Pavel Durov announces Telegram will take on role as TON's primary validator
Following Pavel Durov's announcement of Telegram's expanded involvement in TON, Toncoin surged 33.8%, though questions about the foundation's future and validator mechanics persist.
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, announced that his messaging platform will take over from the TON Foundation as the primary force propelling The Open Network (TON) forward and assume the position of its largest validator, indicating an expanded operational commitment from Telegram in the blockchain space.
Through a Telegram post published on Monday, Durov revealed that TON transaction fees had been reduced by a factor of six to "nearly zero" and that moving forward, the network would prioritize "tech superiority." This strategy encompasses launching a new website, introducing new tools for developers, and implementing performance enhancements.
According to Durov, these modifications are anticipated to roll out within the next two to three weeks, and he characterized this initiative as part of a broader strategy to "Make TON Great Again."
This planned transition would position Telegram at the core of TON's operational framework and development trajectory, strengthening the connection between the blockchain platform and the messaging application that has been instrumental in driving much of its mainstream user adoption.
Questions remain regarding the TON Foundation's future responsibilities following this transition, the specific structure of Telegram's validator operations, and whether the company plans to publicly disclose information such as the size of its validator stake or its proportion of network validation activities.
Cointelegraph contacted TON seeking further clarification, but had not heard back at the time of publication.
The cryptocurrency trading community has responded favorably to the news of Telegram assuming a more substantial operational position within TON. According to data from CoinGecko, Toncoin (TON) experienced a 33.8% increase over the preceding 24 hours, reaching $1.86 in the aftermath of Durov's announcement.
Telegram has steadily expanded TON integrations
This most recent announcement represents an evolution from previous integrations by shifting Telegram's involvement from serving as a product distribution channel and payment infrastructure toward taking on network infrastructure responsibilities.
During 2024, Durov made public that Telegram would utilize TON and Toncoin for executing ad revenue-sharing transactions and making payments to channel owners, who receive 50% of the revenue generated from advertisements displayed within their Telegram channels.
In January 2025, the TON Foundation announced it had broadened its partnership with Telegram, designating TON Connect as the sole wallet-connect protocol for Telegram Mini Apps.
Telegram's blockchain guidelines additionally specified that current Mini Apps running on alternative blockchains were required to migrate to TON by February 2025, which includes transferring smart contracts and using TON Connect exclusively.