The Open Network Foundation has launched TON Pay, a brand new payment software development kit (SDK) designed to bring cryptocurrencies to on a regular basis consumer transactions throughout the Telegram ecosystem.
In a release shared with Cointelegraph on Monday, the product is positioned as an easy, wallet-agnostic payment layer that permits merchants and mini-app developers to simply accept crypto directly through Telegram, with the goal of turning the app right into a hub for seamless blockchain-based trading.
According to the TON Foundation, TON Pay provides developers with a single software kit that integrates with Telegram Mini Apps, eliminating much of the friction related to managing wallet infrastructure, billing and checkout operations.
TON Foundation Vice President of Payments Nikola Plecas said the tool allows merchants to “accept payments seamlessly and natively on TON through an easy SDK integration,” adding that it really works with various wallets and tokens including Toncoin (TON) and Tethers USDt (USDT).
The system is designed to be scalable, he said, with goal transaction times of lower than a second and average fees under a cent. According to Plecas, the last word goal is to “enable transactions to Telegram’s global audience of over 1.1 billion monthly lively users.”
By embedding payments directly into Telegram, TON Pay seeks to interrupt down common barriers to cryptocurrency adoption, corresponding to: B. multi-step payment processes, prepayment of gas fees and the dearth of straightforward merchant tools.
TON Pay is geared toward on a regular basis payments inside Telegram
Initially, TON Pay shall be operated inside Telegram Mini Apps, with plans to expand to web environments and other platforms over time.
Telegram mini apps. Source: Telegram
Plecas said the muse initially focused on refining the in-app experience, noting that “on-chain Telegram-based trading represents an incredible opportunity.”
Future updates, he said, would add support for subscriptions, gasless transactions and region-specific exits.
The team also plans to work with local third-party providers for custody, compliance and fiat conversion services, an approach geared toward balancing decentralization with regulatory requirements.
Optional trader tools, including analytics and multi-party computing wallets, are also in development.
TON Pay joins the crowded “every part app” race
The launch of TON Pay comes at a time when other major platforms are moving to integrated payments. Elon Musk's
Coinbase is pursuing an identical strategy, rebranding Coinbase Wallet as Base-App, a crypto-everything app that mixes a wallet with social features, payments, trading and support for on-chain mini-apps running on its Base Layer 2 network.
TON has long faced skepticism related to its deep integration with Telegram, which has previously been criticized for a scarcity of decentralization, unclear governance and scams related to unofficial projects.
The TON Foundation believes that TON stays an open, permissionless network where developers can construct freely.
Merchants using TON Pay must comply with “platform-specific terms and policies” set by Telegram, in line with Plecas, with additional requirements applying because the SDK expands beyond the app.
“We are developing a system that addresses key challenges in crypto payments,” Plecas said, corresponding to: B. Friction, gas fees and onboarding, while remaining competitive with fiat systems.
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