📅 August 11 | United States / Dubai
In a move few saw coming, Coinbase Ventures acquired an undisclosed amount of TON tokens directly from Telegram, a senior executive from the TON Foundation confirmed. The transaction, which was carried out outside of public exchanges, fuels speculation about a strategic alliance between the American crypto giant and the popular messaging platform.
This is no small feat: TON, the blockchain powered by Telegram, has seen significant adoption thanks to its native integration into the app and a growing ecosystem of mini-apps and integrated payments. Coinbase Ventures' direct purchase from the creator not only provides liquidity, but could also signal an institutional approach to TON's ambitious global expansion plan.
A Bridge Between Silicon Valley and Telegram's Web3
According to the TON Foundation executive, the purchase was made privately and directly, avoiding the price fluctuations typical of the open market. Although the exact amount or number of tokens was not disclosed, the transaction sends a clear signal: TON is entering the radar of the crypto capital majors.
The relationship between Coinbase and TON could benefit both parties:
For Coinbase, it means early access to a network that already has hundreds of millions of potential users via Telegram.
For TON, it represents institutional backing and potential exposure to broader investment markets, including regulated clients in the US.
The move comes at a key moment: TON has been gaining ground in market capitalization and actual usage, with daily transaction metrics that rival those of more established networks like Solana or Polygon.
While neither Coinbase Ventures nor Telegram have made any public statements beyond confirmation, speculation is already rife within the ecosystem about deeper integrations, from preferential listings on the Coinbase Exchange to staking programs or direct support in the messaging app's wallet.
Topic Opinion:
Coinbase knows that the value of a blockchain lies not only in its technology, but also in its user base. And in that sense, TON has an almost unassailable advantage: hundreds of millions of people already use Telegram every day. The big challenge will be how to convert this mass into active users of the ecosystem without losing the decentralized spirit.
💬 Is Coinbase looking to enter the Telegram universe or is it just another strategic investment?
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