Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, recently highlighted that TON now processes transactions in approximately one second, with block production increasing sixfold and transaction speeds improving notably. The upgrade's centerpiece is Catchain 2.0, a system designed to synchronize nodes more efficiently, set to launch on April 10. It targets sub-second finality, down from around ten seconds previously.
Instant Payments and Mini Apps Get a Boost
According to TON, faster confirmation will enable instant payments, more responsive trades, and smoother in-app experiences, especially for Mini Apps — lightweight applications within Telegram that serve over a billion users. Earlier confirmation delays limited certain features where speed was crucial for trades or app responses; the latest release is expected to address those issues.
Durov described this upgrade as the first step in the MTONGA roadmap, a broader plan with seven technical milestones. The next goal is to reduce TON transaction fees considerably, though no precise fee change or launch date has been specified. TON also noted that higher block rates could lead to increased rewards for validators and enhance staking incentives, reinforcing the blockchain's economic ecosystem.
From Community Reboot to Strategic Integration
TON's journey began in 2018 when Telegram first explored blockchain solutions. After regulatory intervention forced a pause, a community of open-source developers re-established the network as The Open Network in 2022. The current upgrade builds on that decentralized structure to integrate blockchain functionality into Telegram's messaging platform.
While no specific figures were released about revised fee structures, TON emphasized its intention to maintain low costs, encouraging further adoption of blockchain features within Telegram's Mini Apps and payment services. Durov reiterated that speed is foundational for applications requiring immediate user feedback, aligning with Telegram's strategy of bringing seamless blockchain functionality to its vast user base.