The launch of the TON Application Chain (TAC) mainnet is generating buzz and optimism, with some analysts predicting a potential surge in Toncoin's price. TAC, a Layer-1 network, aims to bridge Ethereum's decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem with The Open Network (TON) and the Telegram messaging platform. This integration could bring Ethereum-based decentralized applications (dApps) directly to Telegram's vast user base, potentially boosting DApp adoption and asset inflows into the TON network.
TAC's mainnet launch on July 15, 2025, enables Ethereum-compatible DeFi applications to operate within Telegram's ecosystem. Popular Ethereum DeFi protocols like Curve, Morpho, Bancor, ZeroLend, and Euler are now accessible to TON and Telegram users. This opens up opportunities for decentralized lending, yield farming, exchanges, and other DeFi use cases within the Telegram interface.
TAC is not an official Telegram project but an independent blockchain designed to integrate with the TON ecosystem. It addresses the challenge of TON's native virtual machine (TVM) and smart contract language (FunC) being less accessible to Ethereum's extensive developer community. By offering an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible chain directly integrated with TON, TAC provides a bridge for Ethereum DeFi apps to deploy on Telegram without rewriting their code.
The integration is facilitated through a "TON-specific CrossChain Layer," connecting Ethereum dApps and developers with Telegram's user base. TAC utilizes a CosmosEVM architecture and collaborates with infrastructure partners like LayerZero, RedStone, Blockscout, and Babylon for cross-chain messaging and oracle data feeds.
To ensure a seamless user experience, TAC employs a unique fee model. Transactions simulate EVM gas costs and convert them in real-time into TON, which is then attached to the user's transaction. This TON is sent to the TON Adapter, picked up by a network of sequencers, and relayed to the TAC EVM side, where a network-level paymaster sponsors the TAC gas fees. This approach abstracts away gas payment friction for end-users while creating sustained buy-pressure for the TAC token, as TON collected from users is systematically converted.
The TAC team is backed by The Open Platform (TOP), a TON development project that achieved a $1 billion valuation earlier this month. TAC itself has raised $11.5 million in funding through strategic investments and a seed round led by Hack VC and Symbolic Capital.
Following the mainnet launch, the TAC token experienced a surge, climbing over 50% to $0.0248, before retracing slightly to around $0.022. The launch has sparked optimism about Toncoin's potential.
From a technical analysis perspective, Toncoin recently broke out of a descending triangle pattern, surpassing the $3.00 level. If the price breaks above the downtrend line, it could potentially reach $3.69. In the shorter term, a rally to $3.40 and then $3.50 is possible. However, failure to break the downtrend line could keep the price within the triangle pattern. As of publication, Toncoin traded at $3.01, with a market capitalization of $7.4 billion and $287 million in trading volume in the last day.
TAC's mainnet launch represents a significant step in bringing DeFi to the mainstream by connecting Ethereum dApps with the Telegram ecosystem. By lowering the barrier to entry for mainstream users and providing a seamless experience, TAC has the potential to unlock real utility for over a billion users.
