Toncoin (TON) Price Explodes 80% as Telegram Gifts Hit 3M Users

Toncoin price is up more than 5% today, trading around $2.38 after an explosive weekly rally of over 80%. Trading volume has also climbed more than 30% in the past 24 hours as buyers continue flooding into the market. 

The rally follows a series of major developments tied to Telegram’s deeper involvement with the TON ecosystem. Telegram founder Pavel Durov confirmed that Telegram is now taking direct control of TON development and validator operations, pushing the blockchain closer to Telegram’s billion-user ecosystem. 

Also, TON activated major network upgrades that reduced transaction fees to nearly $0.0005 and lowered block finality times to around 400 milliseconds, making the network faster and cheaper for payments, mini-apps, and NFT activity.

Telegram NFT Gifts Cross 3 Million Users as TON Wallet Adoption Accelerates

Crypto AI analyst aixbt pointed to one of the strongest adoption signals behind the TON price rally this week. Telegram NFT Gifts crossed 3 million users through Fragment, meaning over 3 million TON wallets were created without users downloading wallet apps or storing seed phrases manually. That onboarding flow matters because it removes one of crypto’s biggest friction points for mainstream users.

Aixbt also noted that the 3 million wallet count still represents only about 0.3% of Telegram’s roughly 900 million monthly active users. If penetration climbs to 1%, the TON ecosystem could reach 9 million wallets, putting it above platforms like OpenSea and Axie Infinity during peak adoption cycles. For traders watching the TON price, that creates a much larger user-growth narrative than a typical NFT launch.

The key metric traders are now tracking is Fragment secondary trading volume instead of simple mint activity. If secondary volume keeps rising even after new gift mints slow down, that points to sustained demand inside the TON ecosystem. If mint activity grows but trading volume weakens, the rally could lose strength quickly. That ratio may become one of the clearest indicators for whether TON’s 80% weekly rally can continue.

Catalysts Driving TON Price Higher

The biggest catalyst behind the TON price rally came on May 4 after Telegram confirmed it would become TON’s primary developer and largest validator. Pavel Durov stated that Telegram would stake millions of TON tokens and take direct responsibility for network development. 

The move connects TON directly to Telegram’s distribution network of more than 1 billion users. At the same time, the “Make TON Great Again” roadmap delivered its first major upgrades. Catchain 2.0 reduced block finality to around 400 milliseconds, and transaction fees dropped nearly sixfold to approximately $0.0005.

Those upgrades improve TON’s ability to handle micropayments, mini-app activity, and high-frequency transactions inside Telegram. Daily network transactions have already climbed above 1.2 million, showing stronger usage across the ecosystem. 

TON remains Telegram’s exclusive blockchain for Mini Apps, giving the network direct access to one of the largest social platforms in the world. Even so, TON’s DeFi TVL still ranges between roughly $85 million and $150 million, far below ecosystems like Solana and Ethereum Layer-2 networks.

There are still risks traders cannot ignore. TON continues dealing with regulatory pressure tied to its earlier SEC dispute history. The TON Believers Fund also introduces steady supply inflation through monthly unlocks of around 36.59 million TON tokens worth close to $75 million at May 2026 prices. Those unlocks could slow future rallies unless fresh demand keeps absorbing new supply entering the market.

Inside the TON ecosystem, development is moving fast in the second quarter of 2026. Builders Portal 3.0 should give developers better tools, easier testing, and more grant money. TON Pay 2.0 plans to handle payments in less than one second, with fees close to zero for transactions done inside Telegram.

The ecosystem is also rolling out AppKit, Tolk Dev Tools, and another consensus optimization upgrade to support higher throughput across mini-apps and smart contracts. If execution remains smooth, TON could strengthen its position as Telegram’s default blockchain infrastructure.

What is the Toncoin Chart Showing?

We had a look at the chart, and buyers completely dominated price action over the past week. The TON price climbed from around $1.35 to nearly $2.80 before cooling near the $2.40 area. 

The move happened in a very short period, which explains why volatility expanded sharply during the rally. Large candles and long wicks near the top also show traders locking in profits after the breakout.

The RSI histogram pushed above the 75 level during the rally before dropping back toward 45. That drop shows bullish momentum cooled after the aggressive run higher. Even with that cooldown, the TON price still holds well above its breakout zone near $2.10, which remains one of the key support levels traders are watching.

The Ultimate Oscillator also climbed aggressively during the breakout phase and remains elevated near 77. Readings above 70 usually point to strong buying pressure entering the market over multiple timeframes. That strength helped fuel TON’s vertical rally over the last several sessions.

Volume and derivatives activity also support the move. TON futures open interest climbed to record highs during the rally, and more than $37 million in short liquidations hit the market in a four-hour window. That liquidation squeeze accelerated the breakout as bearish traders were forced to close positions rapidly.

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Toncoin Price Prediction

Bullish Case

If Telegram keeps weaving TON deeper into its payments, NFT gifts, mini-apps, and wallet setup, the TON price could go back up to $2.80 and maybe try for $3.20. Transactions are fast. Fees are low. More people are using the wallet. All of that gives the network a good story for user growth as we move deeper into 2026.

Bearish Case

The biggest risk remains overheated leverage and ongoing token unlock pressure. If futures traders begin unwinding positions aggressively, the TON price could fall back toward the $2.00-$2.10 support range. Regulatory pressure tied to Telegram or TON’s earlier SEC history could also weaken market sentiment quickly.

Likely Case

The most likely scenario may involve consolidation between $2.10 and $2.60 after the 80% weekly rally. Traders are now watching whether Telegram wallet growth converts into sustained ecosystem activity across payments, NFTs, and Mini Apps before pushing TON into another major breakout attempt.

However, the TON price rally came from more than hype alone. Telegram’s direct involvement, faster network infrastructure, and rising wallet adoption pushed TON into one of the strongest moves in the crypto market this week.

More than 3 million Telegram NFT Gift users also showed how quickly TON wallets can scale inside Telegram’s ecosystem. Also, leverage levels and token unlock schedules still create risks traders need to monitor closely. If Telegram keeps expanding TON across payments and Mini Apps, the network could remain one of the most closely watched blockchain ecosystems in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Toncoin price up today

TON is rising after Telegram confirmed a deeper role in the network, with Pavel Durov announcing that Telegram will become the largest validator. This move strengthens trust in TON’s long-term alignment with Telegram’s ecosystem and its massive user base. At the same time, a major fee reduction made the network cheaper and more usable, boosting adoption expectations.

Is Toncoin a good investment

TON is seen as a high-upside crypto because it is directly linked to Telegram’s ecosystem of hundreds of millions of users. That built-in distribution gives it a strong adoption advantage compared to many other Layer-1 blockchains. However, it also carries high volatility and risks tied to regulation, token unlocks, and fast-moving market sentiment.