Explore the TON ecosystem in 2025: Telegram-backed growth, Jettons, Teleport BTC, key upgrades, risks, and secure TON storage with NOW Wallet
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- What makes TON unique in 2025
- Growth snapshot: users, volume, mini-apps
- Key building blocks: Jettons, sharding, proxy, payments, storage
- TON Teleport BTC: bringing Bitcoin to TON DeFi
- Upcoming upgrades & roadmap highlights
- Challenges & risks to watch
- How to store TON & Jettons securely with NOW Wallet
- Step-by-step: setting up TON in NOW Wallet
- Security tips & common mistakes
- FAQ
- Summary & next steps
What makes TON unique in 2025
The Open Network (TON) is a fast, Proof-of-Stake Layer-1 with an architecture designed for massive scale. Its edge is tight integration with Telegram—a distribution channel measured in hundreds of millions of users—plus a developer toolkit and UX patterns built for “mini-apps” that feel native inside chats.
Under the hood, TON uses multi-level sharding and routing to process many transactions in parallel while keeping fees low. For users, it means quick confirmations and lightweight experiences that work as naturally as sending a message.
Growth snapshot: users, volume, mini-apps
In 2024, TON’s metrics accelerated alongside chat-native games and utilities (Hamster Kombat, Notcoin, Catizen, and others). Independent analytics point to a multi-fold rise in daily active addresses and on-chain activity as mini-apps onboarded new audiences from Telegram. DEX activity and Jetton issuance followed, building the base for broader DeFi, payments and P2P use cases.
[p class=”note”]To explore current market data before swapping, you can open a live chart below.[/p]
TON/USDT live chart
TON & USDT market snapshot
Tether Price
$1.0024H % Change
-0.01%Market Cap
$181.95B24H Volume
$108.39BCirculating Supply
181.87BTON → USDT rate
TON to USDT
| TON | USDT |
|---|---|
| 0.001 TON | 0.002236 USDT |
| 0.005 TON | 0.011180 USDT |
| 0.01 TON | 0.022360 USDT |
| 0.05 TON | 0.111800 USDT |
| 0.1 TON | 0.223600 USDT |
| 0.5 TON | 1.118000 USDT |
| 1 TON | 2.236000 USDT |
| 5 TON | 11.180000 USDT |
| 10 TON | 22.360000 USDT |
| 25 TON | 55.900000 USDT |
| 50 TON | 111.800000 USDT |
| 100 TON | 223.600000 USDT |
| 150 TON | 335.400000 USDT |
| 500 TON | 1,118.000000 USDT |
| 1000 TON | 2,236.000000 USDT |
| 3000 TON | 6,708.000000 USDT |
USDT to TON
| USDT | TON |
|---|---|
| 0.001 USDT | 0.00044723 TON |
| 0.005 USDT | 0.00223614 TON |
| 0.01 USDT | 0.00447227 TON |
| 0.05 USDT | 0.02236136 TON |
| 0.1 USDT | 0.04472272 TON |
| 0.5 USDT | 0.22361360 TON |
| 1 USDT | 0.44722719 TON |
| 5 USDT | 2.23613596 TON |
| 10 USDT | 4.47227191 TON |
| 25 USDT | 11.18067979 TON |
| 50 USDT | 22.36135957 TON |
| 100 USDT | 44.72271914 TON |
| 150 USDT | 67.08407871 TON |
| 500 USDT | 223.61359571 TON |
| 1000 USDT | 447.22719141 TON |
| 3000 USDT | 1,341.68157424 TON |
Key building blocks: Jettons, sharding, proxy, payments, storage
Jettons: the native token standard on TON, used by DEXes, games, and utility apps. Expect continued growth in Jetton projects as dev tooling and liquidity mature.
Sharding stabilization: TON’s “infinite sharding” concept enables many parallel shardchains. Ongoing work focuses on coordination and validator efficiency to keep throughput high as the app layer scales.
TON Proxy & Sites: the move toward local entry points (proxy + gateway) aims to make “apps” feel like native web properties accessible via chat, browser extensions, and simple links.
TON Payments: a micro-payment layer inspired by channel models (think: instant, low-fee transfers for small purchases, in-app items, or creator payouts).
TON Storage: a decentralized storage marketplace where nodes can earn by providing storage and bandwidth—useful for mini-apps and media-rich experiences.
TON Teleport BTC: bringing Bitcoin to TON DeFi
Teleport BTC (tgBTC) is a decentralized bridge that lets holders move BTC into the TON ecosystem and use it as tgBTC in DeFi (swaps, LPs, lending) while keeping a trust-minimized design and 1:1 backing. The promise: activate idle BTC liquidity inside Telegram-native apps without relying on traditional custodial bridges.
