Telegram Wallets Must Integrate with TON Connect by Feb 21 or Face Suspension

Key Points:

• Telegram requires all third-party crypto wallets to adopt TON Connect and migrate to The Open Network (TON) blockchain by February 21 or face suspension.
• The move is part of Telegram’s exclusive partnership with the TON Foundation, making TON the only blockchain supported by its services.

Telegram has announced that all third-party cryptocurrency wallets on its platform must adopt TON Connect as the sole wallet connection protocol and transition to The Open Network (TON) blockchain by February 21.

Read more: TON Blockchain Layer 2 Coming Soon With the Support of Polygon’s Technology

Telegram Mandates TON Connect Migration for Crypto Wallets

The new requirement is part of Telegram’s exclusive partnership with the TON Foundation, which designates TON as the only supported blockchain for messenger services. According to Cointelegraph, existing Mini Apps operating on other blockchains must migrate to TON, including transferring assets, adjusting smart contracts, and using TON Connect exclusively.

TON Connect, introduced in April 2022, is an open-source toolkit designed as a universal authentication standard. It facilitates secure communication between wallets and applications in the TON ecosystem, allowing users to log into services using their TON wallets instead of traditional credentials like usernames and passwords.

Developer Concerns Rise Over Telegram’s Blockchain Shift

Wallet in Telegram, the platform’s default crypto wallet service, will remain unaffected by these changes. Some third-party wallets had already integrated TON Connect before Telegram‘s formal announcement. Failure to comply will result in service suspension. The decision has sparked concerns among developers about Telegram’s commitment to decentralization.