Toncoin and The Open Network (TON): A Deep Dive into Telegram’s Blockchain and NFT Surge

Key Takeaways

• The Open Network (TON) is a scalable layer-1 blockchain, optimized for fast, low-cost transactions and seamlessly integrated with Telegram’s 900 million-user platform.
• Toncoin (TON) fuels transaction fees, staking, governance, and dApps, with growing adoption in NFT collectibles, DeFi, and payments.
• Token Economics: A modest 0.6% annual inflation rate, attractive staking rewards, and fee burning support Toncoin’s long-term value.
• NFT Leadership: TON dominates daily NFT trading volume and active traders, with reported $3M–$9M daily collectible gift volumes.
• DeFi Growth: Boasts a $155.23M TVL and $17.388M daily chain fees, enhanced by USDe/tsUSDe offering up to 18% APY.
• Developer Momentum: Over 34,321 unique smart contracts and 10,938 estimated developers drive ecosystem innovation.
• Ecosystem Support: New grants and leadership bolster DeFi, GameFi, Payments, Telegram In-App Economy, and AI development.
• Price Outlook: Currently at ~$3.23 (as of 07:15 AM UTC, June 12, 2025), Toncoin shows strong growth potential for 2025.
• TON vs. Solana: TON shines in NFT adoption; Solana leads in DeFi scale.
• Phemex Advantage: Trade TON and earn with Phemex’s Ton Savings (3% APY on 3-8180 TON) and up to $8,800 welcome rewards.

Introduction: Why TON is Back in the Spotlight

The “TON Mini Games” craze, led by hits like Notcoin, briefly faded, but The Open Network (TON) has roared back into the crypto spotlight in 2025. This resurgence is fueled by a booming NFT market and innovative ecosystem updates. On January 1, 2025, Telegram transformed in-app “gifts” into “collectibles”—tradeable NFTs with rarity and uniqueness—leveraging its 900 million monthly active users. Unverified reports suggest NFT gift transaction volumes soared from ~$3 million to over $9 million daily between June 7 and June 9, 2025, while TON now leads the NFT market trends with top trading volume and active traders.

This guide explores TON’s architecture, Toncoin’s economics, its NFT and DeFi growth, a 2025 price forecast, and a head-to-head with Solana. Ready to boost your earnings? Phemex offers up to $4,800 welcome rewards via the Rewards Hub to kickstart your crypto journey, with real-time insights and YouTube tutorials.

What is the TON Blockchain?

Launched in 2018 by Telegram founders Nikolai and Pavel Durov, TON is a layer-1 blockchain designed to bring decentralized technology to millions. After facing SEC hurdles in 2020, the TON Foundation took the reins, rebranding its native token from Gram to Toncoin. TON aims to build a decentralized internet, offering payments, DeFi, NFTs, and storage, all accessible through Telegram’s global user base. Its innovative account-as-smart-contract model makes it a standout bridge between Web2 and Web3.

How Does the TON Blockchain Work?

TON’s architecture is built for speed and scalability, making it a top choice for developers and users alike:

1. Proof-of-Stake (PoS) Consensus

TON uses Block-Proof-of-Stake (BPoS), a Byzantine Fault-Tolerant PoS variant. Validators stake Toncoin to secure the network and earn rewards, ensuring an energy-efficient system.

2. Infinite Sharding

Dubbed the “blockchain of blockchains,” TON employs dynamic sharding, splitting into workchains and shardchains for parallel transaction processing. With block times of ~5 seconds, it outpaces Ethereum’s 12 seconds.

3. Masterchain and Workchains

The masterchain manages critical data like validator details, while workchains handle specific tasks (e.g., dApps). Shardchains further divide workloads, enabling TON to scale effortlessly.

4. TON Services

• TON Wallet: Supports instant P2P payments and USDT, now featuring USDe/tsUSDe.
• TON Storage: Offers encrypted decentralized file storage.
• TON DNS: Provides human-readable .ton domains.
• TON Proxy: Delivers a decentralized VPN.
• TON Collectibles: Powers Telegram’s thriving NFT marketplace.

These services, driven by Toncoin, make TON a versatile platform. Start trading TON with Phemex today, where you can access 303 spot pairs and real-time price charts.

What is Toncoin Used For?

Toncoin (TON) is the lifeblood of the TON ecosystem:

• Transaction Fees: Covers costs for smart contracts and transactions.
• Staking: Secures the network with rewarding validator incentives.
• Governance: Allows TON holders to vote on network upgrades.
• dApps and Services: Fuels games (Notcoin), DeFi (STON.fi), Telegram subscriptions, ads, .ton domains, and NFT collectibles.
• Cross-Chain: Enables asset transfers via TON-ETH bridges.
• Phemex Ton Savings: Earn 3% APY on 3-8180 TON with Phemex’s new savings product, ideal for growing your TON holdings.

Toncoin’s versatility supports its growing use in NFTs, DeFi, and passive income opportunities.

Toncoin Token Economics

Toncoin’s economic model is designed for stability and growth:

• Total Supply: 5.11 billion TON; 2.54 billion circulating (June 2025).
• Inflation: A low 0.6% annually to preserve value.
• Staking Rewards: 3–5% APY for validators/nominators, with up to 18% via tsUSDe and 3% via Phemex Ton Savings.
• Burning: Partial fee burning reduces supply over time.
• Distribution:
  • Community & Ecosystem: 48% (dApps, grants).
  • Staking Rewards: 20%.
  • Foundation Reserve: 15%.
  • Early Investors & Team: 17% (vested, unlocked by 2024).
• Demand Drivers: NFT collectibles, DeFi, and mini-games fuel Toncoin demand.