For everyday users, that means you can hold Bitcoin but still access TON-based yield strategies and payments—then redeem back to the Bitcoin network when you’re done.
Upcoming upgrades & roadmap highlights
Telegram integration, continued: deeper wallet and mini-apps UX to translate chat audiences into Web3 usage without forcing complex onboarding.
Tap-to-Earn & NFTs: lightweight games with on-chain assets keep attracting newcomers; NFTs add tradability and a sense of ownership.
New token mechanics: experiments with lock-ups and reward designs to improve liquidity quality and user alignment.
Governance refinement: more transparent, community-aligned decision-making as the set of stakeholders grows.
TAC (TON Applications Chain): an EVM-compatible layer based on Polygon tech to pull in broader DeFi tooling and liquidity. This could make porting EVM apps to TON-adjacent rails far easier.
Challenges & risks to watch
DeFi depth: While activity is rising, TON’s DeFi still trails leading ecosystems in TVL, volumes, and breadth of protocols. Incentive programs (e.g., ecosystem grants/competitions) help, but sustained traction requires sticky products.
Developer capacity: A smaller pool of TON-native engineers (FunC/Tact) means learning curves and a premium on good tooling, docs, and SDKs.
Multi-chain complexity: Sharding and cross-domain communication add operational complexity; stability and validator coordination remain core engineering priorities.
Platform dependency & regulation: TON’s distribution rides on Telegram, which brings scale—and exposure to regional regulatory headlines. Diversifying entry points and strengthening non-Telegram UX will matter over time.
How to store TON & Jettons securely with NOW Wallet
NOW Wallet is a non-custodial, multi-platform wallet that supports TON and Jettons with a beginner-friendly UI. You keep your keys (12/24-word backup phrase), while enjoying quick swaps, purchases, and portfolio tracking on mobile and desktop.
| Feature | NOW Wallet (non-custodial) | Centralized exchange account |
|---|---|---|
| Key ownership | You control seed phrase | Custodian controls keys |
| Supported assets | TON + Jettons + majors | Varies by exchange |
| Access | Mobile & desktop apps | Web/app; subject to custody |
| Transfers & swaps | Built-in buy/swap/sell flows | Often internal, then withdrawal |
| Recovery | 12/24-word backup | Account/email-based |
| Fees | Network fees; competitive rates | Exchange fees + withdrawal fees |
Benefits of NOW Wallet for TON users
- Security: multi-layer protection with private key self-custody.
- Ease of use: intuitive flows for sending, receiving, buying, and swapping TON/Jettons.
- Everywhere: iOS/Android + desktop.
- Recovery: simple mnemonic-based backup.
- Cost-effective: competitive rates and transparent network fees.
Step-by-step: setting up TON in NOW Wallet
- Install: Download NOW Wallet for your device from the official website or app store.
- Create or import: Create a new wallet and save your 12/24-word seed, or import an existing phrase.
- Add TON: Search for TON and enable it. Jettons compatible with your address appear as you interact with apps.
- Receive: Tap “Receive” to copy your TON address; send a small test first when moving funds.
- Buy or swap: Use built-in buy/swap options to acquire TON, USDT on TON, or popular Jettons.
- Explore: Connect to TON mini-apps from Telegram, or use dApps that support TON Connect-style flows.
- Back up & confirm: Verify your seed phrase is backed up (offline). Consider a passphrase for extra protection.
Swap TON to USDT fast
Security tips & common mistakes
- Self-custody hygiene: Never share or store seed phrases in cloud notes. Write offline, keep multiple copies in safe locations.
- Phishing defense: Bookmark official domains (TON, wallet, bridges). Double-check URLs in Telegram mini-apps before connecting.
- Allowance control: Periodically review Jetton approvals in your wallet and revoke those you don’t need.
- Bridge prudence: For Teleport/tgBTC or any bridge, read audits, verify contracts, and test with small amounts.
- Device safety: Keep OS updated, enable biometrics, and set strong device passcodes.
FAQ
Summary & next steps
TON is building a chat-native Web3: fast L1, Jettons, and mini-apps that meet users where they already are. With Teleport BTC, USDT on TON, and TAC’s EVM path, the ecosystem aims to deepen liquidity and lower the barrier for devs and users alike. At the same time, DeFi depth, developer bandwidth, and platform/regulatory headlines are real variables to watch. If you want a straightforward, self-custodial way to manage TON and Jettons across devices, NOW Wallet is an easy place to start.
