Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, announced on May 4, 2026, that Telegram will take over as the primary driving force behind The Open Network, replacing the TON Foundation. He further stated that Telegram will become TON’s largest validator, attributing this decision to reduced network fees and a more robust technical roadmap. Durov highlighted that fees on TON have decreased sixfold, becoming nearly negligible, and emphasized that Telegram will refocus TON on achieving technical superiority.
Durov outlined plans for TON to receive a new website, fresh developer tools, and performance enhancements within two to three weeks, placing the expected upgrades around late May 2026. However, specific details remain scarce; Telegram has not clarified how its validator role will function, disclosed its intended validator stake, or explained the evolving role of the TON Foundation post-transition.
Following Durov’s announcement, Toncoin (TON) experienced a significant rally, rising from approximately $1.35 to near $1.80. At press time, Crypto.news data showed TON trading at about $1.82, marking a 28.10% increase over 24 hours. The token’s daily trading volume reached roughly $632.75 million, with a market capitalization near $4.8 billion.
This latest development aligns with Telegram’s broader integration of TON-based services. Earlier this year, TON leveraged Telegram’s wallet, digital gifts, and social NFT tools to drive consumer adoption. The approach capitalizes on Telegram’s vast user base rather than focusing solely on technical aspects. Additionally, Telegram’s wallet recently introduced perpetual contract trading across metals, stocks, oil, and cryptocurrencies, utilizing Lighter’s infrastructure to offer over 50 markets within the app.