Web3 infrastructure platform Ankr has announced an integration with The Open Network (TON) blockchain, allowing developers to create decentralized applications (DApps) for Telegram’s users.

According to an Oct. 24 announcement, the integration into Ankr’s Web3 API services will eliminate node setup on TON, removing hours of development on building, calibrating and fixing issues. 

Telegram’s audience is estimated to be at 950 million users . Popular DApps based on TON include Telegram Mini Apps, such as Hamster Kombat, a tap-to-earn game that has amassed over 300 million players in a few months.

These Mini Apps leverage TON’s blockchain infrastructure and are designed to operate directly within the Telegram app.

Ankr integrates TON into Web3 API services for developers image 0

Total value locked on TON. Source: DefiLlama

Through the integration, Ankr will offer remote procedure calls (RPCs) connections that allow developers to interface directly with the TON network for tasks such as executing transactions, fetching wallet balances, and retrieving ownership information. The TON RPC endpoints, deployed through Asphere, will be part of a geo-distributed network of blockchain nodes operating globally for low latency. 

“As the messaging app is already so vital to our industry, we will be very excited to see innovative new functionality come to life with barriers to building now removed,” said Chandler Song, co-founder and CEO of Ankr.

Related: Rise of Telegram Mini Apps: How it started, and how it’s going

The TON blockchain also offers its own RPC services, allowing developers to directly interact with the network for building DApps on Telegram. According to Ankr, however, its integration with the network removes node management complexities. 

The TON Foundation, the entity behind the TON blockchain, has recently picked Axelar’s Mobius Development Stack (MDS) to connect its ecosystem with 68 networks . The stack allows developers to build DApps across multiple blockchains, eliminating the need for bridging solutions through an interoperability layer. 

In September, the TON blockchain received a $30-million strategic investment from crypto exchange Bitget and Foresight Ventures. The funding aims to accelerate the development of TON-based applications, particularly games such as Hamster Kombat and Notcoin. 

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