TON President on Telegram's path to the status of a global Web3 super app

The integration of payments, messaging, and digital identification within Telegram could transform the messenger into a globally accessible super app for the digital economy. That’s the vision shared by TON Foundation President Manuel Stotz in an interview with TheStreet.

According to Stotz, Telegram is already evolving into a full-fledged content marketplace powered by cryptocurrency.

“Influencers can now share exclusive content — videos, photos, music — and charge fans directly. This is already driving creator economy monetization,” he explained.

However, the implications of integrating digital assets into a messenger go far beyond content monetization, he believes.

Globally, nearly 3 billion people lack access to traditional banking services or face severe restrictions. In many developing countries, stable currencies are out of reach. Instead, people rely on rapidly depreciating local money — like Zimbabwean banknotes denominated in the trillions, Stotz noted.

“But now, they have smartphones,” he emphasized.

These devices, paired with internet access, unlock tools such as stablecoins — enabling people to preserve savings and transact more reliably. In some parts of the world, this is not just a matter of financial inclusion, but of basic human rights and survival, he stressed.

In January, Telegram and the TON Foundation signed an exclusive agreement requiring all integrated Web3 apps on the platform to operate solely on The Open Network (TON). The move sparked criticism in the crypto community over concerns of monopolization.

Meanwhile, TON developers have unveiled their roadmap for the first half of 2025, outlining further growth plans for the ecosystem.