💎News Index for May 2025

🔹Ethena officially integrates with TON
🔹End of Apple’s 30% Tax? This precedent could change everything
🔹The Forgotten History of TON
🔹Telegram Gifts: the Foundation for Telegram's New Economy
🔹TON Enters the U.S. Market:
Through Telegram, Celebrities, and Giveaways
🔹Telegram Under Pressure:
What’s Happening and Why It Matters for the Future of the Internet
🔹TON Foundation Strengthens Team:
Former Visa Executive will Lead Global Payments
🔹Telegram Raises $1.7 Billion:
On its path to IPO and Blockchain Super App
🔹XAUt0: Gold Goes Omnichain — Now on TON

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👮‍♂️ Durov’s Arrest and Pressure on Telegram:
Interview with Tucker Carlson

What happens when you create the most secure app in the world and refuse to hand over user data to authorities? Here are the details we shared earlier about Pavel in France.

Pavel Durov gave his first public interview about his arrest in France. He talked about the pressure, legal manipulation, and why Europe might lose face.

Key Moments:
00:00 - The Arrest
Durov was arrested in France on 16 charges, without trial, amid tensions surrounding Telegram.

02:01 - Conditions of Detention
4 days in isolation: concrete walls, no mattress, a flickering light. His phone was confiscated, no contact with the outside world.

04:21 - Legal Pretext
France claims Telegram ignores their requests. Durov says the company complies with EU laws and already provides data through appropriate channels.

11:11 - Publicity and Political PR
The arrest instantly hit the press. “I wasn’t allowed to read news about myself, but the whole world did.”

17:22 - Monetization but no Compromises
Telegram earns money without selling data. 1 billion monthly active users and not a single tracker.

30:36 - The Real Reason for Pressure?
“Some authorities just want to spy. And encryption gets in their way.”

35:18 - Attempts to Legalize Backdoors
France tried to ban end-to-end encryption. The bill failed, but the threat remains.

49:52 - Deceived by the ‘Civilized World’
“France treats me as a suspect, but no one’s afraid to travel to Uzbekistan. That’s ironic.”

58:48 - Quantum Threats Mitigation
Quantum-resistant encryption is the future. Telegram is preparing for it.

01:02:55 - Complete Rejection of Phones
Durov hasn’t used a smartphone in over a year. Only a laptop and iPad - no trackers.

01:09:40 - YouTube Censors the Interview
Tucker’s interview was banned. Official reason: lack of “acceptable opinion.”

🔗 Watch the original on YouTube

Your interviewer @TonPost

🎁Gifts as a reason to panic? Or is this the best Web3 onboarding yet?

Along the hype around Telegram Gifts in TON, skepticism is also growing. We hear things like "it's just gambling," "referral farms pushing tons of volume," "price is inflated." It makes it seem like just another bubble. But let’s take deeper look.

What if Telegram Gifts are the next Notcoin?
Not "play-to-airdrop," but rather trade-to-airdrop or gift-to-onboard. Instead of a shallow motivation like "click the button", it offers real engagement with Web3: collections, trading, marketplaces, visual identity. And most importantly, it's all inside the world’s second-most-popular messenger, not in yet another web app users will abandon.

What are the gifts really meant for?
- Attracting new users through emotion, excitement, collections, visual interest, and of course, FOMO
- Onboarding through mechanics, not tutorials
- Expanding the familiar Telegram environment into a Web3 experience

We’re now seeing Twitch streamers join the movement, whose audiences are trained on emotional, gamified mechanics - and they’re drawing their viewers into Telegram Gifts and into the TON blockchain. They're actually bringing in new users. Just look at the monthly active user (MAU) charts.

Sure, most transactions are off-chain for now, but that was just the first step. It’s simple, convenient, and works for an audience that’s likely hearing the word “blockchain” for the first time. From there, they'll start exploring: stickers, wallets, tokens, games, services. This is a smart way of gradual onboarding - not dumping it as “here’s DeFi, go use it.”

