TON Price Holds Steady as Funding Rates Turn Positive Amid Slow Crypto Market Recovery

TON is trading around $1.63, stabilizing near the $1.60 support level as crypto traders respond to signs of improving market sentiment. A new derivatives report from Bybit and Block Scholes highlights a gradual recovery led by major assets like bitcoin, now above $91,000, and ether, trading over $3,000. The broader market, represented by the CoinDesk 20 Index, gained 6.8% in the past week, but TON price movement lagged with only a 1.2% increase.

According to the report, the most notable shift is in altcoin funding rates. After a weekend of heavy shorting, perpetual swap markets for several large-cap tokens—including TON—have flipped into positive funding. This means traders are paying to hold long positions, a sign that confidence is returning, even if cautiously. Despite this improvement, derivatives activity remains subdued. Open interest and trading volume are still far below pre-selloff levels, indicating that market participants have not fully re-engaged. Volatility metrics also show that traders are no longer expecting major downside moves but are still hesitant to commit strongly.

For TON, the move into positive funding suggests some traders believe the asset may be forming a local bottom after several weeks of price pressure. Still, the report emphasizes that altcoins underperformed BTC and ETH during the recent downturn, and their recovery continues at a slower pace. Technical indicators from CoinDesk Research point to support near $1.59 and a slight upward trend, reinforcing the narrative of a slow but steady recovery. However, with participation low and whale holdings remaining significant, TON’s price outlook will largely depend on a broader return of risk appetite to the altcoin market.

Adding to market developments, Telegram’s new integration for tokenized stock trading is now live, allowing users to trade U.S. equities like Apple and Tesla directly through their TON wallets, potentially expanding the ecosystem and increasing long-term utility.