- July 6, 2023
- Posted by: [email protected]
- Category:
TON Foundation, the developer behind the Open Network (TON), has recently unveiled a new encrypted messaging feature on the blockchain. This announcement, made on July 3, highlights the ability for TON users to send private messages securely within the network.
Originally derived from the Telegram instant messaging app, TON is a blockchain network that underwent forking when Telegram discontinued its involvement in July 2020, even before the mainnet launch. Nevertheless, the project’s code was open-sourced, enabling others to carry on with the development initiated by Telegram.
The present iteration of the network, known as “TON,” was constructed by the TON Foundation, asserting superior scalability and transaction throughput compared to alternative solutions within the Web3 ecosystem while maintaining decentralization.
Previously, TON users could send messages as part of transactions; however, these messages were entirely public. The newly introduced feature now empowers users to encrypt these messages, ensuring end-to-end confidentiality and restricting access solely to the intended recipient.
Anatoly Makosov, a core developer for TON, explained that this feature was conceived to enable transaction personalization, stating, “When sending Toncoin, Jettons, or NFTs on TON, you have always been able to include a text for the recipient, such as ‘for coffee’ or ‘happy birthday,’ thereby personalizing the interaction. Now this popular feature…is available with full encryption.” Makosov also highlighted the potential utility of encrypted messaging in dire situations such as an “apocalypse,” where traditional messenger servers may fail, emphasizing TON’s reliability and secure means of private communication.
At present, several retail wallet apps, including MyTonWallet, OpenMask, and TON Wallet, support encrypted messages. Furthermore, the TON Foundation’s announcement noted that the upcoming updates for the mobile wallet Tonkeeper will also incorporate this new functionality.
In a bid to foster network growth, the TON Foundation launched a $25 million accelerator program in May, encouraging app developers to build on the platform. Additionally, an independent development team developed a Telegram trading bot in November, facilitating user onboarding to TON.
The introduction of on-chain encrypted messaging on TON demonstrates the project’s commitment to enhancing user privacy and communication security. By allowing for confidential interactions, TON seeks to provide a reliable and safeguarded method of communication within its blockchain network.
