Telegram’s embedded crypto wallet is rolling out onchain yield for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT holders. The move introduces decentralized finance strategies to a platform with more than 150 million registered users.
The feature is available through TON Wallet, the self-custodial component of Wallet in Telegram. Users can deposit assets into new “vaults” tied to onchain strategies that generate variable returns. Morpho, TAC, and Re7 are supporting the integration, according to a company statement.
Can Telegram Convert Users Into DeFi Liquidity?
Among the available strategies, a USDT vault offers a blended annual percentage yield of up to 18%, powered by a Re7 DeFi allocation. Ether and Bitcoin vaults extend yield functionality to the two largest crypto assets by market capitalization. Returns are variable and dependent on underlying onchain conditions.
Telegram-linked blockchain initiatives have sought to channel the messaging app’s global user base into The Open Network ecosystem since 2024. Early traction was driven by tap-to-earn gaming mechanics promising token rewards. But user engagement slowed after the initial surge, and some community members criticized Wallet in Telegram for favoring specific Mini Apps.
“With Vaults in TON Wallet, we are bridging the gap between sophisticated DeFi protocols and hundreds of millions of users,” said Andrew Rogozov, founder and CEO of The Open Platform and Wallet in Telegram.
He described direct access to self-custodial vault strategies for ETH, BTC, and USDT as a step toward broader DeFi adoption within the TON ecosystem.
Still, yield products embedded inside messaging apps introduce new risk considerations around smart contracts, counterparty exposure, and liquidity volatility. Whether Telegram’s user base converts into sustained total value locked will depend on consistent returns and transparent risk disclosures. The next catalyst will be early deposit volumes and whether onchain data shows meaningful capital migration into TON-based strategies.
