Telegram mini apps can now be used as crypto checkout layers with TON Pay

Open Network Foundation launched TON Pay – a new software development kit for payments that allows consumers to use cryptocurrencies in everyday transactions on Telegram. 

A Monday press release, shared by Cointelegraph with the aim of turning Telegram into a platform for smooth blockchain commerce, positions the product as an easy, wallet-agnostic payments layer. It allows developers and merchants to directly accept crypto through Telegram.

According to TON Foundation TON Pay offers developers a single set of software that can be integrated with Telegram Mini Apps. It removes a lot of friction from managing wallet infrastructure and checkout flows. 

Nikola Plecas, vice president for payments of the TON Foundation, says that merchants can use this payment tool. “accept payments seamlessly and natively on TON through a simple SDK integration,” Toncoin is one of the many tokens that can be used with this wallet.TONUSDt, Tether’s USDt.USDT).

According to him, the system was built for mass, with transaction speeds of less than a second and an average fee below one cent. Plecas said that the goal was to achieve a system with a transaction time of less than 0.1 seconds and corresponding fees below one cent. “power transactions for Telegram’s global audience of over 1.1 billion monthly active users.” 

By integrating payments into Telegram directly, TON Pay aims at reducing common barriers for crypto adoption such as multiple-step check-outs, the need to prepay gas fees and lack of simple merchant tools.

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TON Pay aims to make everyday payments within Telegram

TON Pay initially will be available within Telegram Mini Apps. Over time, the service is expected to extend to other platforms and web environments. 

Plecas stated that the Foundation focused first on the in-app experiences, noting this. “onchain Telegram-based commerce is an enormous opportunity.” 

In future, the updates will support subscriptions, transactions without gas, and specific off-ramps for each region.

It is also planned to work with local service providers to provide custody, compliance services and fiat currency conversion, allowing for a balanced approach between regulatory needs and decentralization. 

Optional merchant tools, including analytics and multiparty-computation wallets, are also in development.

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TON Pay enters crowded ‘everything app’ race

TON Pay is a major platform that has integrated payment. Elon Musk’s X has announced plans for X Money As part of an overall push to expand financial services and shift towards building what is known as “everything apps” This interface can be used to handle all aspects of commerce and payment, including messaging.

Coinbase pursues a strategy similar to that of Bitcoin. rebranding Coinbase Wallet as the Base appIt is an all-in one app for crypto that offers a wallet, social features, online payments, stock trading, as well as support for mini onchain apps on the Base layer-2 Network.

TON has faced long-standing skepticism due to its integration with Telegram. criticized for its lack of decentralizationIt is unclear how to govern. scams tied to unofficial projects. 

The TON Foundation insists on TON remaining an open network that allows developers to build without restriction. 

Plecas says that merchants using TONPay must follow certain rules. “platform-specific terms and policies” Telegram has set the requirements, but as SDKs expand beyond the application they will have additional requirements.

“We are designing a system that addresses key challenges in crypto payments,” Plecas said such as friction fees, onboarding and gas charges, while still remaining competitive with the fiat system.

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