TON Blockchain Introduces On-Chain Encrypted Messaging Capability

18 views 11:43 am 0 Comments July 4, 2023

Previously, the network permitted users to post on-chain messages, but they were entirely public and unencrypted.

The Open Network (TON), a blockchain platform, has now launched an encrypted messaging feature on-chain as stated in a recent July 3 announcement by the network’s developer, TON Foundation. This latest addition facilitates private communication among TON users.

TON is a blockchain network developed from code that was initially created by the team at Telegram, an instant messaging app. The project was abandoned by Telegram in July 2020, even before the mainnet launch. However, before leaving, Telegram made TON’s code open-source, enabling others to progress the work they had started.

The current iteration of the network, known as “TON,” was constructed by the TON Foundation. They maintain that the network offers superior scalability and transaction processing speeds compared to other Web3 ecosystem alternatives while retaining its decentralized nature.

TON has consistently enabled users to include messages in transactions, but these messages were entirely public. The new feature introduces end-to-end encryption of these messages, making them only accessible to the intended recipient.

Anatoly Makosov, a core developer at TON, posits that the feature was designed to enhance the personal touch in transactions. When transferring Toncoin, Jettons, or NFTs on TON, users have always been able to include a message for the recipient such as ‘for coffee’ or ‘happy birthday’, making the interaction more personal. This popular feature is now available with comprehensive encryption.

Makosov further suggested its potential usefulness in a hypothetical “apocalypse” scenario that disrupts traditional messaging servers. In such an event, TON could act as a dependable and protected medium for private communication.

Currently, encrypted messages can be sent using various retail wallet apps, such as MyTonWallet, OpenMask, and TON Wallet. According to the announcement, this feature will be incorporated into the mobile wallet Tonkeeper in the near future.

In an effort to stimulate app development on the network, the TON Foundation initiated a $25 million accelerator program in May. By November, an independent development team had designed a Telegram trading bot to facilitate user onboarding onto TON.