This deflationary approach, combined with Phemex’s Ton Savings, supports long-term price appreciation. Monitor TON’s trends on Phemex with cutting-edge analytics.

Toncoin Price Analysis

As of 07:15 AM UTC, Thursday, June 12, 2025, Toncoin trades at ~$3.23, with a $7.959 billion market cap (CoinMarketCap #18) and $318.7 million 24-hour volume. Here’s the latest breakdown:

• Historical Performance: Peaked at $8.23 on June 15, 2024, down ~60% but up 2.5% over the past week.
• NFT Leadership: TON leads the NFT market trends with top daily trading volume and active traders, with unverified $3M–$9M daily collectible gift volumes.post:DiamondTonSignpost:aixbt_agent
• Phemex Listing: Phemex’s February 2025 TON listing enhanced accessibility.(Spot/Futures)
• DeFi Growth: $155.23M TVL and $17.388M daily chain fees (DeFilama, June 2025), boosted by USDe/tsUSDe offering up to 18% APY.

• Developer Surge: Over 34,321 unique smart contracts and 10,938 estimated developers (Dune, June 2025) signal strong innovation.

• Ecosystem Boost: New grants and leadership (Martin From TON as Head of Growth, Nikola Plecas as VP of Payments) drive future growth.
• Phemex Ton Savings: Earn 3% APY on 3-8180 TON, a new way to grow your holdings.

• Price Forecast 2025: Support at $2.80; resistance at $3.50. Breaking $3.50 could push Toncoin to $4.00–$6.00 by year-end.
• Risks: Regulatory concerns and competition may drag prices to $2.00–$2.50.

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Is TON Better Than Solana?

Let’s compare TON and Solana to see which blockchain suits your needs:

Similarities

• High transaction speeds and PoS consensus.
• Support for DeFi, NFTs, and gaming.
• Scalability-focused designs.

Differences

• Accessibility: TON’s Telegram integration simplifies entry for millions; Solana appeals to crypto veterans.
• Ecosystem: Solana’s $4.5B TVL outpaces TON’s $155.23M, but TON leads the NFT market trends.
• NFT Strategy: TON’s collectibles thrive on social engagement; Solana’s NFTs target collectors.
• Activity: Solana’s 1.64M daily addresses exceed TON’s 465,200.

Verdict

TON stands out in the NFT space and leverages Telegram’s massive user base, while Solana excels in DeFi scale. Boost your trading journey with Phemex’s Solana trading tutorial. Diversify your portfolio on Phemex with low fees and real-time analytics.

Is the TON Blockchain Good?

Pros

• Scalable sharding and affordable fees.
• Telegram’s 900M users fuel widespread adoption.
• NFT leadership with $9M daily collectible volumes.post:aixbt_agent
• $155.23M TVL and $17.388M daily chain fees (Dune, June 2025), amplified by USDe/tsUSDe’s 18% APY.
• Over 34,321 smart contracts and 10,938 developers (Dune, June 2025), with daily deployments topping 2,000 in May 2025.
• New grants and support for DeFi, GameFi, Payments, Telegram In-App Economy, and AI (https://eco.ton.org).
• Thriving mini-app ecosystem (Notcoin’s 35M players).
• Phemex Ton Savings offers 3% APY on 3-8180 TON.

Cons

• Limited blockchain explorer transparency.
• Past SEC issues pose regulatory risks.
• Smaller TVL ($155.23M) compared to Solana’s $4.5B.

TON’s NFT dominance, DeFi growth, and Phemex’s Ton Savings make it a promising Web3 platform, though it needs further scale to compete with leaders.

Unique Perspective: TON as a Social-NFT and DeFi Powerhouse

TON is redefining Web3 with its leadership in the NFT space and DeFi growth. Leading the NFT market trends with top trading volume and active traders, its collectibles enable social gifting, with reported $3M–$9M daily volumes (June 7–9, 2025). The $155.23M TVL, $17.388M daily fees, 34,321 smart contracts, and 10,938 developers (Dune, June 2025) showcase a vibrant ecosystem. USDe/tsUSDe integration offers up to 18% APY, while Phemex’s Ton Savings provides 3% APY on 3-8180 TON. New grants for DeFi, GameFi, Payments, Telegram In-App Economy, and AI signal future potential. With 900M users, TON is set to lead in emerging markets.

Conclusion

TON and Toncoin are transforming Web3 with scalable technology, Telegram integration, and a 2025 surge in NFTs and DeFi. Its deflationary economics, $155.23M TVL, 34,321 smart contracts, NFT leadership, and USDe/tsUSDe with 18% APY point to strong growth. Phemex’s Ton Savings (3% APY on 3-8180 TON) and new grants with leadership—Martin From TON as Head of Growth and Nikola Plecas as VP of Payments—enhance its trajectory. Against Solana, TON’s social-NFT focus and emerging DeFi offer a unique edge.

Ready to invest? Start your crypto journey with Phemex today—join the Rewards Hub for up to $8,800 welcome rewards, earn TON with Ton Savings, and learn from YouTube tutorials, including TON’s listing and Solana strategies.

Disclaimer

Trading cryptocurrencies involves significant risk and may result in the loss of your invested capital. The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research and consider your risk tolerance before trading. Ensure compliance with local regulations. Phemex is not responsible for any trading losses. For more details, visit Phemex Terms of Use.