The Open Network (TON) has emerged as one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving blockchain ecosystems, fueled by its deep integration with Telegram — one of the world’s most widely used messaging platforms. With over 800 million users, Telegram offers TON an unparalleled gateway to mass adoption. This report dives into the current state of the TON ecosystem, analyzes its structural advantages, explores key opportunities in infrastructure and application development, and outlines strategic directions for developers and investors.
The Relationship Between Telegram and the TON Ecosystem
Current State of the Telegram Ecosystem
Telegram's ecosystem is increasingly centered around bots, APIs, and wallet hosting, forming a functional but limited environment for decentralized innovation. The rise of high-performing bots like Unibot — which generates over $5 million in monthly revenue — has sparked interest in low-barrier, high-yield opportunities within the bot economy. These bots thrive on transaction volume and fee-based models, proving resilient even during bear markets.
However, despite their financial success, Telegram bots operate independently from the TON blockchain. They do not leverage TON’s native infrastructure or token standards, meaning they exist in parallel rather than within the ecosystem itself. This creates a disconnect: while user engagement is strong, it doesn’t directly contribute to on-chain activity or decentralization.
Additionally, smaller projects face hurdles when trying to build full applications on TON due to complex integration processes, high development costs, and limited access to grants. As a result, many opt for hybrid solutions — such as running game logic on Ethereum Layer 2 while using Telegram’s API for interaction — enabling faster deployment without full reliance on TON’s stack.
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Why Telegram Needs the TON Ecosystem
While bots generate revenue, they lack long-term strategic value for Telegram’s broader commercial goals. In contrast, TON represents a foundational path toward sustainable monetization and platform evolution. From its inception, Telegram’s founder envisioned blockchain as a core component of the platform’s future — not just for payments, but for decentralized services at scale.
By aligning with TON, Telegram gains a native public chain capable of supporting scalable dApps, secure transactions, and decentralized identity. This synergy enables Telegram to move beyond ad-hoc bot monetization and establish a structured ecosystem where value is created and captured on-chain. Ultimately, TON positions Telegram to evolve from a messaging app into a Web3 operating system.
Why Developers Should Transition to the TON Ecosystem
Developers are increasingly recognizing the strategic benefits of building natively on TON. The TON Foundation has implemented several initiatives to accelerate growth, including developer grants, promotional support, and infrastructure improvements. Here are the key advantages:
- Native Payments via TON Space: Unlike Telegram’s current @Wallet — which supports only basic KYC-compliant transactions — TON Space enables non-custodial wallets with smart contract functionality. This allows developers to embed seamless payments directly into apps without requiring users to import external wallets.
- Community & Promotion Support: The TON ecosystem offers official channels for project visibility, including a mobile promotion bot, dedicated Telegram groups, and advertising placements across large public channels. Completing bounties also earns recognition in the TON GitHub Hall of Fame.
- Foundation Grants & Investments: Over $1.2 million has been distributed to more than 100 projects, averaging $10,000 per grant. Funded areas include wallet integrations, lending protocols (e.g., EVAA Protocol), AI tools, and development frameworks.
- Unrestricted API Access: While Telegram restricts bot messaging capabilities, TON provides open RPC access, enabling real-time data indexing and flexible backend development.
- Stable Infrastructure: TON-based DeFi apps avoid the high fees and instability common in bot-mediated transactions. Native integration ensures smoother performance and better security.
- Superior User Experience: TON Apps offer richer interactivity, faster response times, and composability across services — far surpassing the limitations of standalone bots.
Inside the Thriving TON Ecosystem
As of now, the TON ecosystem hosts 551 verified applications, spanning wallets, decentralized exchanges (DEXs), NFT marketplaces, games, lending platforms, and developer tools.
Wallets
Most wallets in TON are embedded within Telegram, offering convenience but raising concerns about spam and security. Only three of the top ten wallets have standalone websites, indicating a heavy reliance on platform integration.
Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs)
There are six native DEXs on TON, with Total Value Locked (TVL) ranging between $200M and $500M. While functionality is basic — focusing on swaps and liquidity pools — the absence of a stablecoin remains a critical bottleneck. Rumors suggest Telegram may launch a Dubai-based stablecoin or integrate USDT soon.
Non-native platforms like Uniswap and PancakeSwap also operate via cross-chain bridges, but fragmentation limits efficiency. OPTUS is currently the only DEX aggregator, though it lacks full functionality.
Lending Platforms
The lending sector remains underdeveloped. Only two platforms — TonStake and Whales Pool — are fully operational. Others are still in testnet phases, offering minimal UI/UX enhancements compared to early Bitcoin-era tools.
Centralized Exchanges (CEXs)
TON is supported by 44 CEXs globally, including major players like OKX, Huobi, Bitfinex, and Gate.io. Regional exchanges like Spain’s Bit2me also contribute to accessibility.
