The Open Network Foundation

What The Open Network Foundation does

The Open Network Foundation is a Swiss non-profit organization established in 2023 in Zug, Switzerland, funded entirely by community contributions. It serves as the governance and coordination body for The Open Network (TON), a Layer-1 blockchain that is deeply integrated with Telegram Messenger to bring Web3 functionality — wallets, payments, NFTs, and decentralized applications — directly to Telegram's 1 billion+ user base. The Foundation does not control the underlying technology; it supports community-driven projects through coordination, grants, and technical assistance while TON operates as an open-source codebase with no single controlling authority.

TON's core technology stack includes the Catchain 2.0 consensus protocol (400ms block times), a micro-transaction fee structure (~0.0008 TON per transaction, an 83.3% reduction), Chainlink CCIP integration for cross-chain interoperability, and the TON Space non-custodial wallet embedded inside Telegram. The native token, rebranded from Toncoin ($TON) to Gram ($GRAM) in June 2026 following an 81.22% community governance vote, serves as the primary economic instrument. Supporting products include the MRKT NFT marketplace (a Telegram-native mini-app for trading digital collectibles) and integrations with enterprise infrastructure providers Fireblocks and Dynamic.

The Foundation's business model is non-traditional: it does not directly monetize, but supports an ecosystem whose economics are driven by network transaction fees, token appreciation, and staking yields (TON Strategy Company reports ~17.80% annualized yield on 226.8M staked TON). Go-to-market combines community-led ecosystem development with API-first infrastructure for developers building Telegram Mini Apps. The ecosystem has raised $400M from Sequoia, Benchmark, Ribbit, and Kingsway, with a stated objective of engaging 450 million Telegram users by 2028. Customer segments span consumer Telegram users, Web3 developers, crypto traders/NFT enthusiasts, and emerging institutional users leveraging enterprise wallet and compliance infrastructure.

Name

The Open Network Foundation

Legal name

The Open Network Foundation

Website

https://ton.foundation

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Open Network Foundation is a Swiss non-profit established in 2023 that supports The Open Network (TON), a Layer-1 blockchain integrated with Telegram Messenger. It coordinates community-driven development, grants, and ecosystem initiatives for Web3 applications — wallets, NFT marketplaces, and cross-chain DeFi — serving Telegram's 1 billion+ users.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Infrastructure

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

On-Chain Payments & Stablecoin Infrastructure (Issuance, Rails, Treasury) (FSAGAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wallet Infrastructure (SDKs, Wallet-as-a-Service) (FSADACAD), Interoperability & Cross-Chain Infrastructure (Bridges, Messaging, Atomic Swaps) (FSAGAMAI), In-Game Asset Standards & Infrastructure (NFT items, marketplaces, royalties, asset registries) (FSAPAGAE)

Keywords

• Layer-1 blockchain
• Web3 infrastructure
• Non-custodial wallet
• Decentralized network
• Cross-chain interoperability

Headquarters

HQ city

Zug

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Network Transaction Fees: TON generates revenue through transaction fees on its blockchain network, which were recently reduced by 83.3% to approximately 0.0008 TON per transaction to drive micro-transaction adoption within Telegram's ecosystem.
2. Token Economics: The native token (Toncoin, recently rebranded to Gram) serves as the primary economic instrument of the TON ecosystem, with staking rewards, token appreciation, and ecosystem participation generating value for participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Open Network Foundation operates The Open Network (TON), a Layer-1 blockchain integrated with Telegram Messenger that enables Web3 services, digital identity, and asset ownership for billions of users. The foundation, established in Switzerland in 2023 as a nonprofit, supports the ecosystem through community-driven grants, coordination, and open-source development without controlling the underlying technology. Core offerings include the TON blockchain, the Gram native token (formerly Toncoin), the TON Space non-custodial wallet, and NFT marketplace mini-apps such as MRKT.

