TON, the blockchain integrated into Telegram, is set to become the first everyday blockchain by 2027, blending Web3 seamlessly into the Web2 user experience, according to recent developments.
Tracy Jin, chief operating officer of MEXC, notes that while Ethereum remains central to DeFi and smart contract innovation, its mass adoption has been limited by complexity, fragmentation, and cost. TON is pursuing a different approach within Telegram’s vast ecosystem, which boasts over 900 million users, making it a significant active social layer in the crypto space. As the only blockchain natively embedded within Telegram, TON focuses on integrating Web3 into the user experience rather than just building decentralized applications.
Conceived in 2018, TON was designed to integrate blockchain technology into Telegram. The ecosystem saw significant growth in 2024, boosted by Tether’s launch of USDt on the TON chain in May. A wallet upgrade in March added trading and TON staking for Telegram Wallet users. Over the past two years, TON has introduced critical infrastructure, including TON DNS, TON Storage, and TON Proxy, which support decentralized domains, storage, and privacy solutions.
TON has successfully onboarded millions to Web3 by leveraging Telegram’s vast user base, with over 150 million accounts created. The network now averages 2 million daily transactions, and there are approximately 2 million active monthly wallets. The focus is on providing users with familiar tools, allowing crypto to operate in the background. Telegram Wallet enables users to utilize tokens within chats, channels, games, and P2P experiences, aiming for effortless crypto onboarding by abstracting away gas fees and private key storage.
The next wave of retail-focused blockchain adoption is expected to be driven by chains that abstract complexity and offer fast, inexpensive integration into existing Web2 platforms. While Ethereum faces scaling challenges and other next-generation chains lack a Web2 distribution channel, TON’s integration with Telegram addresses these challenges. Mini Apps like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat, and Catizen are onboarding millions of users to blockchain infrastructure, demonstrating scalable, low-friction Web3.
Unlike Ethereum apps, which require browser extensions and an understanding of gas mechanics, creating barriers for mainstream users, TON bypasses these frictions. Solana and BNB Chain rely on external wallets and Web3 onboarding flows, whereas TON provides a seamless experience. TON’s rise aligns with a shift in the crypto industry toward self-custody, interoperability, and fluid UX. While Layer-2 solutions scale Ethereum, TON is building within a native interface.
The crypto community is experiencing fatigue from complex UX, speculative volatility, and fragmented onboarding. TON leverages the Mini App format, popularized in Asia via platforms like WeChat. TON has demonstrated resilience, continuing to operate independently during Pavel Durov’s arrest in 2024, indicating a level of decentralization. Telegram is also preparing for various scenarios to ensure its infrastructure isn’t reliant on a single entity.
Based on current adoption rates, TON could reach over 2.6 million daily active users in 2026 and surpass 10 million by 2027. Two years ago, the number was under 40,000. For context, Ethereum has approximately 420,000 daily active accounts, while Solana’s growth has been driven by airdrops and memecoin activity. TON’s growth is rooted in embedded habits like tipping, gaming, and payments within a familiar interface.
Telegram is a crypto-friendly app and the world’s fourth-most popular messenger app, powering its Mini Apps with TON. If TON expands into the US market, it could gain millions of users from platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. Although the American market is competitive and regulated, TON’s UX, mobile-first design, and Telegram integration could provide a competitive advantage. TON aims to position itself as a platform for creators, micro-transactions, and native monetization, potentially unlocking a market historically dominated by Ethereum.
By 2027, Ethereum may continue to lead in DeFi, and Solana may dominate onchain liquidity and trading. TON, however, aims to own the everyday layer of the internet, becoming a blockchain that people use without conscious effort, integrated into their daily apps.
Tracy Jin, chief operating officer of MEXC, emphasizes that the information provided is for general purposes and not intended as legal or investment advice. The views expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.
