Telegram Takes Control of TON as Toncoin Surges Over 100%

Telegram has officially taken a dominant role in The Open Network (TON), replacing the TON Foundation as the blockchain’s primary driving force. Telegram founder Pavel Durov confirmed that the messaging giant will become TON’s largest validator, triggering a sharp rally in Toncoin (TON), which surged more than 100%.

The move marks the third phase of Durov’s “Make TON Great Again” initiative and signals Telegram’s long-term commitment to building a massive crypto ecosystem around TON. Investors view the development as a major step toward integrating blockchain services directly into Telegram’s network of over one billion users.

According to Alexander Tobol, chief technology officer at Wallet in Telegram, TON was initially created by Telegram’s internal team before evolving into an independent open-source blockchain project. Telegram’s decision to secure the largest validator position by staking roughly 2.2 million TON demonstrates stronger involvement in the network’s future and security.

The integration could make TON the default blockchain layer for payments, transfers, mini-apps, and digital services inside Telegram. Tobol noted that this could position TON as the blockchain with the highest number of active retail wallets globally.

Recent technical upgrades have also strengthened TON’s appeal. Denis Vasin, founder of Storm Trade, highlighted that the Catchain 2.0 upgrade reduced block times from 2.5 seconds to just 400 milliseconds while lowering transaction finality to nearly one second. Transaction fees reportedly dropped to around $0.0005, while the network can now process more than 100,000 transactions per second.

Analysts believe TON now has a unique advantage over competing Layer-1 blockchains due to Telegram’s massive built-in user base and real-world utility. However, market experts warn that the recent Toncoin rally already reflects high investor expectations. Future price growth will likely depend on whether Telegram can generate sustainable on-chain activity and long-term economic value through TON-powered services and applications.