**🚀 Ethena x TON: Bring Neobank Experience to Telegram!**
🔹 **Breaking News:**
- **Ethena Labs** (issuer of the stablecoin **USDe**) officially collaborates with **TON Blockchain** to bring **USDe to Telegram**!
- **1 billion Telegram users** can now **send, store, & use USDe** directly in the app.
💡 **What Are the Benefits?**
- **USDe** will be integrated with:
- Non-custodial TON Wallet
- Built-in Telegram Wallet
- All **DeFi protocols on TON**
- Users can **stake USDe** to receive **Ton Staked USDe (tsUSDe)** with rewards of up to **10% APY** (for eligible users).
📈 **Ethena's Goals:**
- Compete with **Tether (USDT)** in the DeFi ecosystem.
- Mimic the success of **Alibaba & Tencent** which once managed **$265 billion** in deposits from 850 million users.
- Future plans: **Payment integration via Apple Pay & TON debit card** (summer 2024).
💥 **Impact on TON:**
- **TON has been sluggish** since mid-2024:
- DEX volume plummeted.
- TVL dropped from **$775 million (July 2024)** to **$133.5 million**.
- **TON price fell 61.5%** from its ATH.
- This collaboration could be a **breath of fresh air** to revive network activity.
🎯 **Why Is This Interesting?**
- **Telegram = Mass Gateway** to crypto, especially in developing countries (Asia, Africa, Latin America).
- **USDe offers attractive yields** compared to traditional products.
- If successful, this could be a **game-changer for stablecoin & DeFi adoption**.
📌 **Predictions:**
- Will this integration help **TON recover**?
- Will **USDe** become a serious competitor to **USDT**?
