TON+Telegram: The ‘Realistic Answer’ to Mass Blockchain Adoption – Exclusive Interview with TON Foundation’s New CEO Max Crown
How can blockchain truly enter ordinary people’s lives? Max Crown, the new CEO of the TON Foundation, gave the answer in a recent interview: Deep integration with Telegram allows 1 billion users to use blockchain ‘unconsciously’. This veteran in fintech and regulation shared TON’s core strategy publicly for the first time since taking office in April 2025.
Why TON?
“What attracted me is that it can bring the next billion users into the crypto world – not just talk, but actually do it.” Max Crown admitted. He observed that most blockchain technologies, though powerful, are “not for ordinary people,” while TON’s integration with Telegram gives blockchain a chance to integrate into daily life on a large scale. “This transformative opportunity is incredibly exciting.”
Long-term Vision: Making Blockchain ‘Invisible’ in Daily Life
Max’s goal is simple: Let users use blockchain every day without realizing it. Sending money, using digital services, playing games… everything should be as natural as using a regular app. The ultimate vision is for TON to become the underlying infrastructure of the next internet – secure, decentralized, and “usable by everyone.”
Biggest Challenge: Balancing ‘Decentralization’ and ‘Efficient Integration’
“Coordinating between the decentralized developer community and a centralized, fast-paced platform like Telegram is the biggest challenge.” But he sees this as an opportunity: “It will force us to optimize tools (like TON Connect) to make the developer and user experience smoother.”
TON+Telegram’s ‘Killer Feature’: A Built-in 1 Billion User Pool
“It’s rare to work on infrastructure with a built-in 1 billion users.” Max emphasized that Telegram allows TON to “reach users immediately,” completely changing the game. From Mini Apps to Toncoin payments, ordinary users can step into Web3 easily without knowing crypto.
What Will the Future ‘Super App’ Look Like?
“No need to download 10 apps – do everything in Telegram.” He described: booking services, tipping creators, trading assets, playing games, transferring money… all in one chat window. “We’re closer to this vision than people think.”
Key Upcoming Moves
- Expand the Mini Apps ecosystem
- Increase developer incentives
- Optimize TON Connect user experience
- Launch new workchains for scalability
- Prepare for major U.S. market push
TON vs. Other Blockchains: Not Competing for存量, Creating 增量
“Most blockchains focus on competing for existing Web3 users, while we aim to serve global daily users.” Max pointed out the core difference: reaching 1 billion people directly through Telegram is not just a scale advantage, but a “triple win in distribution, onboarding, and user experience.”
Three Strategic Priorities
Scale: Expand infrastructure to match growth; Simplify: Lower entry barriers via TON Connect and Telegram Wallet; Support: Increase funding, improve documentation to help developers build better apps.
Lessons from the Mini Apps Boom
“Distribution matters more than complex features!” Max concluded. Mini Apps proved that when developers can reach massive users directly and users can start with no complicated steps, adoption is “surprisingly fast” – why TON apps grow faster than traditional Web3 apps.
Toncoin Deep Integration: Making Crypto ‘Daily Interaction’
“When users can easily earn and spend Toncoin in a trusted app, all barriers disappear.” Whether tipping creators or buying services, Toncoin will be “part of daily interaction,” not an independent financial tool.
Regulatory Compliance: Proactive, Not Waiting for Policies
“Don’t wait for regulation to adapt – take the initiative.” Max continues his MoonPay approach: stay transparent, support compliance tools, and communicate openly with regulators. Especially with the new U.S. government friendlier to crypto, TON is ready to align with potential frameworks.
Message to Developers and ‘Crypto Traders’
- Developers: “You’re the core of the ecosystem! We’ll provide better tools, documentation, and Telegram distribution support.”
- Traders: “Have fun, but remember – we’re building something long-term.”
The Overlooked Point: Not Just a Blockchain, But Next-Gen Internet Infrastructure
“We’re building the next phase of the internet – decentralized, user-owned, and usable by everyone.” Most importantly, “Users don’t need to change habits or learn new things to use really good crypto. That’s TON’s charm.”
Read More《独家对话TON基金会新任CEO Max Crown:在美国或有大动作》
This content is AI-generated and does not constitute investment advice. Please exercise your own rational judgment.
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