No App or Wallet Needed: How Telegram Is Changing Access to Crypto Finance

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Fintech has long been obsessed with building the next greatapp. From neobanks to DeFi protocols, the playbook has been to launch astandalone product and then convince users to download it, create an account,and learn a new interface. But this model is showing its age.In the era of app fatigue, the most impactful innovationsaren’t asking users to come to them—they’re meeting users where they alreadyare. Today’s winning strategy is embedded finance. And now, it’s getting a Web3upgrade that combines massive distribution with the openness anddecentralization of blockchain.TON and Telegram: Embedded Finance at ScaleOne ecosystem executing this strategy aggressively is TheOpen Network (TON), through its native integration with the Telegram messenger.A recent example is Ethena’s move to bring its USDestablecoin and yield products directly into Telegram. This isn’t just aprotocol expanding to a new chain—it’s a strategic shift toward creating aneobank-like experience where users never leave the chat app.TON Opens to 100+ Chains 🌐💎$TON has integrated @LayerZero_Core to connect with 100+ blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana & Tron! This brings seamless cross-chain transfers, enhanced liquidity, & access to major crypto assets.Partners include: @USDT0_to, @ethena_labs,… pic.twitter.com/wFjgxUKY6u— TON 💎 (@ton_blockchain) February 11, 2025Tap-to-Yield: Removing FrictionThis Tap-to-Yield model simplifies what used to be atechnical maze. Early DeFi required navigating liquidity pools, stakingdashboards, and wallet connections—an intimidating experience for most. Now,inside Telegram, users can find a service like Ethena, deposit a stablecoin,and start earning passively in just a couple of taps. No external wallets. Noconfusing interfaces.It feels as seamless as a polished fintech app likeRevolut—but running on crypto-native rails. For financial protocols, this isn’tjust a nice feature; it’s a new path to mass adoption by removing friction, notexplaining it.Building the Financial Layer Inside TelegramEthena is just one part of a larger vision. TON is steadilyassembling the infrastructure to turn Telegram into a full-fledged financiallayer.Tether Gold (XAUt) is now live on TON, giving users on-chainaccess to a gold-backed inflation hedge. Integration with RedotPay connectsUSDT balances to over 130 million merchants, from Amazon to Starbucks. Soon,tgBTC will bring native Bitcoin to Telegram. A Layer 2 payment network is alsoin development to enable high-volume transactions with minimal fees.XAUt0 is here.@tethergold laid the groundwork for onchain gold. Now, it accelerates.The most trusted gold-backed asset will be available on the world’s leading blockchains via a unified, frictionless liquidity layer – starting now with @ton_blockchain.Your XAUt, anywhere. pic.twitter.com/Nde0z29BJd— USDT0 (@USDT0_to) June 2, 2025The Interface Is the New BattlegroundThis strategy reframes what makes a blockchain valuable. Theindustry has long focused on on-chain metrics—throughput, fees, TVL. But thereal driver of adoption is the interface.While most Layer 1s and Layer 2s compete for a small pool ofcrypto-native users, TON is leveraging an interface already used by over abillion people. Telegram Mini Apps and bots are far more accessible than newwallets or browser extensions.A Shift in the Fintech PlaybookThe myth that the best product wins is giving way to a newtruth: the best interface—the one with the least friction and the biggestbuilt-in audience—wins user attention.For DeFi and fintech alike, the next breakout products maynot be standalone apps. They’ll be Mini Apps deployed inside massive platformslike Telegram. The neobank is becoming the messenger. With AI agents and newsavings tools coming, embedded finance is just getting started.This article was written by Vlad Kamyshov at www.financemagnates.com.