Product overview

The Open Network (TON) operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on a layer-1 blockchain integrated with Telegram Messenger. The core offering is The Open Network itself—a blockchain designed to bring Web3 to billions of users through Telegram's embedded distribution. The native cryptocurrency, now called Gram (formerly Toncoin), powers all network transactions. TON Space serves as the primary non-custodial wallet module integrated directly into Telegram, while MRKT provides an NFT marketplace mini-app for trading digital collectibles. The Open Network Foundation, the supporting non-profit organization, coordinates grants and community initiatives. The ecosystem also supports mini-apps, cross-chain interoperability via Chainlink CCIP, and enterprise wallet infrastructure through partnerships with Fireblocks and Dynamic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Open Network (TON) Layer-1 blockchain platform integrated with Telegram Messenger, designed to put crypto in every pocket by building a Web3 ecosystem within the messaging app, giving users ownership of digital identity, data, and assets while supporting cross-chain interoperability and scalability.
• Gram (formerly Toncoin) Native cryptocurrency of The Open Network blockchain serving as the primary medium of exchange, powering transactions, smart contracts, and micro-transactions on the Telegram-integrated blockchain platform.
• TON Space Wallet Non-custodial wallet integrated directly into Telegram, enabling users to manage crypto assets, send and receive funds, and interact with Web3 applications without leaving the messaging app.
• MRKT NFT Marketplace NFT marketplace built on The Open Network and launched as a native mini app within Telegram, allowing users to buy, sell, and trade digital collectibles including Telegram gifts and stickers directly within chat environments.
• Grants Program Community grants program that offers coordination, support, and funding to community-driven TON ecosystem projects identified and valued by the wider TON Community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cross-chain NFT market share surge of 130.4% in Q1 2025, capturing 35.5% of the market
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FireblockscoreTechnology or Integration · 8 April 2026Fireblocks and Dynamic have integrated their wallet infrastructure solutions with The Open Network (TON) and Telegram, enabling developers to build blockchain-based financial services directly within Telegram Mini Apps. This integration simplifies wallet deployment and management.
• DynamiccoreTechnology or Integration · 8 April 2026Dynamic partnered with Fireblocks to integrate enterprise-grade wallet infrastructure with TON and Telegram, facilitating faster market deployment for blockchain-based financial services.
• ChainlinkcoreTechnology or Integration · 31 October 2025Chainlink expanded its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and Data Streams to TON, integrating TON into the multi-chain ecosystem to support cross-chain transfer of Toncoin and real-time market data, enabling advanced DeFi applications at global scale.
• MEXCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2023MEXC secured significant funding for the TON Foundation and formed a strategic partnership to promote Web3 adoption on Telegram. MEXC supports TON-based projects, introduces new services, and explores further integration efforts involving the TON ecosystem.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Linea (Consensys): Linea is Consensys' L2 zk-rollup, part of the broader Ethereum ecosystem. It overlaps with TON as an EVM-compatible chain targeting consumer apps and DeFi at lower cost.
• Avalanche Foundation: Avalanche Foundation supports a multi-chain L1 platform with subnets. It competes with TON for institutional and DeFi use cases and offers cross-chain interoperability through similar messaging protocols.
• Stellar Development Foundation: Stellar Development Foundation supports the Stellar network, focused on cross-border payments and tokenization. Overlaps with TON's stablecoin payments and tokenization use cases.

Direct peers

• Solana Foundation: Solana Foundation supports the Solana L1 blockchain, which competes directly with TON for high-throughput consumer applications and stablecoin payments. Both target sub-cent transaction economics and developer-friendly ecosystems.
• NEAR Foundation: NEAR Foundation supports the NEAR Protocol L1, a direct competitor in the consumer-friendly, low-fee smart contract platform space. Both target mainstream Web3 adoption with developer-focused tooling.
• Polygon Labs: Polygon Labs supports the Polygon L2/L1 ecosystem, competing with TON on low-fee transactions, cross-chain interoperability, and enterprise integrations like Fireblocks/Dynamic.
• Sui Foundation: Sui Foundation supports the Sui L1 blockchain, which competes with TON for high-throughput, low-latency consumer applications including gaming and digital assets.
• Aptos Foundation: Aptos Foundation supports the Aptos L1, a Move-based blockchain competing with TON in the high-performance consumer application and gaming verticals.

Emerging players

• Internet Computer (DFINITY Foundation): DFINITY Foundation supports the Internet Computer, an L1 targeting fully on-chain computation and Web3 services that can be invoked from traditional web contexts — overlapping with TON's mini-app and Web2-integration thesis.

Others

• Fireblocks: Fireblocks is an enterprise wallet and custody infrastructure provider that integrates with TON (and many other chains). Comparable as a critical infrastructure partner enabling TON's institutional adoption rather than as a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ton_blockchain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ton-blockchain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors10 records

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M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Open Network Foundation