Toncoin becomes Telegram’s only accepted crypto for app services

Telegram will cease support for all blockchains other than The Open Network (TON) for its messenger services, including Mini Apps, according to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph on Jan. 21.TON will become the exclusive blockchain infrastructure for Telegram’s Mini App ecosystem as part of a new partnership between Telegram and the TON Foundation.Telegram will also continue to exclusively accept Toncoin for non-fiat payments in exchange for assets and services offered by Telegram, the announcement notes.The new partnership builds on the close collaboration of Telegram and the TON Foundation, with Telegram having repeatedly endorsed TON as its blockchain network of choice for Web3 infrastructure.Deepening ties between TON and TelegramThe TON Foundation said that Telegram’s TON features played a significant role in the growth of the network through its updates to Mini Apps, usage of Toncoin for pay-ins and payouts, and its advertising platform.“The new exclusivity agreement deepens the technological ties between TON and Telegram,” the announcement notes.As part of the partnership, Telegram will continue to accept Toncoin as the only token for payments made for Telegram’s services such as Telegram Stars, Telegram Premium, Telegram Ads and Telegram Gateway, a platform alternative to traditional SMS verification.Additionally, Toncoin will be the only currency used to pay Telegram Mini App developers and channel owners for their earned Telegram Stars and advertisement revenue.TON Connect is the exclusive protocol for linking Telegram Mini Apps“Many builders chose to deploy on TON before, but some added blockchain functionality through other networks instead,” a spokesperson for the TON Foundation told Cointelegraph.The representative mentioned Mini App launches on networks like Sui, Solana, Aptos and others, adding:“The expanded partnership will make TON Connect the exclusive protocol for linking Telegram Mini Apps to blockchain wallets — so Mini Apps will now only be able to deploy blockchain functionality on TON.”The spokesperson said that Toncoin has always been the only non-fiat payment option accepted by Telegram. “This move further reinforces their ongoing commitment to integrating Toncoin within their ecosystem,” the representative added.The TON Foundation’s new president, Manuel Stotz, highlighted the role of the exclusive partnership with Telegram as an important step in its roadmap.“After laying foundational groundwork over the last years, TON is now ready for explosive growth in 2025,” he said, adding:“Telegram is the sixth most downloaded app in the world, a beacon for free speech, and the default messaging platform for the global blockchain community. No other blockchain has a comparable distribution vector.”