Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has responded to concerns about the potential centralisation of The Open Network (TON) token supply by unveiling plans to sell the company’s excess TON tokens at discounted rates. This decision follows worries raised about the concentration of TON tokens resulting from the exclusive acceptance of ad payments in TON.
In addressing these concerns, Telegram has announced that starting in March, channel owners will be able to receive compensation for their content, with all transactions managed on the TON blockchain. Additionally, Telegram’s advertising platform will now be accessible to advertisers in nearly one hundred new countries, with channel owners set to receive 50% of the revenue from ads displayed on their channels.
To counteract the potential centralisation of TON tokens due to ad payments accounting for more than 10% of the TON supply at Telegram, Durov has outlined plans to limit the company’s TON stake by selling surplus holdings to long-term investors. These tokens will be subject to a lockup and vesting plan ranging from 1 to 4 years.
Telegram has established a dedicated email address for interested large investors (with investments of $1 million or more) to express their interest in purchasing TON tokens. This move aims to maintain stability and decentralisation within the TON ecosystem.
Despite concerns, recent data provided by Token Terminal indicates positive growth within the TON ecosystem. Market capitalization, trading volume, fees, revenue, and active users have all seen significant increases over the past 30 days, showcasing a thriving ecosystem.
Over this period, the TON ecosystem’s fully diluted market capitalization has risen to $13.83 billion, with trading volume reaching $1.21 billion. Fees and revenue generated within the ecosystem have also experienced substantial growth, indicating promising prospects for the ecosystem’s sustainability.
Additionally, the TON ecosystem has witnessed consistent growth in its user base across different timeframes, highlighting a positive trajectory for the platform’s adoption. As of now, TON is trading at $2,735, reflecting a 3% increase over the past 24 hours and extending its 34% rise over the past 30 days.