Telegram brings Crypto to US users with Ton Wallet integration
A year after global adoption, Telegram finally introduced a crypto wallet that was integrated into US users. The move will allow over 87 million Americans to natively manage their digital assets within the Telegram app. No additional downloads or browser extensions are required.
Developed on Open Network (TON), this wallet offers a self-supporting setup. This means that users have full control over their private keys and funds. It supports instant stub coin transfers to contacts, cipher swaps, and seamless token payments, just like sending standard messages.
Building on Ton: A seamless crypto experience
This wallet is part of Telegram’s continuous integration of the Ton blockchain into its ecosystem. Thanks to our partnership with MoonPay, we allow for fast, frictionless transactions, including fee-free token purchases.
Over 100 million telegram users have made Ton wallets active worldwide in 2024, making it one of the fastest growing independent wallets on the market. However, regulatory concerns have delayed US availability before. This is an obstacle that appears to be cleared now.
A new era of cryptographic messaging
With the US launch, Telegram became the country’s first mainstream messaging platform, embedding a self-supported crypto wallet directly into the interface. This deployment is positioned as a serious competitor to other payment and crypto apps such as Cash app and Coinbase, especially as the Telegram ecosystem of Mini apps continues to grow.
Telegram’s continued involvement in the Ton ecosystem was gradually but strategic. The company officially retreated from its own token project in 2020 due to SEC pressure, but has since supported Ton-based features such as tokenized usernames and the digital collectible market known as Fragment.
What does this mean for the crypto market?
This US launch could mark a major step forward in crypto adoption, especially among mainstream users who are not familiar with complex wallets and debt tools. With Telegram’s massive reach and growing Web3 capabilities, built-in Ton wallets could accelerate adoption of peer-to-peer crypto transactions and pave the way for a fully tokenized in-app experience.
