Telegram's recent announcement to exclusively support The Open Network (TON) for its Mini App ecosystem has stirred discontent within the community. On January 21, Telegram named the TON Foundation as its sole blockchain partner, limiting the supported network to TON and Toncoin as the exclusive token for in-app purchases.
This development has incited debate among Web3 enthusiasts. Critics argue that Telegram's exclusive TON approach might hinder blockchain innovation, citing concerns over TON’s limited liquidity and emerging technology.
Ilya Abugov, director at Helika Ventures, told Cointelegraph that the decision, while anticipated due to Telegram’s growing alignment with TON, was abruptly announced and offers a distinctly protectionist stance. Abugov highlighted that TON's limited liquidity poses challenges for game developers wishing to launch native tokens, ultimately impacting blockchain progress.
Centralized exchanges have shown minimal interest in TON projects. For instance, Bybit partially delisted Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) on January 17 due to liquidity concerns. Hamster Kombat's plans to develop its own blockchain are now uncertain following Telegram’s exclusive TON partnership. Attempts to contact the company for comment were unsuccessful.
Abugov further noted that integrating TON exclusively into Telegram's Web3 ecosystem might lead to stability issues for the network, given its developmental stage.
Garrison Yang, co-founder of Mirai Labs, echoed these views, suggesting that the TON-only approach could limit Telegram's potential in the crypto space, affecting both performance and revenue opportunities. According to Yang, "TON lags behind platforms like Solana in performance," and Telegram's adoption of a "scorched earth strategy" could force developers solely onto the TON infrastructure, an approach he deems unsustainable.
The Ice Open Network criticized Telegram’s strategy, asserting that it contradicts Web3's fundamental ethos and highlights TON's centralized tendencies. In a post on January 22, they compared TON’s exclusivity to the practices of major tech platforms that restrict users to closed ecosystems, contrasting this with the claimed decentralization of Web3.
Despite Telegram and TON's claims of supporting freedom and decentralization, this move has sparked criticism. In a May interview, Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov emphasized that Telegram offers developers greater freedom than other platforms, a promise now questioned.
Commenting on the situation, Abugov suggested a "TON-first" approach could have eased the current challenges by fostering third-party liquidity and supporting apps funded by other blockchains. He argued that Telegram seems apprehensive about losing users to other chains, a fear leading to premature decisions now complicating liquidity attraction.