Ah, Telegram, the messenger of choice for those seeking a haven from the prying eyes of Big Tech. But alas, it seems our beloved messenger has decided to embrace the very thing it once shunned – exclusivity.
In a move that has sparked outrage among its users, Telegram has announced an exclusive partnership with The Open Network (TON) Foundation. As a result, all third-party crypto wallets on Telegram must now use TON Connect as their exclusive wallet connection protocol.
This new requirement is part of Telegram’s partnership with the TON Foundation, which has made TON the only supported blockchain network for its messenger services. The foundation’s representative said that existing Mini Apps operating on other blockchains must transition to TON by Feb. 21, including bridging existing assets, migrating smart contracts, and exclusively utilizing TON Connect.
Telegram’s Suspension Threat: A Draconian Measure?
Fear not, dear reader, for the Wallet in Telegram remains unaffected by these new requirements. After all, it’s TON-based and only supports TON Connect for decentralized application interactions.
“After the migration period ends, third-party wallets that haven’t adopted TON Connect won’t be supported.” – A Spokesperson for the TON Foundation
Some third-party wallets on Telegram had integrated TON Connect before Telegram announced its exclusive partnership with TON. Bitget Wallet Live, a multichain wallet launched in October 2024, said it integrated TON connect to “enhance user and developer experiences” within the Telegram ecosystem on Jan. 16.
Alvin Kan, Bitget Wallet chief operating officer, told CryptoMoon:
“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.”
TON Connect: The Key to Telegram’s Exclusive Kingdom
So, what exactly is this TON Connect that Telegram now demands? It’s an open-source toolkit that serves as a “universal application authorization standard” or a communication protocol between wallets and apps within the TON ecosystem.
The toolkit enables users to log into applications and services using TON wallets instead of more commonly used logins and passwords.
According to Telegram’s updated terms of service, the messenger will only support interfaces with crypto wallets connected by the TON Connect.
But wait, there’s more! “Tokens and NFTs [non-fungible tokens] on other blockchains like Ethereum and BNB are not permitted,” the terms of service noted.
The Inevitable Exodus of Telegram Mini Apps?
Telegram’s decision to limit its Mini App ecosystem to exclusively support TON has triggered outrage within the community, with many questioning Telegram’s decentralization pursuit and even TON’s capability to remain stable with an influx of network activity.
Some Telegram Mini Apps, such as Grindery Wallet, have considered leaving the Telegram ecosystem following the changes.
“Telegram is following in the footsteps of Big Tech by creating monopolies.” – Tim Delhaes, Grindery co-founder and CEO
Grindery emphasized that, as a multichain wallet with its primary token on TON, it remains fully compliant while continuing to support and build an “inevitable multichain future outside Telegram.”
Read More
- PSP PREDICTION. PSP cryptocurrency
- NYM PREDICTION. NYM cryptocurrency
- IP PREDICTION. IP cryptocurrency
- EUR IDR PREDICTION
- RLC PREDICTION. RLC cryptocurrency
- INJ PREDICTION. INJ cryptocurrency
- XRD PREDICTION. XRD cryptocurrency
- CTK PREDICTION. CTK cryptocurrency
- EUR INR PREDICTION
- COW PREDICTION. COW cryptocurrency
2025-02-06 15:33