TON backend is powering all this magic. Gifts are the first visible Web3 use case in Telegram that combines utility, market dynamics, and visual appeal. NFT gifts live right inside Telegram profiles - already more valuable than most JPEGs out there.

Will Telegram launch NFT stickers right away? Probably not, as it would dilute liquidity. The current focus is on Gifts. Splitting volume between formats would hurt metrics and complicate promotion. Stickers are likely the next step, once the market saturates and is ready for a new trigger.

Telegram is doing what no other Web3 project does: it is undertaking mass onboarding from Web2 to Web3. Blockchains can be as fast and decentralized as they want, but are pointless without the people. And Telegram is bringing the people in. By the millions. Through emotion, gamification, and built-in UX.

And if Gifts are something to panic about, then maybe we’re looking at the most successful Web3 onboarding hack in history.

Facts for your collection by @TonPost

🔒Second attempt to block Telegram?

Recently, millions of Russians experienced issues with Telegram. Chats would load intermittently, and mini-apps outright couldn't open. Officially, everything was apparently “stable,” but users in various regions reported widespread outages.

People scrambled for workarounds: some used VPNs, while developers rushed to rework their service architectures just to keep their apps functioning. Déjà vu? That’s because this already happened in 2018, when Roskomnadzor tried to block Telegram and ended up breaking half the Russian internet. Now it feels all too familiar, especially as the government introduced its own “Telegram killer.”

Coincidence? We think not. Insiders and IT experts suspect these current issues are intentional. Roskomnadzor appears to be testing its old-school method of “slowing down” traffic. The goal: throttle Telegram, and even WhatsApp, to clear the runway for a new state-backed messenger.

In plain language: foreign messengers will either leave voluntarily, or be forced out. Many see the recent glitches as a test run before a full-scale takedown.

Meet MAX - the new national messenger that the government is betting on. It’s being developed by the VK holding company with full state approval (and generous billions in government funding).

In essence, MAX is a pixel-perfect Telegram clone: interface, animations, chats, groups - everything looks painfully familiar to Tg users.

Noт surprisingly, there's nothing innovative about it. But it does offer something Telegram doesn’t: full integration with the state. Developers boast about “deep integration with public services” as the app’s key feature, making it more like China’s WeChat.

In beta, MAX can already send messages, make voice/video calls, run mini-apps and bots, and includes integrated payments - just like its competitors. Officials have announced upcoming features like digital ID cards, school group chats, and other government-linked services. It’s basically Big Brother in Telegram skin.

But here’s the question: how will anyone make money inside MAX?
Telegram spent years building an ecosystem where bot and channel developers found ways to monetize, from ads to subscriptions.

What does MAX offer its developers? There’s a bot and mini-app platform, but no guarantee that independent developers can earn. In fact, rumors suggest that all commerce in MAX will be tightly controlled by the state, meaning no free advertising nor crypto donations.

The potential audience size isn't great either. Telegram has a global user base, while MAX is effectively restricted to Russia.

Outside Russia, the app has no future: no one in the West is going to embrace a government-run messenger supervised by Roskomnadzor. Without a living, breathing community, every “national platform” is dead on arrival.

Тhe most absurd part, as revealed by some media outlets, is a spicy detail: MAX allegedly includes a feature that allows spouses to read each other’s messages, if officially married.

It’s supposedly being sold as a “convenient way to solve family matters” - letting partners stay informed about children or medical issues. This madness would be automatically activated via integration with government marriage records - no additional consent required.

The state is clearly pushing a dead-on-arrival messenger from a dead company (VK), using underhanded blocks on competitors and administrative pressure. But popularity can’t be assigned by decree - people stick with Telegram not because there are no alternatives, but because it represents freedom and privacy.

The key takeaway: it's not about the apps, it’s about who’s behind them.
Choosing between Telegram and MAX is a choice between free communication and top-down control.

Your Big Brother-aware @TonPost

😎“The Real AI is what my brother Nikolai is working on.” - Pavel Durov

Pavel gave his most extensive interview ever to the French magazine Le Point. For the first time, he spoke openly about topics like his arrest in France, accusations, Telegram, Elon Musk, over 100 children via donation, ideology, crypto, censorship, and philosophy.

