Telegram x TON: How Crypto Is Powering a New Global Creator Economy

TON Foundation president says Telegram is becoming a crypto-powered super-app for creators and unbanked users—bringing monetization, payments, and identity into one global digital economy.

Telegram, the widely used messaging app with over 1 billion users, is rapidly evolving into a cornerstone of the digital creator economy—thanks to its deep integration with The Open Network (TON). At the center of this transformation is the TON Foundation’s President, Manny Stotz, who recently spoke to TheStreet Roundtable’s Rob Nelson about how Telegram and TON are reshaping the way creators monetize and how people in underserved regions access financial tools.

“We are seeing, for instance, US influencers who on their Instagram page, the first link they put is their Telegram link,” said Stotz. “You click on this, you end up with a direct chat with the artist… and now you’ve got paid messages.” These messages aren’t just texts — they include exclusive videos, behind-the-scenes photos, music, and more. And all of it can be monetized instantly through crypto payments, bypassing traditional platforms’ fees and gatekeepers.

Stotz emphasized the shift happening beyond developed markets, particularly in nations with struggling economies. Holding up a hyperinflated Zimbabwean note, he pointed out the staggering disconnect: “There’s 3 billion people… who are unbanked or underbanked. They don’t have the US dollar — they have the Zimbabwe dollar or something similar. And now they’ve got smartphones.”

These smartphones have become gateways not only to communication but to financial empowerment. Through Telegram Mini Apps and TON-based integrations, users in emerging economies can now store stablecoins, receive payments, and even build digital reputations — all without access to traditional banking.

“It’s a human rights issue to some extent,” Stotz said. “In places like Zimbabwe, crypto isn’t a novelty — it’s the difference between eating or not eating.”

Nelson echoed this by saying, “People don’t really care how it works. They care what the value and utility they get.” That utility is becoming increasingly clear — and practical — through the fusion of payments, identity, and messaging. If the trajectory continues, Telegram may soon take on the role of a global super-app for the creator economy, similar to China’s WeChat but without the national borders.

From monetizing exclusive content to bringing stable savings to the unbanked, the TON ecosystem is setting a new standard for digital financial inclusion. The integration of TON into Telegram isn’t just technical — it’s cultural, economic, and deeply personal for millions around the world.

And with ongoing developments in blockchain scalability, decentralized identity, and low-fee transactions, the TON Foundation is positioning itself not only as a tech partner but as a mission-driven innovator in the global economy’s next chapter.

Our creator. creates amazing NFT collections! 
Support the editors - Bitcoin_Man (ETH) / Bitcoin_Man (TON)

Pi Network (Guide)is a new digital currency developed by Stanford PhDs with over 55 million participants worldwide. To get your Pi, follow this link https://minepi.com/Tsybko and use my username (Tsybko) as the invite code.

Binance: Use this link to sign up and get $100 free and 10% off your first months Binance Futures fees (Terms and Conditions).

Bitget: Use this link Use the Rewards Center and win up to 5027 USDT!(Review)

Bybit: Use this link (all possible discounts on commissions and bonuses up to $30,030 included) If you register through the application, then at the time of registration simply enter in the reference: WB8XZ4 - (manual)