TON Foundation: All Telegram mini-apps must migrate to TON ecosystem

TON Foundation has noted that the Telegram ecosystem must now exclusively use TON as its main blockchain, urging app builders to update their tech stack.

TON Foundation expanded its partnership with Telegram, establishing an exclusive relationship that will affect all mini-apps. Following the new agreement, the TON blockchain will now become the exclusive infrastructure for all mini-apps in the Telegram chat app. This move is expected to deepen the technological ties between Telegram and the TON chain. 

Telegram mini-apps took over in 2024, with the biggest number of users flocking to airdrops and tap-to-earn games. Until recently, Telegram mini apps could use other wallets, including Solana’s Phantom, to onboard new users and distribute tokens. 

Under the exclusive partnership, all mini-app developers will have to switch to TON Connect, the native TON protocol for connecting Web3 wallets. Based on the terms and conditions of Telegram, bot and app builders will have to use the TON chain and interact with TON Connect. The currently used multiple chains and wallets on Telegram will be disabled, making TON the exclusive choice.

New apps will not be able to offer tokens on other chains, but only issue assets and NFT on the TON chain. The TON Connect feature will only allow users to bridge Bitcoin (BTC) and connect with multi-asset wallets, but the chat app will no longer carry Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, and other L1 or L2 tokens. App builders will not be permitted to launch workarounds and allow the usage of tokens on other chains. 

The rule of using only the TON network will apply to bots that are connected to mini-apps. Existing trading bots are exempt from the rule, and the new requirement will not affect any of the popular sniping bots, set up to serve specific chains.

Telegram still reaches more than 950M users, with thousands of mini-apps ranging from utility features to complete games. 

TON will become a key payment tool on Telegram

TON, the native token of the TON chain, will become the exclusive asset for payment for all Telegram chat services. TON will pay for Premium users, flow into the Telegram Ads ecosystem, pay for Telegram Stars, and will be used to pay out ad revenues. 

App developers are expected to switch to TON Connect by February 21, as the TON Foundation urges them to start the process immediately. The apps that manage to migrate within Telegram’s deadline will receive perks and support from the TON Foundation. 

Developers can also apply for up to $50,000 in advertising credits to spread their influence on Telegram. 

The TON chain still carries native USDT, which is also widely used on Telegram, though for selective purposes and trading. The Telegram app will not use the stablecoin, instead leaving it for other projects. 

TON carries $266.12M in liquidity, with an additional $1.41B in native USDT and a smaller amount of bridged tokens. The TON chain remains niche compared to others like Ethereum or Solana but still carries its own ecosystem of gaming tokens, memes, and NFT.

Telegram to carry tokenized items

Telegram will adopt a Web3 approach to owning additional digital items. For Telegram users, those items will be tokenized exclusively on TON, including emojis, stickers, and exclusive limited edition images as NFT.

After a turbulent year, marked by the arrest of CEO Pavel Durov, Telegram still turned profitable and prepared for more growth in 2025. The chat app now boosted its position as a Web3 hub, thanks to the inflow of mini-app developers. 

In the coming months, Telegram aims to position itself as a more legitimate hub for on-chain activities. Manuel Stotz, President of the TON Foundation, said Telegram is already established as the default messaging app for global blockchain users. 

Stotz will also focus on expanding TON in the USA, tapping the most actively growing crypto market. 

The recent shift in TON usage may create additional demand for the native token. Overall, TON has traded in a relatively tight range. Despite the recent crypto market breakout, TON hovered around $5.21, keeping to its usual price as a utility asset. TON is already kept in 136M addresses and used to pay for gas fees to use jettons, or the chain’s native tokens.

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