Telegram faces backlash over controversial decision with TON Connect
Telegram mandates TON Connect integration for all third-party crypto wallets.
Telegram has announced that all third-party cryptocurrency wallets on its platform must integrate TON Connect, following an exclusive partnership with The Open Network (TON) Foundation.
The new mandate, effective after a transition period ending February 21, makes TON the only supported blockchain network for Telegram’s services, reports Cointelegraph.
Transition to TON Connect
Under the new requirements, any Telegram Mini Apps operating on blockchains other than TON must migrate to the TON ecosystem by February 21. This process includes bridging existing assets, migrating smart contracts, and exclusively utilizing TON Connect, an open-source toolkit that functions as a universal application authorization standard for wallets and apps within the TON ecosystem.
According to a spokesperson for the TON Foundation, failure to comply will result in the suspension of wallets that do not adopt TON Connect. However, the default “Wallet in Telegram” remains unaffected since it is already built on TON and supports TON Connect for decentralized application interactions.
Industry Response and Future Outlook
Some third-party wallets had already integrated TON Connect prior to this announcement. For instance, Bitget Wallet Live, a multichain wallet launched in October 2024, confirmed on January 16 that it had integrated TON Connect to enhance user and developer experiences within the Telegram ecosystem.
Bitget Wallet chief operating officer Alvin Kan stated, “With the integration of TON Connect into Bitget Wallet Lite, users can now interact with the TON ecosystem directly from Telegram, simplifying access to blockchain services.” This move signals a broader industry trend toward consolidating digital asset services on platforms that embrace a unified, secure standard.
The TON Foundation’s initiative and Telegram’s exclusive partnership are expected to streamline application logins by allowing users to access services using TON wallets instead of traditional passwords. As regulatory and technological landscapes evolve, this integration could foster more secure and user-friendly interactions within the crypto space, potentially setting new standards for decentralized finance on messaging platforms.
Recently we wrote, that Telegram сrypto malware scams surge 2,000%.
