The new Layer-2 is named TON Applications Chain (TAC), based on Polygon’s technological solutions.
TON Blockchain to Launch Layer 2 with Polygon Collaboration
According to CoinDesk, the team behind The Open Network (TON), the blockchain associated with the Telegram messaging app, confirmed that they will partner with Polygon Labs to launch their own Layer-2. This information was revealed at the Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) in Brussels, Belgium, today.
The new Layer-2 is called the TON Applications Chain (TAC). TAC will be based on Polygon’s infrastructure and technology, including the Polygon CDK – Polygon’s layer-2 development toolkit, and AggLayer – a solution connecting blockchains to solve the problem of liquidity fragmentation.
TAC aims to integrate EVM applications and bring Ethereum developers to the TON ecosystem, specifically to serve Telegram users. The project team shared:
“TAC significantly enhances liquidity and brings DeFi closer to TON users. Besides DeFi, TAC will pave the way for a range of innovative applications on the TON blockchain, such as gaming and decentralized identity solutions.”
The decision to develop a Layer-2 for TON is not a new idea, as many other blockchain companies have pursued this over the past year. It started with Coinbase, the largest crypto exchange in the U.S., launching the Layer-2 Base based on Optimism’s OP Stack in July 2023. Since then, several other notable names have followed suit, such as OKX (X Layer), Celo, and Worldcoin.
Telegram itself has increasingly favored TON recently, even accepting the use of this token for ad revenue sharing. Tether has also supported the direct issuance of the USDT stablecoin on the TON blockchain.
Contributing significantly to TON’s success is the rise of the Tap-to-Earn model, directly integrated with Telegram, such as Notcoin and Hamster Kombat. The click-to-earn game Hamster Kombat alone boasts a massive user base of over 200 million players, though it has sparked outrage among Iranian officials.
The total value locked (TVL) on the TON blockchain reached $317 million for the first time on May 27, increasing tenfold in just two months. TON is also one of the few coins that does not fluctuate significantly with the market, generally maintaining stability around the $7-7.3 range over the past month.
Toncoin price screenshot of CoinMarketCap
However, according to a spokesperson for the TON Foundation, this new Layer-2 is an independent effort by a project within the TON ecosystem and is not related to the team behind The Open Network.
