Telegram is making things official with TON again. Telegram's entire blockchain infrastructure will now power the TON blockchain exclusively, requiring all crypto services and Mini Apps to migrate by February 21. This means that Toncoin and the TON network will be the required foundation for all of Telegram's crypto services and Mini Apps, marking the end of Telegram's multi-blockchain support
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The platform's 950+ million monthly users will use only Toncoin for transactions like Telegram Stars, Premium, Ads, and Gateway, while developers and channel owners must switch to the TON Connect protocol for all blockchain interactions.
"Telegram plans to tokenize digital assets exclusively on TON Blockchain within the platform, including emojis and stickers, among other digital assets, while also tokenizing limited edition gifts as NFTs." (The Open Network announcement)
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Coincidentally, Telegram's decision to restrict its in-app services exclusively to the TON blockchain came shortly after Hamster Kombat announced its plan to roll out its own blockchain network.
The TON Foundation highlighted Telegram's role, with its 950 million active users, in network growth through Mini Apps integration, Toncoin payments, and advertising features.
“Telegram is one of the biggest messaging apps in the world, with a global network of over 950 million active users, which means that this agreement represents an unparalleled opportunity for TON to be at the heart of blockchain innovation on a truly global scale.” (TON Foundation President Manual Stotz for Decrypt).
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TON's origins stem from Telegram's vision of an open network. Regulatory pressure forced Telegram to dump the project in 2020, but community developers stepped in to transform the Telegram Open Network into The Open Network.
Over the last year, however, the Telegram-TON relationship has evolved significantly. The integration of TON Wallet within Telegram's messaging platform has sparked a surge in mobile gaming, with simple tap-to-earn mechanics capturing massive user adoption. Projects like Hamster Kombat and Notcoin led this wave, followed by advanced successors like Battle Bulls, demonstrating the ecosystem's rapid evolution.
Moreover, Telegram now pays channel operators a share of ad revenue in Toncoin ($TON) and has introduced Telegram Stars, an in-app currency redeemable for TON. Recently, Telegram announced users can mint in-app stickers as NFTs on TON.
The new partnership cements the connection between Telegram and TON. To keep crypto features, mini-apps and games using networks such as Sui or Aptos must switch to TON and the TON Connect protocol.
"All mini apps utilizing blockchain in any capacity, including custodial and non-custodial wallets, user authorization, on-chain signatures, and the sending and receiving of blockchain-based assets, must implement TON Connect as their exclusive wallet connect protocol in the next month." (The Open Network announcement)
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The TON Foundation provides migration grants of up to $50,000 for projects that migrate within a 30-day window (excluding previous grant recipients). Detailed guidelines and FAQ for developers are available here.
Meanwhile, crypto scammers have reportedly shifted their focus to Telegram malware scams. These scams now outpace traditional phishing, surging 2.000% since November.
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Security researchers previously reported on a new crypto theft scheme: the attack starts when scammers create fake X profiles impersonating influential crypto voices on X, then lead targets to Telegram channels with promises of exclusive trading insights.
The malware deployment occurs through two methods. First, victims encounter fake verification bots that inject crypto-stealing malware into systems. Second, fake Cloudflare security checks trick users into copying malicious code that compromises their clipboards.
The scheme surfaced in December when analysts noted a rise in social engineering attacks targeting crypto wallets through trusted platform impersonation.
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