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Telegram founder Pavel Durov said the messaging app will replace the TON Foundation as the lead force behind Toncoin<a href="https://yellow.com/asset/ton" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">(ton)</a>, staking roughly $2.88 million to become the network's biggest validator.
<h2 id="durov-s-ton-validator-pivot">Durov's TON Validator Pivot</h2>
Durov <a href="https://x.com/durov/status/2051690391678632281" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">announced</a> the structural shift in a Telegram post on May 4, framing it as the next stage of his "Make TON Great Again" roadmap. <a href="https://yellow.com/news/toncoin-gains-5-percent-telegram-ecosystem-activity" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Toncoin climbed 33.8%</a> in the 24 hours that followed.
The Swiss-based foundation had served as the network's main coordinator since 2020.
Telegram has now <a href="https://coinpaper.com/16818/ton-price-prediction-ahead-of-telegram-replacing-ton-foundation-s-lead-role" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">staked</a> about 2.2 million TON to operate as a leading validator and back chain security directly. Durov said network fees had already dropped sixfold to near-zero levels under the same plan.
A refreshed website, fresh developer tools, and performance upgrades are due within two to three weeks, according to the Telegram founder.
Also Read:<a href="https://yellow.com/news/dogecoin-whales-160m-doge-96-hours" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Big Money Floods Dogecoin: Whales Stack 160M DOGE In Just 96 Hours</a>
<h2 id="191m-staking-inflow">$191M Staking Inflow</h2>
Token Terminal data <a href="https://ca.headtopics.com/news/telegram-steps-in-as-toncoin-validator-can-191m-staking-83010884" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">showed</a> TON closed April with roughly 67 million transactions, its strongest monthly tally of 2026. Staking Rewards figures recorded an 18.36% jump in the staking ratio after Durov's post.
Net staking inflows hit about $191.83 million in a single day.
That marks the largest single-day staking inflow on TON in nearly four months, and the rally lined up with broader risk-on sentiment across major altcoins. Analysts at BanklessTimes <a href="https://www.banklesstimes.com/articles/2026/05/05/toncoin-price-outlook-as-telegram-takes-over-ton-ecosystem-control/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">flagged</a> $1.947 as the first technical level confirming continuation, with the <a href="https://yellow.com/learn/simple-moving-average-sma-complete-guide-to-this-essential-trading-tool" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">simple moving average</a> at $1.354 setting downside risk.
The timing also matters because the broader DeFi market remains shaky, with recent exploits draining close to $600 million in user funds.
<h2 id="roadmap-backdrop">Roadmap Backdrop</h2>
Durov's announcement is the third step of a plan he first laid out in April 2026.
Catchain 2.0 was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/05/52272066/pavel-durov-says-telegram-now-driving-force-largest-validator-of-the-open-network-toncoin-jumps-23" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">activated</a> on Apr. 9, cutting block time from roughly 2.5 seconds to about 400 milliseconds.
A revised fee schedule followed on May 1, fixing the base cost near $0.0005 per transaction. The next governance test arrives in June, when validators will vote on cutting block rewards to limit projected inflation that climbed from 0.6% to roughly 3.6% after the speed upgrade.
Read Next:<a href="https://yellow.com/news/polygon-zero-knowledge-stablecoin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Why Polygon Just Buried Stablecoin Details Beneath Zero-Knowledge Proofs</a>

Toncoin Rallies 25% After Durov Pledges Telegram Will Replace Foundation As Top Validator

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Other articles published on May 5, 2026

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