Telegram is stepping in as the main force behind The Open Network (TON), replacing the TON Foundation and becoming the blockchain’s largest validator. The move, announced May 4, sent Toncoin soaring 60% over the next three days to a local high of $2.215 by May 8 — its best price since mid-November 2023.
Why Telegram is taking control
Pavel Durov, Telegram’s founder, said on May 5 that the company becoming TON’s largest validator “strengthens decentralization” by letting other major players join the validator pool with Telegram acting as a counterbalance. The shift places the messaging giant at the center of TON’s operations, pushing aside the TON Foundation that previously drove development.
Telegram said it would now be the primary driver of the network, not just a validator. The company expects to launch new developer tools, a dedicated TON website, and performance upgrades within two to three weeks.
Price jump resets the market
Toncoin’s rally broke months of quiet trading. The token hit $2.215 on May 8 before settling, still well below its all-time high near $8.25. But the move reset near-term market structure, giving traders a fresh price range after a long stretch of low volatility.
The 60% surge in three days reflects investor reaction to Telegram’s deeper involvement. TON had struggled for momentum since late 2023, and the news injected new energy into the token.
What users will see next
One immediate effect: TON transaction fees dropped sixfold to “nearly zero” after Telegram’s announcement. That makes micro-transactions and everyday use more practical. The upcoming tools and website are meant to draw more developers and projects to the network.
Telegram’s validator role gives it influence over TON’s consensus, but Durov framed it as a way to keep the network open. “Other major players” can now join the validator pool more easily, he said.
The real test comes in the next two to three weeks, when Telegram rolls out those promised upgrades. Whether they bring more users and keep Toncoin’s price climbing remains unresolved.
