Telegram has begun testing its TON blockchain platform

Telegram began testing its TON blockchain platform in a closed format, distributing access to it to a limited number of companies, including Russian ones, writes Vedomosti . Among the professional teams there are also Russian representatives. There are no test results yet, but it is reported that it will help to study the properties and readiness of the network.

What is known? The start of testing the TON The Bell blockchain platform was confirmed by a source close to one of the investors in Pavel Durov's new project. There are no test results yet, he says. Teams have the opportunity to install TON and check its performance - in particular, what transactions and at what speed can be carried out through the network, Vedomosti writes. How long the testing will take is also unclear.

Story. Telegram was going to launch the cryptocurrency in March, but the deadlines have been postponed more than once. At the end of January, a source familiar with the founders' plans told The Bell that Durov planned to hold a meeting with the project's largest investors within a month, but so far nothing is known about it. The company promised to present a test version of the platform to investors in January, and in March it would launch the main Mainnet network.

Read also Durov will launch cryptocurrency for everyone in March

For what. On the basis of TON, Telegram was going to create a payment system integrated into the messenger and the Gram cryptocurrency. In the offering prospectus, the company promised that its payment system would become a competitor to Visa and Mastercard. You can read more about how TON will work here .

Money. The total value of the future Telegram cryptocurrency by the end of 2019 could reach $29.5 billion, according to the Crypto Investment Bank, founded by a native of Qiwi HASH.

Read also How much does Gram cost: Durov's future cryptocurrency was estimated at almost $30 billion

to TON and Gram Telegram’s business model is tied : during the pre-sale of tokens, Telegram received $1.7 billion at the beginning of last year. In total, more than 100 investors believed in TON. Among them, the media called Yuri Milner and Roman Abramovich, as well as the largest Silicon Valley funds Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Benchmark and Sequoia Capital, which, according to the FT, were going to invest $ 20 million in the project.

The key feature of the Telegram ICO was that if the blockchain platform is not launched by October 31, 2019, investors will receive their money back.