The decentralized exchange and trading app Blum has announced a significant strategic investment from The Open Platform (TOP), marking a pivotal step in expanding its footprint within Telegram’s rapidly growing TON ecosystem. While the exact funding amount remains undisclosed, the partnership goes beyond financial backing—delivering crucial technical support aimed at enhancing Blum’s infrastructure and user experience.
With Telegram’s active monthly user base approaching 950 million, Blum is positioning itself as a leading gateway for decentralized finance (DeFi) and crypto trading on the platform. This latest investment reinforces its ambition to become the go-to trading solution for Telegram’s vast global audience.
A Strategic Boost from The Open Platform
Blum, originally founded by former Binance executives and previously backed by Binance Labs in September, continues to attract high-profile support. The Open Platform (TOP), a venture builder deeply embedded in the TON ecosystem, has now joined as a key investor and strategic partner.
TOP is no stranger to ecosystem development. Recently, it co-launched a $10 million growth hub with OKX Ventures to accelerate innovation across the TON blockchain. By investing in Blum, TOP signals confidence in the platform’s rapid growth trajectory and intuitive design—two factors critical for mass adoption.
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“This investment will enable us to further expand our presence on Telegram and provide users with a seamless experience across DeFi,” said Gleb Kostarev, CEO of Blum. “After initial backing from Binance Labs, securing support from TOP reaffirms our position as a serious player in the industry.”
The collaboration is expected to fast-track the rollout of new trading features while improving scalability and cross-chain functionality. Although specific technical details remain limited, Blum’s leadership emphasizes that TOP’s toolkit will help refine the app’s front-end interface—making it cleaner, faster, and more accessible for new users.
Capturing Telegram’s Massive User Base
Despite being one of the most visited mini apps on Telegram, Blum currently serves around 85 million users—a fraction of Telegram’s total reach. This gap represents a massive growth opportunity, especially as more users begin exploring Web3 services directly through messaging platforms.
Telegram mini apps are lightweight, instant-access applications built into the Telegram interface, allowing users to trade, play games, or interact with DeFi protocols without leaving the app. Their frictionless nature makes them ideal for onboarding non-crypto-native users into digital asset ecosystems.
Blum’s integration into this environment gives it a competitive edge. Its combination of real-time trading, staking options, and gamified engagement mechanics aligns well with the behaviors of Telegram’s younger, mobile-first audience.
“Our partnership with TOP will fast-track the launch of new trading features and enhance our overall infrastructure,” said Vladimir Smerkis, CMO and co-founder of Blum.
As competition intensifies among DEXs and trading apps targeting the TON blockchain, user experience and speed of innovation will be decisive factors. With TOP’s support, Blum aims to scale rapidly—not just in user numbers but in feature depth and reliability.
Why Investors Are Betting Big on TON
The TON (The Open Network) blockchain has emerged as one of the most promising ecosystems for mass-market crypto adoption. Backed by Telegram’s infrastructure and user trust, TON enables fast, low-cost transactions—perfect for micro-interactions like tap-to-earn games, NFT drops, and peer-to-peer trading.
Recent investments underscore growing institutional interest:
- In late September, Bitget and Foresight Ventures committed $30 million to fund GameFi and tap-to-earn projects on TON.
- OKX Ventures and TOP launched a joint $10 million growth initiative to nurture early-stage TON developers.
- Binance Labs previously invested in Blum, highlighting its potential as a core DeFi hub.
These moves reflect a broader trend: crypto’s next growth phase won’t come from isolated platforms but from embedded finance within social ecosystems—and Telegram is leading the charge.
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Core Keywords Identified:
- Blum
- The Open Platform (TOP)
- TON ecosystem
- Telegram mini apps
- decentralized exchange (DEX)
- crypto trading app
- DeFi on Telegram
- Binance Labs investment
FAQ: Understanding Blum, TOP, and the TON Ecosystem
Q: What is Blum?
A: Blum is a decentralized exchange (DEX) and crypto trading app built on Telegram’s TON blockchain. It allows users to trade, stake, and access DeFi services directly through Telegram’s mini app interface.
Q: Who is The Open Platform (TOP)?
A: TOP is a venture builder focused on developing and scaling projects within the TON ecosystem. It provides funding, technical resources, and go-to-market strategies for high-potential Web3 startups.
Q: Is Blum available outside Telegram?
A: Currently, Blum operates exclusively as a Telegram mini app. Users access it via the Telegram app without needing to download additional software.
Q: How does Blum compare to other DEXs on TON?
A: Blum stands out due to its clean UI, strong backing from Binance Labs and TOP, and deep integration with Telegram’s social layer—enabling viral growth through sharing and community engagement.
Q: Does Blum support multiple blockchains?
A: While primarily built for TON, Blum aims to scale trading across multiple blockchains using TOP’s technical infrastructure. Future cross-chain capabilities are expected to broaden its utility.
Q: Can I earn rewards on Blum?
A: Yes. Like many Telegram-based apps, Blum incorporates gamified elements such as staking pools and potential tap-to-earn mechanics that reward user participation.
The Road Ahead for Blum
With dual validation from Binance Labs and The Open Platform, Blum is well-positioned to lead DeFi innovation on Telegram. The next phase will focus on three key goals:
- User Experience Optimization: Leveraging TOP’s toolkit to deliver a smoother, more intuitive interface.
- Feature Expansion: Introducing advanced trading tools, improved liquidity options, and enhanced security protocols.
- Ecosystem Integration: Deepening ties with other TON-based projects to create interconnected financial experiences.
As Web3 adoption shifts toward embedded, social-first applications, platforms like Blum represent the future of accessible crypto finance. By meeting users where they already spend time—inside messaging apps—it removes traditional barriers to entry such as complex wallets or standalone dApps.
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The synergy between Telegram’s reach, TON’s performance, and strategic investors like TOP creates fertile ground for disruptive innovation. If Blum executes effectively, it could soon move from serving 85 million users to capturing a substantial share of Telegram’s near-billion-user base.
For developers, investors, and everyday users alike, the evolution of DeFi within social platforms is no longer speculative—it’s underway. And Blum is racing to stay at the front of that wave.