Key Highlights
- TON transaction fees have been cut by 6× to about $0.0005, with plans to make most transactions nearly free under the MTONGA roadmap.
- Telegram is set to take a bigger role in the network by becoming the main validator.
- TON is pushing these ultra-low-cost payments to support its 950M+ Telegram users.
Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram and a key figure in the TON ecosystem, announced today that transaction fees on The Open Network (TON) have been cut by six times, falling to around $0.0005 per transfer. The change is expected to roll out within two to three weeks.
In an X post on Monday, Durov wrote, “Fees in TON have dropped 6× — to nearly zero.”
He also indicated that Telegram will take a bigger role in the network by replacing the TON Foundation as the main driving force and becoming the largest validator on the network. This means more control and responsibility for Telegram inside the TON system, especially around validation and network direction.
Fixed fees, no surprises
Durov had earlier outlined the update on April 23, noting that fees would drop from 0.00235 TON to about 0.00039 TON per transaction, which is roughly $0.0005. He added that the cost would stay fixed no matter how busy the network becomes, meaning users would not see sudden changes in fees during high traffic.
Before this update, TON fees were already lower than many other blockchains, but still not stable. Now the system removes changes caused by network congestion. Durov also mentioned that after this step, most transactions could become fully free under the MTONGA roadmap, which aims for “zero commission” transfers in the future.
TON is now pushing into very low-cost payments compared to other major blockchains. Ethereum fees can reach $1 to $10 during busy days. Bitcoin usually sits between $0.50 and $5 per transaction.
Even Solana, known for low fees, can still become expensive when the network is crowded. TON is now aiming for near-zero cost transfers, which makes small payments more practical.
Telegram’s user base advantage
The changes are closely linked to Telegram’s distribution scale, which has over 950 million users. With this, users could send small payments, tips, or transfers directly inside the app without worrying about cost. This includes very small amounts like a few cents, which usually don’t work well on other blockchains because fees are too high.
Durov also said new updates are coming soon, including better developer tools and performance improvements, with a timeline of about 2 to 3 weeks.
TON surges 7% in 24 hours
TON price itself has been performing well. At the time of writing, the token is trading for $1.44, up 7% in the last 24-hour period. This adds up to a 11% surge in the last seven days as the price jumped from below $1.30.
At the same time, transaction activity has seen 213% surge over the same period, reaching $221 million in volume as the market value sits at $3.9 billion.
Also Read: Crypto Market Today: Bitcoin Tops $80K Triggers Short Squeeze
