Telegram Takes Direct Control of TON, Social Traffic Reshapes Public Chain Narrative
Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, has announced a major shift in the development of The Open Network (TON). Telegram will now become the core driver of TON, replacing the TON Foundation and becoming its largest validator. The focus will be on technical upgrades over the next few weeks, including slashing network fees by six times to near-zero and improving finality time to 0.6 seconds.
This move signifies a deeper integration between Telegram and TON, moving beyond just providing a user base. The goal is to transform Telegram's vast social traffic and built-in features—like Mini Apps, payments, and bots—into sustainable, on-chain usage scenarios. The reduced fees and faster speeds are crucial for enabling the small, frequent transactions typical of social interactions.
While this promises stronger execution and product alignment, it raises questions about centralization. Durov argues Telegram's involvement will attract more validators, enhancing decentralization, but the outcome remains to be seen. Additionally, TON's high annual staking reward of 18.8% aims to retain capital within the ecosystem.
The key challenge for TON is no longer just leveraging Telegram's entry point, but becoming an invisible, seamless infrastructure layer within Telegram's daily use. Its success hinges on converting viral attention into lasting, embedded utility.
Odaily星球日报05/11 01:21
