The Open Network (TON) ecosystem is gaining significant traction as new developments drive greater adoption and investment. The TON Foundation recently secured over $400 million in funding from major venture capital firms, signaling growing confidence in the blockchain's potential within the Telegram ecosystem. Meanwhile, XDAO, a protocol built on TON, has enabled over 367,000 decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) to achieve legal status through an automated framework, streamlining compliance and dispute resolution. TON Foundation Secures Over $400 Million in Funding, Signaling Growing Interest in Telegram’s Blockchain Ecosystem The TON Foundation, the entity behind The Open Network (TON) blockchain, has announced a major investment round totaling more than $400 million, showing the increasing venture capital interest in the Telegram messaging ecosystem. The funding round, which involved several prominent investment firms, is expected to play a pivotal role in expanding TON’s ecosystem and further integrating blockchain technology with Telegram's growing user base. The investment was made through strategic Toncoin purchases by some of the world’s most influential venture capital firms, including Sequoia Capital, Ribbit, Benchmark, Draper Associates, Kingsway, Vy Capital, Libertus Capital, CoinFund, SkyBridge, Hypersphere, and Karatage. Although the TON Foundation described these investments as strategic partnerships, no specific details regarding the nature of the collaborations were disclosed. With this backing from Silicon Valley heavyweights and blockchain-focused investors, TON is poised for further growth as a decentralized network supporting Mini Apps within the Telegram ecosystem. While TON was initially developed by Telegram’s founders, it now operates as an independent blockchain. Nevertheless, its deep integration with Telegram remains a defining feature, setting it apart from other decentralized networks. The investment news follows a period of remarkable growth for TON blockchain. Over the past year, the number of native accounts on the network surged from 4 million to 41 million, reflecting a growing adoption rate. Furthermore, the TON Foundation claims that the Toncoin cryptocurrency now has more than 121 million unique holders. A key aspect of TON’s strategy is its ambitious goal to onboard 30% of active Telegram users to the blockchain within the next three years. Given Telegram’s rapidly expanding user base—which surpassed 1 billion monthly active users by March—this target, if achieved, could introduce hundreds of millions of new users to the blockchain space. This rapid expansion is supported by Telegram’s exclusive adoption of Toncoin for app-related services, reinforcing its role as the primary cryptocurrency within the ecosystem. As more applications and services within Telegram integrate TON blockchain, demand for Toncoin is expected to increase, further strengthening its market position. The Broader Venture Capital Trend in Blockchain Investments The TON funding round highlights a larger trend in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector—a resurgence of venture capital investments. Despite the volatility that has characterized the crypto industry in recent years, institutional interest in blockchain projects has remained strong. According to Simon Wu, a partner at Cathay Innovation, crypto and blockchain projects “are gaining traction as viable solutions, especially in financial sectors like asset management, transactions, and tokenization.” This sentiment is echoed by broader investment trends in the industry. Venture capital deals surpassed $1.1 billion in February, reflecting renewed investor enthusiasm in decentralized finance (DeFi) services. Furthermore, blockchain projects focused on business services and real-world assets continue to attract substantial venture financing. The future of TON blockchain appears bright, particularly as Telegram's user base is projected to reach 1.5 billion by 2030, according to Benchmark partner Peter Fenton. This anticipated growth presents a massive opportunity for TON’s ecosystem to expand its services and solidify its position as the leading blockchain within the Telegram platform. Given the TON Foundation's ambitious adoption goals, the recent $400 million investment could serve as a catalyst for further development, driving new innovations, enhanced functionalities, and deeper blockchain integration with Telegram’s existing infrastructure. As venture capital funding continues to flow into blockchain projects, TON’s position within the Web3 ecosystem becomes increasingly significant. With the backing of top-tier investors, TON is well-positioned to leverage Telegram’s vast global reach, potentially redefining how blockchain technology interacts with mainstream applications. XDAO Empowers Over 367,000 DAOs with Legal Status Through TON-Based Protocol and Telegram Integration In related news, XDAO, a protocol built on The Open Network, has enabled more than 367,000 decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) to achieve legal recognition. Through a groundbreaking initiative that automates legal status for DAOs, XDAO is redefining how decentralized entities engage with the traditional legal system—blurring the lines between code and law. XDAO announced that its streamlined protocol now allows decentralized communities and blockchain-based collectives to gain legal status with relative ease. This marks a critical milestone in the broader Web3 movement, which has long grappled with legal ambiguity surrounding DAOs—organizations governed by smart contracts and community votes rather than centralized leadership. A spokesperson from XDAO said that the platform doesn’t just enable standalone DAOs, but also facilitates the creation of “sub-entities” under a shared constitutional framework. These sub-entities, governed by XDAO Labs’ Constitution, exist in legal relation to one another and to outside parties who acknowledge and accept their structure. The protocol recognizes Singapore—where XDAO Labs is incorporated—as the jurisdiction for resolving legal disputes, providing a structured legal foundation while preserving the decentralized ethos of DAOs. Perhaps most notably, XDAO is integrating legal operations into the daily digital routines of Web3 users by enabling legally binding agreements through Telegram bots. The same messenger app that has become the beating heart of the crypto community now serves as a conduit for formal contract execution. Using Web3 wallets connected to Telegram bots, DAO members can sign legal agreements, archive transaction history, and store critical documentation in a secure, transparent, and immutable format. This feature significantly lowers the barrier to legal compliance and simplifies DAO operations, particularly for users unfamiliar with the nuances of international corporate law. XDAO acknowledges the limitations of such a system, especially in areas like real estate and securities, which typically require more stringent legal protocols. Nevertheless, the protocol insists that agreements made via Telegram bots are valid in “most jurisdictions,” provided that participants carefully document terms and responsibilities. XDAO is also advancing a forward-thinking approach to smart contract-based legal compliance and arbitration. The protocol supports the creation of arbitration agreements via Web3 tools such as Docusign and Ethsign, provided that the contracting parties clearly express their intention to adjudicate disputes and establish legally recognizable identities. Should a dispute arise, XDAO allows for the inclusion of an arbitrator as a DAO member, granting them a key vote. If the community cannot reach a consensus, the arbitrator can sign transactions with a digital signature, ensuring that conflict resolution does not stall essential operations. By offering a flexible yet legally enforceable structure, XDAO is solving one of the most complex puzzles in the blockchain world: how to merge decentralized governance with traditional legal systems. Until now, many DAOs have operated in legal limbo, lacking the legitimacy to engage with centralized institutions, banks, and regulators. XDAO's model changes that by leveraging TON’s scalable infrastructure, Telegram’s mass adoption, and the evolving landscape of Web3 legal tools. This convergence allows DAOs to function more like digitally-native legal entities, without sacrificing their decentralized nature. The move is timely, as legal scrutiny of DAOs continues to rise. In a recent court case in Texas, a judgment was issued against Bancor DAO for failing to respond to a legal summons—highlighting the urgent need for DAOs to establish a clear legal identity and compliance strategy. A Blueprint for the Future of Digital Organizations With over 367,000 DAOs already benefiting from XDAO’s protocol, the platform is emerging as a pioneering force in decentralized legal infrastructure. It offers a template for how blockchain-based organizations can scale responsibly while maintaining compliance with global legal standards. As DAOs increasingly evolve from niche internet communities to full-fledged organizations handling significant assets and governance responsibilities, platforms like XDAO could become the gold standard for legal compliance in the decentralized world. The integration of smart contracts, arbitration mechanisms, and Telegram -based legal tools sets the stage for a future where legal agreements are as programmable and accessible as the protocols that underpin them.
