TON (The Open Network) is a scalable blockchain originally developed by the team behind the Telegram messenger. The idea was to create a fast and user-friendly blockchain for billions of Telegram users. After legal disputes with the SEC in 2020, Telegram officially ceased development, but the developer community continued to work on the project as open source, renaming it The Open Network.
Today, TON is one of the fastest-growing blockchains, optimized for:
- high transaction speed (tens of thousands of TPS),
- minimal fees,
- seamless integration with Telegram and bots.
What makes TON unique?
- Sharding – the TON network can scale by splitting into millions of parallel blockchains (shards).
- Built-in DNS – the ability to create human-readable wallet addresses (e.g., @username.ton).
- Telegram integration – users can make transactions directly via chatbots and built-in wallets.
- TON Storage and TON Sites – solutions for decentralized file storage and website creation.
What projects are built on TON?
The TON ecosystem is growing rapidly. Here are some popular projects and directions:
- TON Space and TON Wallet
The official TON wallet is integrated directly into Telegram, allowing millions of users to store, send, and receive Toncoin (the network’s native token) right in chats. This makes cryptocurrency as “invisible” and convenient as possible for mass adoption. - Tonkeeper and other third-party wallets
In addition to the built-in wallet, there are popular third-party solutions such as Tonkeeper and Tonhub. They offer advanced features like NFT management, staking, and token swaps. - TON DNS
A project that replaces long wallet addresses with human-readable names. For example, sasha.ton instead of a complex string of characters. - TON NFT
TON is actively developing its NFT market:- NFT avatar collections,
- NFT-based games (e.g., Catizen, TON Punks),
- marketplaces for buying and selling digital assets.
- Games on TON
P2E and casual games are another ecosystem trend:- Tegro – a GameFi platform on TON.
- Tap Fantasy – a popular MMORPG with P2E elements.
- Numerous mini-games (including clicker games) that run directly in Telegram bots.
- TON DeFi
The financial sector is growing, with decentralized exchanges, lending platforms, and bridges for cross-chain asset transfers. Notable examples include:- STON.fi – a decentralized exchange on TON,
- Tonstarter – a launchpad for new projects.
Why is TON gaining popularity?
- Telegram integration – cryptocurrency access for millions of people without the need to install anything or learn complex technologies.
- Speed and low fees – Toncoin transfers take seconds and cost mere cents.
- Active development – a large developer community with new NFTs, games, and DeFi apps launching almost every week.
Conclusion
TON is not just a blockchain — it’s an entire ecosystem closely tied to Telegram. Today, TON already powers wallets, NFT marketplaces, P2E games, and DeFi applications. Thanks to its simplicity and Telegram’s massive user base, TON is poised to become one of the key blockchains for the mass market.