But the most interesting part is hidden between the lines: AI. As expected, Telegram is moving toward becoming a full-fledged AI infrastructure.

First - a potential collaboration with Grok from xAI:
- Telegram receives funding and possibly a stake in what could become a future competitor to OpenAI
- Grok tests large-scale AI integration in real chats
- Both sides gain practical experience

This isn't just “AI added to a messenger.” It’s a commitment for the future.

Everything is set for the launch of a hypothetical TGAI:
- Custom assistants
- APIs and SDKs for developers inside and outside the messenger
- Contests for creating mods and intelligent agents
- Similar to Mini Apps, only deeper and smarter.

"Nikolai is a genius. Right now, he's working on a scalable blockchain architecture and real AI".

AI isn’t a trendy buzzword - it's the foundation of Telegram’s next step in evolution. And if Nikolai Durov is in charge of that foundation’s architecture, you better believe that it will be scalable and unconventional.

→ See this link for more details

Your artificial @TonPost

🎁Telegram Gifts - on Times Square Screens

The organizers of NFT.NYC featured Telegram Gifts and TON in their official promo video. In the heart of New York, on the main stage, we saw Jack Booth, Head of IP at TON, make his speech.

The main topic was TON as an infrastructure for next-gen digital collectibles.

“All conversations at NFTNYC2025 boil down to this: TON is the future of digital collectibles…” — Martin Mässer, TON Foundation

Telegram gifts are becoming part of the global agenda. TON is no longer just "Telegram’s alternative blockchain," but a contender for the global standard.

NFT.NYC is the world’s largest annual conference for NFTs and Web3. Since 2019, it has brought together tens of thousands of participants: from artists and collectors to top executives from Coinbase, OpenSea, Yuga Labs, and Polygon.

What's in it for TON and Telegram?
- Entry into the Western Web3 market with potential institutional participation
- Reaffirming TON as a platform not only for memes and farming, but also for digital ownership
- Establishing Telegram as a native Web3 UX environment, where users interact with collections seamlessly right in the chat

Telegram changed from a passive observer to become the new media platform for Web3. The ecosystem already includes Chimpers, Snoop Dogg, Pudgy Penguins, Azuki, doodleverse, Sappy Seals, Moonbirds, and even BAYC - all with their own Telegram channels and custom sticker packs.

That's not just a one-off collaboration, but a gradual migration of the Web3 community into Telegram - a space that already has users, distribution, and blockchain infrastructure via TON. Or in other words, a strategic entry into the U.S. market — whichever way you see it 😎

Your collector @TonPost

💸FIVA is evolving: finance inside Telegram, as it should be

The FIVA project, known for its yield tokenization technology on TON, is stepping up to a new level. No longer just some DeFi infrastructure, it became a convenient financial app built directly into Telegram Mini Apps (TMA).

- Up to 15% APY on USDT (in partnership with EVAA)
- Up to 10% APY on TON
- Simple, "bank-like" interface
- Full control over your funds
- Advanced strategies for experienced users

FIVA solves a key problem in DeFi: the entry barrier. There's no need to understand yield tokens, liquidity pools, or other complexities: everything runs "behind the scenes" while the user enjoys a clear interface and stable returns.

Betting on TON and Telegram as the main gateway into Web3 is a timely and sensible move.

🔗Check out FIVA

Your simplified @TonPost

💥Telegram integrates TON amid a strike against the Apple tax

At the end of June, a court denied Apple’s request to overturn Judge Rogers’ ruling: the company can no longer charge fees for third-party payments inside the App Store and must allow links to external purchases. For now, this applies only in the U.S., but it represents a significant move in the fight against Apple’s monopoly.

Telegram responded quickly, releasing an update just yesterday introducing suggested posts: any offer in a channel can now be paid for using Telegram Stars or TON.

