Pavel Durov, in his in-depth interview with Lex Fridman, highlighted The Open Network (TON) blockchain platform. Durov explained TON’s central role within the Telegram ecosystem, describing it as an “incredibly fast-growing sphere.”
He stated that the initial development of TON began in 2018–2019, driven by the need for a deeply integrated blockchain system within Telegram. While emphasizing that blockchain is a technology that ensures freedom, he also noted that existing platforms like Bitcoin or Ethereum lacked sufficient scalability:
“The existing platforms were not scalable enough to handle the transaction loads generated by hundreds of millions of Telegram users.”
Although the project was initially halted due to pressure from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), it continued to grow under an active open-source community and today operates successfully under its current form.
According to Durov, all functionality and assets within Telegram today — including usernames and even Telegram accounts themselves — are based on the TON blockchain and are tokenized through its smart contracts.
Furthermore, TON has become indispensable for financial operations within the platform:
- In the program that shares advertising revenue with channel owners on a 50/50 basis, TON is the only method for withdrawing earned funds.
- Transactions such as purchasing ads within Telegram can also be carried out exclusively through TON.
Thus, TON is not just an external cryptocurrency but the central core of Telegram’s financial and governance system.
