🎂 The TON Mainnet celebrates its fifth anniversary today, May 26, 2021.

The original launch was previously halted by the SEC the preceding year, leading Telegram to withdraw. Subsequently, the Community Foundation assumed the GPL codebase and deployed the network as an independent community project, distinct from the original corporate entity. While many projects cease upon the departure of their founders, this initiative successfully revived. 🔄

Over the subsequent four years, development proceeded discreetly. The TON Foundation was registered in Switzerland, and Telegram introduced an in-app wallet. Mini Apps integrated within Telegram onboarded over 100 million users within months. USDT was launched as a native jetton on TON. 📈

This year, Telegram re-engaged. In May 2026, the founder announced direct control of the network alongside a seven-step strategic plan. Three steps have already been executed: a new consensus mechanism, a six-fold reduction in fees, and Telegram itself operating as the largest validator. A mandatory mainnet update is scheduled to activate in six days. This update introduces a virtual machine version enabling TON contracts to verify Ethereum signatures directly. Currently, three independent teams maintain three versions of the core software. 🛠

The trajectory demonstrates significant scaling: four years of growth with a few million users, followed by Mini Apps acquiring 100 million users within months. Telegram's direct control has initiated the construction of the remaining stack. 🚀

The next phase is not gradual. When Bitcoin integration moves into Telegram chats, adoption transitions from a campaign to a default state. When the wallet supports every significant cryptocurrency, every Telegram user will possess the sole crypto wallet necessary. When AI agents begin autonomous payment processing, a new category of software—previously nonexistent—will be built atop this chain. 🤖

The first five years measured TON in tens of millions of users; the next five will measure it in billions. Five years ago, this network was a dormant project the community refused to abandon. Today, it represents the infrastructure for one of the most ambitious cryptocurrency endeavors ever attempted.

Happy Birthday, TON. 🎉