Trending Now - Telegram Set to Lead as TON Validator, Durov Announces
WHO:
Cointelegraph - Pavel Durov is the founder of Telegram.
NewsBTC - Telegram is the messaging platform involved in the announcement.
WHAT:
NewsBTC - Toncoin is now ranked among the top 20 crypto assets by market capitalization following the announcement.
NewsBTC - Durov stated that most transactions on TON would "soon after" become fully feeless.
NewsBTC - In January 2025, the TON Foundation announced that TON would become the exclusive blockchain infrastructure for Telegram’s Mini App ecosystem, which supports a platform with over 950 million monthly active users.
NewsBTC - Telegram will continue to accept Toncoin as the only cryptocurrency for non-fiat payments across various platform services, including Telegram Stars, Premium, Ads, and Gateway.
Cointelegraph - Toncoin rose 33.8% following Durov's announcement.
NewsBTC - Telegram will replace the TON Foundation as the main driving force behind The Open Network and become its largest validator.
NewsBTC - Toncoin surged from approximately $1.35 to about $1.80, marking an increase of around 30%.
NewsBTC - Durov stated that fees in TON have dropped sixfold to nearly zero.
NewsBTC - Durov mentioned that the network is expected to receive a “new ton.org, new dev tools, new performance upgrades” within a timeline of “2-3 weeks.”
WHERE:
NewsBTC - The announcement pertains to The Open Network (TON), which is associated with Telegram.
WHEN:
NewsBTC - Durov made the announcement on May 4.
NewsBTC - On April 23, Durov indicated that TON fees would fall sixfold within a week.
WHY:
NewsBTC - Durov's statement indicates a shift from a partnership expansion to a leadership shift in the management of TON.
NewsBTC - The move is framed as the next phase of TON’s technical roadmap after a major reduction in network fees.
NewsBTC - The fee structure is significant for high-frequency consumer activity inside Telegram.
HOW:
NewsBTC - The announcement marks a significant operational step for Telegram back into the blockchain it originally launched, suggesting a more direct role for the company in execution and infrastructure.
NewsBTC - The announcement indicates a shift in leadership from the TON Foundation to Telegram, suggesting a more direct role for the company in execution and infrastructure.
(UPDATED May 5, 2026 15:37 UTC)
Toncoin has now climbed into the top 20 crypto assets by market capitalization, following a significant announcement from Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, who revealed that most transactions on the TON blockchain will soon become fully feeless. This move comes after the TON Foundation declared in January 2025 that TON would serve as the exclusive blockchain infrastructure for Telegram’s Mini App ecosystem, which boasts over 950 million monthly active users. Additionally, Telegram will continue to accept Toncoin as the sole cryptocurrency for non-fiat payments across various services, marking a notable shift in the company's leadership and operational involvement with the blockchain.
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(UPDATED May 5, 2026 13:26 UTC)
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has announced that the messaging platform will take over as the main driving force behind The Open Network, replacing the TON Foundation and becoming its largest validator. Following this announcement, Toncoin saw a significant surge, rising approximately 33.8% from around $1.35 to about $1.80, while Durov also highlighted a dramatic drop in fees to nearly zero. In the coming weeks, users can expect new developments, including a revamped ton.org and performance upgrades, as this transition marks a pivotal phase in TON's technical roadmap.