The open web3 ecosystem built on The Open Network (TON) has surged into the spotlight following a dramatic 25.3% price increase within 24 hours, pushing its value to $6.91 at the time of writing. With this surge, TON’s market capitalization now exceeds $23.4 billion, officially overtaking Cardano (ADA) to become the 10th largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
This momentum reflects growing confidence in TON’s long-term vision, fueled by deep integration with Telegram, aggressive ecosystem incentives, and rising on-chain activity.
Rising On-Chain Activity Signals Strong User Adoption
Data from Token Terminal reveals a significant uptick in network engagement since February. Over the past seven days alone, TON recorded 827,100 active addresses—an impressive 97.8% increase compared to the previous month. More notably, April hasn't even reached its midpoint, yet monthly active users have already surpassed 1 million, representing 121% of March’s total user count.
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This sustained growth underscores a shift from speculative interest to actual usage. Unlike many blockchain networks that see temporary spikes during market rallies, TON is demonstrating consistent expansion in real user metrics—a key indicator of sustainable adoption.
TVL Jumps 661% Amid Ecosystem Incentive Programs
According to Defillama, TON’s Total Value Locked (TVL) has skyrocketed by 661% over the past two months, now exceeding $144 million. This explosive growth follows the launch of TON Foundation’s first public league campaign—an initiative designed to reward developers and users who actively contribute to the ecosystem.
Launched on April 1st, the competition will distribute 30 million Toncoins across monthly challenges. Projects compete for rewards while users earn incentives by participating in decentralized applications (dApps) built on TON. The impact was immediate: on the day of the announcement, TON’s price jumped over 30%, meaning the total prize pool is now worth more than $200 million.
This isn’t the first time incentive programs have boosted TON’s metrics. A two-week pilot season previously drove a 70% increase in TVL and a staggering 370% rise in daily active wallets. The full-scale rollout suggests even greater growth potential ahead.
Telegram Integration: The Catalyst Behind TON’s Momentum
At the heart of TON’s accelerating adoption lies its strategic partnership with Telegram, one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms, boasting over 900 million users worldwide.
In late February, Telegram announced that its upcoming ad platform would operate entirely on the TON blockchain. Publishers will receive revenue payouts in TON, and all transactions—including withdrawals—will be processed through the network. This move transforms TON from a speculative asset into a functional utility token embedded within a massive digital economy.
Additionally, Binance launched TON futures trading on March 1, increasing liquidity and attracting institutional interest. Combined with CEO Pavel Durov’s recent confirmation that Telegram is nearing profitability and preparing for an IPO, these developments have significantly elevated market sentiment around TON.
Durov revealed in a rare interview that Telegram has generated “hundreds of millions” in revenue since launching premium subscriptions and ads two years ago. He stated the company aims to become profitable within the year—a milestone that could further validate the viability of Web3-integrated social platforms.
SocialFi Dominance: Catizen and Beyond
At the recent Web3 Summit in Hong Kong, TON highlighted its leadership in the emerging SocialFi (social finance) space. One standout project is Catizen, a Web3 pet game that attracted over 1.3 million users within just two weeks of launching on TON. The game achieved 210,000 daily active users and processed more than 1.7 million on-chain transactions—proof that fun, accessible dApps can drive mass adoption.
Other projects in the TON ecosystem are also gaining traction, spanning decentralized storage, identity verification, and micropayment solutions tailored for Telegram’s global user base.
Digital Identity Breakthrough with Palm Scanning Technology
In another major development, TON Society has partnered with AI-driven identity project HumanCode to launch a $5 million incentive program focused on biometric digital identity verification. Using palm scanning technology, users can verify their humanity simply by holding their hand up to a smartphone camera—no specialized hardware required.
The goal? To provide secure digital identities for up to 500 million Telegram users within five years. This initiative addresses one of Web3’s biggest challenges: sybil attacks—where bots create fake accounts to manipulate systems. By enabling frictionless human verification, TON paves the way for fair airdrops, democratic governance, and equitable access to decentralized services.
👉 See how next-gen identity solutions are reshaping trust in digital economies.
Long-Term Vision: From 900M Users to 500M Active Participants
Steve Yun, President of the TON Foundation, has publicly stated the goal of bringing 30% of Telegram’s user base—approximately 270 million people—onto the TON blockchain by 2028. When factoring in organic growth and secondary adoption, projections suggest TON could support up to 500 million active users in less than five years.
While past price action saw TON languishing below $3 throughout much of 2023, the convergence of product launches, ecosystem funding, and real-world utility has reignited investor enthusiasm.
FAQ Section
Q: What caused TON’s recent price surge?
A: A combination of factors—including Telegram's integration of TON for ad revenue payouts, Binance listing futures contracts, and the launch of a $200M+ ecosystem incentive program—has driven increased demand and investor confidence.
Q: How is TON different from other blockchain platforms?
A: TON stands out due to its native integration with Telegram, giving it immediate access to hundreds of millions of potential users. Its focus on social applications, gaming, and seamless UX makes it uniquely positioned for mass adoption.
Q: Is TON decentralized despite being linked to Telegram?
A: Yes. While Telegram initially supported TON’s development, the network is now independently operated by the TON Foundation and a distributed validator set. Telegram uses TON but does not control it.
Q: Can I earn rewards by using TON dApps?
A: Absolutely. Through initiatives like the Public League program, users can earn Toncoin rewards by interacting with participating dApps such as Catizen and other ecosystem projects.
Q: What is the significance of palm scanning for digital identity?
A: Palm scanning offers a secure, private, and hardware-free method to verify human identity online—critical for preventing bot abuse in airdrops, voting, and community rewards without compromising personal data.
Q: Where can I trade or store TON tokens securely?
A: TON is available on major exchanges like OKX and can be stored in non-custodial wallets such as Tonkeeper or Tonhub for maximum security.
The convergence of real utility, strong fundamentals, and strategic timing has positioned TON as one of the most compelling narratives in crypto today. As Telegram continues to embed blockchain functionality into everyday communication and content monetization, TON is no longer just a token—it's becoming the backbone of a new internet economy.
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