In a monumental step for the Web3 world, The Open Platform (TOP)āthe powerhouse behind Telegramās TON blockchain ecosystemāhas officially become a unicorn. With a staggering $28.5 million raised in Series A funding and a valuation now sitting at $1 billion, TOP is not just riding the crypto waveāitās steering it. And the mission? Global expansion, with eyes firmly set on the U.S. and European markets.
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š” What is TOP?
TOP (The Open Platform) is the core development team behind some of the most important tools and apps within the Telegram Open Network (TON). Itās best known for building the "Wallet in Telegram"āa user-friendly crypto wallet already embedded in Telegram's main menu for many users across Asia and other regions.
With over 1 billion users, Telegram is one of the largest messaging apps on the planet, and TON is its gateway to blockchain-powered applicationsāfrom decentralized finance (DeFi) to NFT marketplaces and AI integrations.
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šø The Big Raise: $28.5 Million from Crypto Giants
This Series A round was led by Ribbit Capital, a big name in fintech investments, and joined by crypto heavyweight Pantera Capital, among others. The funding round gives investors roughly 5% equity in TOPāhighlighting just how valuable the company is perceived to be in the blockchain space.
But hereās the real kicker: this funding round now pushes TOPās valuation to $1 billion, officially giving it the highly coveted unicorn status.
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š Why This Matters: Telegramās Gateway to the West
Currently, Telegram users outside the U.S. and Europe already enjoy seamless access to crypto tools directly in the app. But Western markets are a whole different beast, often slowed down by regulatory complexities and high infrastructure costs.
TOPās newly raised capital will specifically be used to:
ā Expand TONās wallet and crypto features into U.S. and European markets
ā Build TON-based blockchain games and apps
ā Develop advanced AI tools integrated with Web3
ā Strengthen compliance to meet Western regulations
ā Onboard new developers and projects into the TON ecosystem
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š The Bigger Picture: TONās Ecosystem Is Booming
This isnāt just about one company. The entire TON ecosystem is exploding with momentum. Previously, the TON Foundation revealed over $400 million in support from major venture firms including:
š¹ Sequoia Capital
š¹ Draper Associates
š¹ Benchmark Capital
These are not your average crypto backersāthese are Silicon Valley royalty, signaling a major wave of traditional VC money entering Telegramās crypto playground.
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š¤ Whatās Next for TOP?
With this funding, TOP isnāt just settling for wallet expansion. They are also working on:
šø GameFi platforms on TON
šø AI-integrated dApps
šø Tools to attract mainstream users with zero blockchain experience
šø Developer kits to supercharge the TON-based app ecosystem
As crypto adoption continues to evolve, Telegramās built-in Web3 capabilities could become a model for future social apps. If executed right, it could even give Metaās own blockchain plans a serious run for their money.
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š§ Final Thoughts: A New Era for Blockchain Adoption
The rise of TOP marks a shift in how Web3 apps are delivered to the massesānot through niche platforms, but through everyday apps people already use.
Telegramās native integration of crypto wallets and decentralized tools removes one of the biggest friction points in blockchain adoption: complex user experience.
With $28.5 million now powering its global push and a $1B valuation under its belt, TOP isnāt just building on TONātheyāre transforming how crypto is experienced in the real world.
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š¢ #NoobToProTrader Insight
This funding news is not just a bullish signal for TON but for the broader vision of social + blockchain convergence. Keep an eye on TOP, TON, and Telegramāthey may redefine the future of Web3 communication.
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