- Telegram has launched an in-app browser that can connect to blockchain-powered websites
- Telegram said the browser is part of its mission to bring more people to web3
- The browser allows users to switch between decentralized web pages and messaging seamlessly
Messaging giant Telegram is working to bring millions of its users to the web3 space through an in-app browser that can access decentralized websites. According to Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, the browser has all the necessary features like the ability to support multiple tabs, search, and bookmarks. Durov revealed that the decentralized websites are called “TON Sites,” noting that the browser makes “blockchain-based web” a reality to “almost a billion [Telegram] users,” a move that’s expected to increase the adoption of blockchain-powered products like NFTs and the metaverse.
Easy to Switch Between Web3 Sites and Messaging
The browser can be used on both desktop and mobile. In an announcement, Telegram revealed that TON Sites “uses TON DNS, a fully decentralized domain name system,” which increases the websites’ security and stability.
According to Telegram, the in-app browser allows users to switch between the blockchain-based web and messaging without losing the progress of what they were doing on a decentralized website.
Apart from an in-app browser to access web3 sites and projects hosted on TON, Telegram also announced the addition of new features like a dedicated section to view popular mini apps like Hamster Kombat and Catizen.
TON Proxy and Telegram Stars Launched
Durov noted that mini-apps can “spread virally across the Telegram ecosystem.” The Open Network had earlier announced the launch of another feature “TON Proxy” which will help power TON-based decentralized finance (DeFi).
Telegram also launched a new feature that allows friends to gift each other stars that act as a currency to buy digital goods on mini apps. The new features come a week after Telegram launched a gasless crypto wallet.
With Telegram launching an in-app browser that enables access to decentralized websites, it’s to be seen whether other popular messaging apps like WhatsApp will start exploring the decentralized world.
