Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced on May 4, 2026, that Telegram will replace the TON Foundation as the primary driving force behind The Open Network (TON), becoming its largest validator. This move represents a major shift in the blockchain's governance and operational model.
Durov stated that network fees have already dropped 6x to nearly zero. The initiative is part of the "Make TON Great Again" plan, following a 10x speed upgrade implemented in April 2026 (Step 1). Over the next 2–3 weeks, a refreshed ton.org website, new developer tools, and significant performance upgrades are expected to roll out.
Telegram now directly controls TON's validation process, earning staking rewards and holding significant influence over protocol decisions. This structural change creates a new demand loop for TON: the Telegram Ad Platform uses Toncoin for ad purchases, with channel owners receiving a 50% crypto revenue share. Telegram plans to expand this via Telegram Stars by Q3 2026.
TON processed 1.5 billion transactions in Q1 2026, with total value locked (TVL) reaching $1.2 billion by April 2026, driven by DeFi and gaming mini-apps inside Telegram. The network's transaction volumes briefly surpassed Solana's daily average during peak periods. Durov personally invested $5 million in TON liquidity pools in late 2024, and the TON v4 upgrade in March 2026 introduced sharding capable of over 100,000 transactions per second.
Toncoin reacted immediately, trading at $1.432, up +6.31% at the time of reporting. The TON Foundation transition audit is expected in June 2026, which will assess how de facto centralization—with Telegram controlling a majority of validators—affects the network's neutrality and long-term viability.