Cross-Chain Bridges
The official TON bridge supports asset transfers between ETH, BSC, and TON — though only for TON tokens. Third-party solutions like Orbit Bridge offer broader interoperability with Polygon, Klaytn, and others.
Utilities & NFTs
Utility bots provide transaction tracking, notifications, and community management tools. The NFT space includes around 50 collections, with notable ones like Annihilation (floor: 198 TON) and CALLIGRAFUTURISM (floor: 650 TON). However, trading volumes remain modest, and no major artists have entered yet.
Games & Developer Tools
Over 30 games exist on TON, mostly simple bot-based gambling apps or mini-programs. Developer tools are sparse — only seven core components are available, including IDE plugins and contract verification tools.
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The Future: Infrastructure Growth and Strategic Opportunities
Official Infrastructure Potential
TON’s underlying architecture — including P2P networking, DNS (via TNS), storage, and payment layers — lays the groundwork for a comprehensive Web3 infrastructure stack. Future developments could include:
- One-click deployment platforms for dApps
- Dynamic search engines for decentralized content
- Real-time market dashboards
- Advanced DeFi primitives like DEX aggregators
Given the number of game-focused projects, there’s also significant potential in building NFT marketplaces based on ERC-721-like standards tailored for gaming assets.
Mini-Programs: The Path to Mass Adoption
Unlike Ethereum’s DeFi-centric model, TON prioritizes mini-program applications, embracing what some call a “Web2.5” philosophy. It targets mainstream users through familiar interfaces and emphasizes usability over crypto purism.
This strategy aligns with Telegram’s user behavior — more akin to QQ than WeChat — where functionality diversity trumps deep engagement. By lowering the barrier to entry for Web2 developers (especially those familiar with C-language environments), TON aims to onboard millions through practical use cases.
Key verticals include:
- Traffic Acquisition: Through DApp task platforms and targeted Telegram ads
- Application Scenarios: From card games (e.g., NetEase’s Card Ahoy) to Web3 e-commerce
- Social Graph Integration: Using TNS-based identities to link social interactions with financial activity
- Payment Gateways: Combining fiat cards with crypto payments and RWA integration
- User Onboarding: Leveraging existing Telegram channels and @wallet to drive Web2-to-Web3 migration
A Cautious View on DeFi, MEV, and ZK
- DeFi: While opportunities exist in lending and swapping, security and stability must come first. Established players with proven track records are best positioned to lead.
- MEV (Maximal Extractable Value): Not yet a pressing issue due to low transaction volume. Priority should be on increasing asset availability and trading activity.
- ZK & Bridges: Though important long-term, premature deployment risks inefficiency. Bridges alone won’t drive growth — TON’s edge lies in fiat onramps and stablecoins, not just Ethereum liquidity migration.
Emerging Opportunities Beyond Core Infrastructure
- Developer Tools & Communities: Despite high theoretical throughput (TPS), lack of documentation and tooling hinders small teams. No-code deployment platforms and RPC connectors (like TWA) can bridge this gap.
- Social Payment Systems: Platforms enabling creators to monetize content — similar to OnlyFans — can thrive by integrating microtransactions via @wallet.
- Game + Social Graph Integration: Porting casual games (Happy Farm, Landlords) with tokenized rewards can drive retention and virality.
- Value Circulation via Social Media: Linking traditional platforms (Twitter/X, Instagram) with TON-based economies opens new monetization models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is TON fully controlled by Telegram?
A: While closely integrated with Telegram, TON operates as a decentralized network governed by community validators and the TON Foundation. Telegram supports adoption but does not control consensus.
Q: Can I build a dApp on TON without knowing Rust or C++?
A: Yes. While core components use C++, many tools support JavaScript/TypeScript through SDKs. Frameworks like ton-client-js simplify front-end development for Web2 developers.
Q: How does TON compare to Solana or Ethereum in terms of speed?
A: TON offers higher theoretical throughput (up to 100K TPS) than Ethereum (~15–30 TPS) or Solana (~65K TPS), with near-instant finality thanks to its sharding design.
Q: Are there any major NFT projects on TON?
A: Not yet from blue-chip artists or brands. However, communities like OCTOPUS BOYZ show organic growth potential.
Q: What’s the easiest way to get started as a developer?
A: Begin with the official TON Developer Portal, explore bounty programs on GitHub, and test apps using Testnet faucets.
Q: Will Telegram launch its own stablecoin?
A: There are strong indications that Telegram plans to issue a stablecoin via Dubai-regulated entities — possibly USDT initially — which would significantly boost DeFi activity.
The TON ecosystem stands at a pivotal moment. With strong backing from Telegram’s user base and growing institutional support, it has the ingredients for mass adoption. Success will depend on continued investment in infrastructure, developer experience, and user-centric mini-applications that make Web3 accessible to everyone.