TON (The Open Network) is a blockchain that, over the past couple of years, has traveled a path from a high-profile scandal with U.S. regulators to a full-fledged ecosystem integrated into Telegram and understandable even to those who never previously considered cryptocurrencies.
Today, it is discussed not only in terms of technology but also from a practical point of view: where to buy TON, how to exchange TON for rubles, where to find an online crypto exchange, and how to withdraw cryptocurrency to rubles or to a card. Why has interest in the project grown? What makes TON unique? And could it challenge giants like Ethereum and Solana?
Let’s break it down — thoroughly, with facts, and without fluff.
📉 How It All Started: Success, Ban, and the “Death” of TON
TON was created in 2018 by the Telegram team led by Pavel Durov. The project literally exploded onto the market: within just a few months, it raised $1.7 billion in investments, and its token Gram was planned as the foundation of the messenger’s digital economy.
But in 2020, everything changed abruptly: the U.S. SEC sued Telegram, accusing the company of issuing unregistered securities. The court sided with the regulator, and Durov was forced to shut down the project.
“Unfortunately, the American court prohibited Telegram from distributing Gram — our cryptocurrency. I’m sad, but we are officially closing our involvement with TON,”
— Pavel Durov, Telegram founder
Source: X / @durov
Thus, TON lost its founder. But the project did not die — it simply passed into other hands.
⚙️ Revival: How the Community Gave the Project a Second Life
After Telegram’s exit, development continued by an independent team — the TON Foundation, formed by developers and enthusiasts passionate about the network’s potential. The new TON kept its architecture but adopted a new philosophy — a fully open community with no central control.
By 2023, the project was gaining momentum again, especially after the official integration of the TON wallet into Telegram. Now any messenger user can send TON with a couple of clicks, just like sending a message.
This step was a trigger: interest in TON soared, along with demand for practical functions like exchanging TON for rubles, buying the token, transferring crypto to a card, and other everyday operations.
🔁 TON and Fiat: Easy Interaction with Traditional Money
With growing popularity of the ecosystem and TON’s integration into Telegram, more users are using it not only as a digital asset but also as a convenient tool for fiat integration.
For example, today you can:
easily understand where to buy TON without complicated instructions;
use an online crypto exchange or crypto exchanger with a fast interface;
exchange TON for rubles while choosing the best rate;
buy TON for rubles directly from a bank card;
withdraw cryptocurrency to rubles or withdraw crypto to a card without diving into complex technical schemes;
quickly transfer cryptocurrency to a card using clear and accessible tools.
Most users do this through the best crypto exchangers supporting TON, operating 24/7, allowing you to convert tokens from your wallet into familiar currency on your card within minutes. Such an online crypto exchange becomes the bridge between Web3 and everyday life.
🌐 What Makes TON Special
TON is not just a cryptocurrency but a full ecosystem aimed at mass adoption. Currently, it actively supports:
TON Wallet — wallet built directly into Telegram;
TON DNS — addresses like username.ton instead of crypto hashes;
TON Storage — decentralized data storage;
NFT and GameFi — easy purchases directly within chats;
Tap-to-Earn games — earning tokens for activity.
“TON is becoming the interface between billions of users and crypto universes. It’s a bridge, not just another token,”
— Justin Hyun, Investment Director at TON Foundation
Source: X / @justinhyun88
⚔️ Comparing TON with Other Projects
Unlike Ethereum and Solana, TON was originally designed for a broad audience unfamiliar with blockchain. Its key advantage is simplicity: no need to install third-party wallets or learn DeFi. Everything is built right into Telegram and works out of the box.
TON’s speed is impressive — over 55,000 transactions per second (TPS). That’s nearly twice as fast as Solana and hundreds of times faster than Ethereum, which processes about 30 TPS. For users, this means instant, delay-free transfers.
Fees on TON are minimal — less than $0.01 per transaction. For comparison, Ethereum fees can reach $5 during high demand, and while Solana’s fees are low (around $0.00025), the network occasionally suffers outages and congestion.
Telegram integration is the key difference between TON and other cryptocurrencies. Ethereum and Solana require third-party wallets and platforms, while TON operates where millions of users already are — right inside Telegram.
For newcomers, TON feels intuitive. There’s no need to understand smart contracts or connect Metamask — TON offers an interface understandable without preparation. Ethereum and Solana remain more tools for developers and crypto geeks.
Mass adoption of TON goes through the messenger: users today can play games, buy NFTs, send tokens, or participate in Tap-to-Earn games — all inside Telegram. Ethereum focuses on DeFi and smart contracts, Solana on NFTs and gamification, but TON targets everyday use.
🧠 Interesting Facts About TON
TON demonstrated record speeds — over 100,000 TPS;
Since early 2024, active users increased by 700%;
TVL (Total Value Locked) in TON DeFi exceeded $500 million by mid-2025;
NFTs can be purchased directly in Telegram chats without leaving them;
Over 350 active projects support TON in its ecosystem.
“TON is not just a token. It’s an experiment in integrating blockchain into everyday life. And it’s already proving it’s possible,”
— Chris Burniske, venture investor
Source: X / @cburniske
“The TON project is what we wanted to do with Libra, but Telegram did it better and faster,”
— David Marcus, former head of the Diem project (Meta)
Source: X / @davidmarcus
🔚 TON Is Not Just Another Crypto Asset
The main advantage of TON is simplicity and accessibility. Where others require wallet installation and dozens of steps, TON lets you exchange TON for rubles, transfer cryptocurrency to a card, or simply use a crypto exchanger — all in just two clicks.
That’s why queries like where to buy TON, buy TON for rubles, crypto withdrawal to card, online crypto exchanger, or best crypto exchangers are so relevant today. People don’t want to figure out blockchain — they want it to “just work.” TON makes that possible.