Why TON is the better choice:
- Payments in TON are irreversible, unlike Stars, which can be refunded through Apple for up to 21 days.
- Authors receive payment 24 hours after publication. If the post is deleted before that time, TON is refunded.
- A 15% fee is Telegram’s charge for acting as a guarantor: the channel gets 85%, and you're protected.
- You can top up your balance via Fragment (with KYC) or through Peskar at Split.tg.

Before publishing, you can propose edits: change the text, image, or price. Once both sides agree, the post is published immediately or on schedule.

Telegram is cautiously expanding TON features under new App Store rules. The removal of the Apple tax paves the way for crypto monetization, and it's not about to end anytime soon.

💎You can spin the little diamond icon on the TON balance page. That’s today’s fun fact. More updates coming soon.

Your cautious @TonPost

💰New Interview with Manuel Stotz

Manuel Stotz, President of the TON Foundation and Executive Chairman of TON Strategy Co (NASDAQ: VERB), has been a key investor in TON for nearly four years. Today, he oversees the ecosystem’s largest digital fund.

In January, Verb raised $558 million through a PIPE deal — a mechanism where investors purchase shares directly on Nasdaq, with proceeds immediately allocated to acquiring TON. The round attracted major backers, including Vy Capital (Elon Musk investors), Ribbit, Blockchain.com, Kraken, Galaxy, DCG, and others.

"We already hold more TON than Michael Saylor holds in Bitcoin. Verb is on track to become the most dominant digital fund across any ecosystem".

In this interview, Stotz framed TON as a “global distribution machine,” rather than just a blockchain.
- TON has the potential to become the “WeChat of the West.”
- Verb is pursuing an aggressive, debt-free fund strategy.
- TON’s architecture and deep integration with Telegram provide it with a unique competitive edge.
- Stablecoins could unlock a trillion-dollar market directly inside Telegram.

Content is King — distribution is the Queen, @TonPost

🌟Max Crown Appointed President and CEO of TON Foundation; Manuel Stotz to Lead TON Strategy Co.

TON Foundation expanded Max Crown’s role: he now holds two positions at once — CEO and President of TON Foundation.
The decision comes as Manuel Stotz steps down from his role as Chairman to focus on Verb Technology Company (soon to be TON Strategy Co.) and integrating TON into global finance.

Crown, co-founder of MoonPay, became CEO of TON Foundation earlier this year and quickly established himself as a trusted figure by the foundation’s board. He is responsible for developing TON infrastructure for a decentralized future: finance, gaming, and digital ownership.

Stotz leaves behind major achievements: $558 million raised in PIPE, $400 million institutional investments in TON, and the launch of TON Wallet in the United States.

TON Foundation will continue to support developers and projects through grants, partnerships, and technical infrastructure, strengthening the TON × Telegram connection and opening the ecosystem to an audience of a billion users.

Let us see how Max manages to sit on all chairs at once, namely: CEO and President of TON Foundation, involvement in MoonPay, and his occasional habit of shilling random tokens.

Your revolutionary, @TonPost

🍆False Start for TON Foundation Ahead of U.S. Market Entry

TON Foundation has, in a sense, made a false start into the U.S. market, as the initial focus should have been on energizing and onboarding the CIS audience — something that has been somewhat overlooked.

Yes, we've seen some regional activities, but nothing viral or outstanding involving celebrities from CIS. Just think of the effect influencers like Evelone or Zloy can create. Why not support CIS media figures? Their audiences can not only “buy a gift” but actually join the Telegram ecosystem and start to use TON.

It doesn’t have to be all about the gifts hype. The focus could be on games, trading (frankly, also a hype), and opportunities for developers and founders.

Once the CIS market is sufficiently developed, the organic pull of Western users will multiply many times over. The current strategies — creating a Snoop Dogg channel, dropping hay packets, and similar moves with French Montana — amount to nothing more than a “dead cat bounce.”

There is no onboarding for newcomers: no educational materials, no community chats or groups for “landing” users — nothing at all.

Note that Telegram, unlike other social networks and messengers, doesn’t have algorithms that instantly surface random channel posts in feeds. Users who do join Telegram will only see their idol’s channel, contacts who once registered, and ads (unless they’ve purchased Telegram Premium).

