Telegram Embraces DeFi: Introducing Tac on Ethereum
Telegram is entering into the decentralized finance (DeFi) arena on Ethereum with the launch of Tac’s mainnet. Tac is a third-party blockchain that bridges apps on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to The Open Network (TON).
What Does Tac Bring to the Table?
The Tac mainnet is live, aiming to seamlessly integrate EVM decentralized applications (DApps) into each the TON and Telegram ecosystems. This exciting announcement got here from the team behind the project on a recent Tuesday.
With Tac, Telegram users can now dive into EVM DApps directly throughout the messaging app. It’s like opening a gateway to a mess of DeFi protocols, including names like Curve, Morpho, and Euler, as shared by Tac co-founder Pavel Altukhov in a conversation with Cointelegraph.
For developers, Tac is a game-changer. It offers a smooth path to deploy on TON without the trouble of ranging from scratch. This means exposure to Telegram’s massive user base, which isn’t any small feat.
Why Does Telegram Need Tac?
First making waves in July 2024, Tac was crafted to be a full EVM-compatible layer-1 blockchain. Its role? To connect Ethereum DApps with the TON and Telegram worlds.
According to Tac co-founder Marco Monaco, the project is built on TON and boasts its own jetton TON token. It collaborates with other projects within the TON ecosystem to “accrue value to TON.” Unlike the native Toncoin (TON), jettons are custom crypto assets created on the TON blockchain, just like ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum.
Since early 2025, Telegram has focused solely on supporting TON for its Mini App ecosystem, leaving developers adjusting EVM apps to the TON Virtual Machine (TVM) to remain compatible with Telegram. But with Tac, EVM developers can now effortlessly integrate their applications with Telegram and TON.
The Tac Team: Independent but Collaborative
Since going public last yr, Tac has successfully raised $11.5 million across its seed and strategic rounds. The most up-to-date funding round, a $5 million strategic investment, was led by Web3 enterprise capital firm Hack VC, which also participated in a $6.5 million seed round last November.
Interestingly, while Tac is designed to bridge EVM dApps to TON and Telegram, the network is being developed by an independent team, separate from each TON and Telegram, as confirmed by a Tac spokesperson to Cointelegraph.
Telegram’s decision to focus exclusively on TON for Mini Apps has sparked a combination of reactions, with some questioning the messenger’s commitment to freedom and decentralization. However, Steve Yun of the TON Foundation board defended the move, citing security and scalability as key considerations.
Image Credit: cointelegraph.com
