Supporting the open, permissionless future of TON
The TON Foundation empowers builders, creators, and communities to shape a freer digital ecosystem - open to everyone, everywhere.
Our Mission
To create a global, decentralized blockchain ecosystem that makes cryptocurrency and Web3 accessible and easy to use for billions, all within Telegram.
Our core values
User-Friendly Web3
Integrates crypto and Web3 features directly into Telegram for easy access.
Community Driven
Users have full control over their digital identity, data, and assets.
Transparency
All grants and project updates are publicly available to ensure openness.
Decentralization & Control
Users have full control over their digital identity, data, and assets.
Scalable & Efficient
TON blockchain enables high-speed transactions, DeFi, gaming, & microtransactions.
Developer Support
Provides grants and tools to builders, fostering open-source projects and ecosystem growth.
The Foundation Council
The Open Network Foundation team is made up of various TON Community contributors who bring together diverse expertise to actively shape platform development and drive TON's growth.
Steve Yun
Foundation Council Member
Barbara Schübach
Foundation Council Member
The history of TON
TON's history reflects a remarkable transformation–from Telegram's initial vision to a fully decentralized network maintained by an independent community. Discover the milestones that marked this evolution.
June 2022
Following the initial distribution of coins, TON enters into a new phase, expanding the number of validators and coins involved in validation. This advancement enhances the stability and security of the network.
November 2019
The Telegram Open Network (TON) testnet2 is launched, with 5 billion coins minted. A small fraction, equivalent to 1.45% of the supply, is allocated to developers and testers.
May 2020
After the SEC prohibited Telegram from issuing Grams to investors, Telegram ceased its work on the TON Ecosystem. testnet2 tokens are placed into 20 Proof-of-Work Giver smart contracts.
November 2020
Testnet2 was promoted to mainnet through a majority vote of network participants. Coins are still being distributed through Proof-of-Work Giver contracts.