TON
Decentralized finance (DeFi) refers to blockchain-based financial applications that are peer-to-peer, meaning users can engage directly with one another without intermediaries like banks and brokers.
By Geoffrey Lyons
Published on May 16, 2025
Last modified on Feb 26, 2026
Decentralized finance (DeFi) refers to blockchain-based financial applications that are peer-to-peer, meaning users can engage directly with one another without intermediaries like banks and brokers.
Many see DeFi as a major challenge to institutional finance. Robert Leshner, founder of DeFi protocol Compound, says it is providing the opportunity to “reimagine the financial system on a blockchain.”
Others see it as a complimentary counterbalance to the existing centralized financial ecosystem.
Further reading: What is DeFi? An introduction to decentralized finance
Marking DeFi’s borders
DeFi is one of those broad terms that is best understood by defining what it is not. Usually DeFi is differentiated from:
3 things to know about TON
- It’s integrated into Telegram so users can send crypto directly through the messaging app. This gives TON a baseline network of hundreds of millions of users—certainly a rare edge in the industry.
- It’s one of the few blockchains that can scale without sacrificing speed or decentralization. By using dynamic sharding, a way to break networks into smaller parts, TON’s architecture is designed to scale in real time.
- TON serves as the blockchain infrastructure for Telegram Mini Apps: web apps launched within Telegram. Thanks to Telegram’s massive user base, some of these apps have reached millions of users in weeks.
Visualizing TON
Think of TON Wallet as a light backpack.
Clunky Many blockchain wallets are like clunky suitcases with complex setups and security management. | Light TON Wallet is seamlessly integrated into Telegram, making accessibility and asset management light and easy for millions of Telegram users. |
Think of TON Storage as a vast, decentralized attic.
Cluttered Traditional cloud storage is like a cramped, centralized warehouse, which leads to a lot of privacy concerns around data being held on company servers. | Spacious TON Storage is a vast, decentralized attic where data is securely stored across the network using peer-to-peer technology and smart contracts. |
Think of TON DNS as an intuitive system of road signs.
Confusing Navigating blockchain ecosystems can be like driving in a foreign country, with complex addresses like “0x8b5f…”. | Clear TON DNS assigns intuitive names like “bob.ton” to wallets and dApps, gently guiding users to their destinations. |
Gram slam
Toncoin, TON's native token used to power basic network operations and games, was created by the TON community after the SEC forced Telegram to shut down its "Gram" cryptocurrency (which allegedly breached security laws). Currently one of the most popular cryptocurrencies on the market, Toncoin is an example of how passionate communities can defy the odds and build strong, lasting projects.
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