users inside an app they already use and trust.
There are still hurdles, especially when it comes to tooling and developer adoption. Even so, TON’s strength lies in how easily it fits into digital habits people already have. That quiet integration gives it an advantage many networks struggle to replicate, and it may be why its growth tends to happen steadily rather than through bursts of hype.
