While Elon Musk has been teasing about transforming X (formerly Twitter) into an "everything app" and introducing peer-to-peer crypto payments in 2024, Telegram has quietly been making significant strides in embracing the Web3 ecosystem, positioning itself as the first major platform to fully integrate decentralized technologies.

In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, the founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, praised Musk for his innovative mindset and efforts to build the SocialFi platform, aimed at empowering content creators with fair ad revenue returns. SocialFi represents a fusion of social media and decentralized finance (DeFi), offering users control over their content without reliance on a central authority. This revolutionary concept enables creators to retain ownership of their content and data, a stark contrast to traditional Web2 platforms. Furthermore, users can monetize their engagement and following without limitations, opening up new financial opportunities within the decentralized space.

With Telegram's recent adoption of TON (The Open Network), integration of Tether stablecoin, and other Web3-centric features, the platform has garnered unprecedented attention from the crypto community. Telegram's embrace of decentralized technologies has positioned it as a frontrunner in the race to become the "everything app" for the crypto and blockchain ecosystem.

However, the relationship between Telegram and TON has been a subject of controversy and legal battles. Initially developed by Telegram, TON was designed to integrate seamlessly with the messaging application. However, a subsequent legal clash with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) forced Telegram to abandon its development efforts in May 2020, jeopardizing the future of the blockchain project.

The blockchain, originally intended to be intertwined with Telegram, found new life when it was relaunched by independent developers after the messaging app's departure. This turn of events paved the way for Telegram to reunite with TON, making it the only major messaging platform to fully incorporate Web3 technologies.

In a post titled "What Was TON And Why It Is Over," Durov explained Telegram's decision to part ways with TON, citing the U.S. court's prohibition on distributing Gram tokens globally. Durov wrote: "The US court declared that Grams couldn't be distributed not only in the United States, but globally. Why? Because, it said, a US citizen might find some way of accessing the TON platform after it launched."

Despite this initial setback, Telegram later endorsed TON in September 2022, declaring the blockchain and its associated token as the "official Web3 infrastructure" for the messaging platform. Durov stated: "To limit Telegram's share of TON at ≈10% of the supply, we'll be selling the upcoming surplus of our TON holdings to long-term investors — under 1-4 years lockup and vesting plan, but at a discount to the market price. This way free-floating TON will get locked up, stabilizing the ecosystem and reducing volatility."

As Telegram continues to evolve and integrate more Web3 features, questions arise about the future of TON and its relationship with the messaging platform. While Telegram's adoption of TON has garnered excitement within the crypto community, the legal battles and uncertainties surrounding the blockchain's development raise concerns about its long-term viability and integration with Telegram's ecosystem.

The crypto community eagerly awaits further developments and clarifications from Telegram regarding its plans for TON and the extent of its Web3 integration. As the race to become the ultimate "everything app" intensifies, Telegram's ability to navigate the complex legal and technical challenges surrounding TON will be crucial in determining its success in the decentralized space.