Buying a gift for a celebrity — which is most common in the CIS market anyway — is not onboarding into Telegram, and certainly not into TON.

It’s simply a waste of money, time, and resources in a misguided attempt to buy the loyalty of Western audiences.

Your realist, @TonPost

🖥 TON CIS Dev 1-Day Bootcamp in St. Petersburg: Introduction to the new TOLK language

On August 30 in St. Petersburg, there will be an in-person intensive TON CIS Dev 1-Day Bootcamp for developers. The main focus will be on TOLK: a new programming language for smart contracts on TON.

TOLK is a language created specifically for TON to simplify and speed up smart contract development. It gets rid of the complexity with current tools (FunC, Fift) and uses syntaxes familiar to most developers.

In short, TOLK is for those who:
- want to write smart contracts fast and clearly
- feel a barrier to entry when working with TON products
- develop Mini Apps and other services with deep blockchain integration

Participants will get introduced to the TOLK language and its practical applications. Organizers will showcase best practices in smart contract development and security, hold a Q&A session with the language’s creator, and hold interactive activities with prizes for guests.

Speakers include:
- Anastasia Yugova, Head of TON CIS Hub
- Alexander Kirsanov, a TOLK developer
- The Monetag team, a platform that monetizes Telegram Mini Apps, websites, and applications

📅 Date: August 30, start at 14:00
📍 City: St. Petersburg

To attend the event: fill out the form, outline your experience with TON, and attach your GitHub profile. Organizers will confirm their selection by direct message.

➡️ Sign Up Here

Your TOLKative @TonPost

🎤TON of Alpha — Manuel Stotz on TON Strategy and Satorica*

In the new episode of TON of Alpha Z, Manuel Stotz — a $558M investor, founder of Kingsway Capital, and Executive Chairman of TON Strategy — sat down for an interview. Manuel talked about his journey from Goldman Sachs and Kingsway to investing in TON, why he considers TON “a real cryptocurrency for billions of users,” and why Bitcoin = a new continent, and TON = Satorica, the next chapter in digital history.

Special focus was put on the connection between TON and Telegram. Manny explains why Telegram is TON’s “nuclear weapon,” how $VERB became the only DAT-proxy for investors in TON and Telegram on NASDAQ, and why TON has the biggest upside compared to ETH and SOL. They also discuss the prospects of a Telegram stablecoin with trillion-dollar potential, the launch of tgBTC, and TON’s path to mass adoption.

Timestamps:
1:00 — Introducing Manny
1:50 — From Goldman and Kingsway to Bitcoin and TON
3:00 — 3 billion people without bank accounts → why they need TON
4:40 — Bitcoin as a new continent → TON as Satorica
6:00 — Cyberspace: ownership, freedom, and proof of work
10:00 — Altcoins, stablecoins, and the scale of Telegram
11:00 — Pavel Durov as the “GOAT” and the advantage of Telegram
13:25 — Transition from Web1 and Web2 to Web3: from information to money
16:20 — The $558M deal and TON DAT listing on Nasdaq
18:20 — Permanent capital vs ETF: TON’s strategy
20:15 — How TON differs from ETH and SOL and why it has more potential
21:50 — $VERB as the only TON company-fund
24:10 — Why TON is not yet in the U.S. and the path to all-time highs
25:50 — “Playbook”: book value, staking, and income
32:50 — Scaling TON: from $1B to $100B
36:16 — The idea of a Telegram-TON stablecoin and a trillion-dollar business
37:42 — TON as “Telegram’s national currency”
44:00 — tgBTC and stablecoins: a step toward mass use
55:50 — Why the TON DAT narrative matters
57:20 — Manny on leadership and the mission of freedom
59:00 — The alpha nobody talks about

TON of Alpha — an open show for institutions and billions. Supported by TONX and KTON - early TON miners since 2021.

*Satori — a Japanese concept in Zen Buddhism, meaning sudden enlightenment or realization of the true nature of reality.

Your alpha, @TonPost