Telegram and TON integration positions Korea as a launchpad for Web3 adoption

- Telegram's Integration of TON Could Be the Most Powerful Lever for Web3 Adoption - High Potential with 5 Million Telegram Users in South Korea [Unblock Media] The combination of Telegram, with its vast user base, and The Open Network (TON) blockchain could serve as the most potent lever for real-world Web3 adoption, with South Korea being a key testing ground. In an exclusive interview with Unblock Media, Kang Seunghyun (pseudonym: Burchnut), the leader of TON Foundation’s Korean ecosystem, emphasized the importance of integrating blockchain into platforms with existing network effects. Kang stated, "If TON is natively embedded into the Telegram interface, users won't even realize they are interacting with blockchain. The magic lies in seamless onboarding through the platform they use daily," he said. Telegram, with approximately 950 million monthly active users (MAUs), is expected to exceed 1.5 billion by 2028. Kang argued that this offers nearly unlimited potential to deploy blockchain-native services at scale. While typical decentralized applications (dApps) struggle with onboarding and retention, Telegram's native integration would provide users with immediate access to financial services, creator tools, and microtransactions without the cognitive overload of a dedicated Web3 user experience (UX). Kang explained, "Think of logging into internet services with an email. Now, that email account serves as your bank. Users can send and receive cryptocurrency, purchase services, or tip creators within their chats, all frictionlessly." ### South Korea: A Small User Base with High Potential Despite having a relatively small base of 5 million Telegram users, Kang sees high potential in South Korea. Due to the cultural affinity for social platforms ranging from Cyworld to KakaoTalk and increasing regulatory openness towards blockchain innovation, South Korea is viewed as a strategic starting point. He mentioned, "The tech-savvy users in Korea and the government's interest in secure digital platforms create a fertile foundation," citing recent collaborations to strengthen trust and compliance between Telegram and South Korean institutions. ### KTON: Building the Grassroots Power of TON in South Korea As the founder of KTON, Kang has spearheaded various initiatives to onboard developers, connect startups, and educate institutions. Key activities include hosting TON Builder workshops during Korea Blockchain Week (KBW), inviting three global TON projects to Seoul for ecosystem exchange, and organizing meetups that gathered over 9,000 participants to foster local engagement. Kang remarked, "Even small builder circles can generate enough insights to impact the foundation's roadmap. KTON demonstrates that strong community nodes can shape global strategy." Kang currently oversees the Korean onboarding for TON Foundation's support and acceleration programs, promoting partnerships with local businesses, universities, and government entities. His previous experience managing partnerships with global tech companies at SK Telecom has been critical in bridging the Web2-Web3 gap. The TON ecosystem continues to evolve as Telegram rolls out features like wallet integration, mini-apps, and crypto-based advertising technology. Regardless of whether TON emerges as the default blockchain for the social web, South Korea is ready to play a critical role in testing the theory.