Toncoin surged 36% this week after Telegram founder Pavel Durov promised to cut transaction fees on The Open Network (TON) to near zero. The move comes as Durov’s messaging app is reportedly preparing to replace the TON Foundation with its own team, a sign that Telegram is tightening its grip on the blockchain it originally built. The rally wasn’t limited to Toncoin itself — meme coins on TON saw gains of up to 150% as traders piled into the ecosystem.
Durov’s Fee Pledge
Durov made the promise in a public statement, saying transaction fees on TON would be slashed to near zero. The pledge is a sharp reversal from the network’s earlier fee structure, which had been a point of friction for users and developers. Durov didn’t specify a timeline for the reduction, but the announcement was enough to send Toncoin from around $2.80 to over $3.80 within hours. The token has since held most of those gains.
The fee cut is designed to make microtransactions viable on TON, something that has been a long-standing goal for Telegram. Durov has previously said he wants the network to handle millions of small payments for content creators and app developers. Near-zero fees would make that economically feasible, though Whether the network validators will be compensated.
Telegram Replaces the TON Foundation
Separately, Telegram is reportedly replacing the TON Foundation, the nonprofit that had been overseeing the blockchain’s development. The details are still murky — the company hasn’t made an official announcement — but sources inside the foundation say Telegram has been moving key personnel into the project for weeks. The shakeup suggests Telegram wants direct control over TON’s direction, rather than leaving it to an independent body.
The TON Foundation was set up in 2020 after Telegram settled with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and agreed to stop working on the blockchain. But Durov has never fully let go. He has continued to integrate TON into Telegram’s app, allowing users to send crypto in chats and buy ads using Toncoin. Now he appears ready to take the reins completely.
Meme Coin Mania on TON
The fee pledge didn’t just lift Toncoin — it ignited a frenzy among TON-based meme coins. Tokens like Notcoin and DOGS, which were already popular on Telegram, jumped as much as 150% in the days following Durov’s statement. Traders on Telegram groups cheered the news, flooding channels with messages about “zero fees” and “next-level DeFi.”
The spike in meme coin activity highlights how sensitive the TON ecosystem is to Durov’s moves. Unlike many blockchains, where development is decentralized, TON’s fate is still tightly linked to its creator. That cuts both ways: a single tweet from Durov can send tokens flying, but it also means the network’s health depends on one person’s decisions.
For now, the rally has cooled slightly, but Toncoin is still trading well above its pre-announcement levels. The next big question is when Durov will actually implement the fee cut — and whether Telegram’s takeover of the TON Foundation will bring more stability or more uncertainty.
