How to Easily Swap/Bridge to The Open Network (TON)

DragonLore Labs
4 min readAug 3, 2024

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The Open Network, commonly known as TON, has emerged as a powerful player in the blockchain space. Originally conceived by the team behind Telegram, TON has evolved into an independent, open-source project aimed at bringing cryptocurrency and decentralized services to the masses. With its high scalability, fast transaction speeds, and seamless integration with Telegram, TON offers a unique value proposition in the crowded blockchain landscape.

At its core, TON is designed to handle millions of transactions per second through its innovative sharding mechanism. This scalability makes it an ideal platform for large-scale applications and everyday digital transactions. The network’s native cryptocurrency, Toncoin (TON), serves multiple purposes within the ecosystem, including transaction fees, staking, and as a medium of exchange.

One of TON’s most significant advantages is its integration with Telegram, a messaging app boasting hundreds of millions of users worldwide. This integration provides an easy entry point for many to explore blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, often for the first time. Through Telegram, users can access TON-based services, play blockchain games, and manage their digital assets with unprecedented ease.

The TON ecosystem has been growing rapidly, with over 800 decentralized applications (dApps) as of mid-2024. These dApps span various categories, including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), gaming, and more. The total value locked (TVL) in TON’s DeFi ecosystem has surpassed $677 million, indicating strong user adoption and confidence in the platform.

Bridging to TON: Exploring Your Options

As TON continues to gain traction, many users are looking for ways to move their assets onto the network. Two popular options for swapping or bridging to TON are WenSwap and the official TON Bridge. Let’s break down both options:

WenSwap: The Telegram-Native Swapping Solution

WenSwap is a innovative swapping service that operates directly within Telegram, aligning perfectly with TON’s integration with the messaging platform. Here are some key features of WenSwap:

  • Privacy-Focused: WenSwap prioritizes user privacy by not requiring wallet connections, account creation, KYC procedures, or imposing IP restrictions.
  • Wide Token Support: Users can swap over 100 different tokens directly on Telegram.
  • Competitive Fees: WenSwap guarantees the lowest fees by comparing rates across major instant exchanges.
  • Speed: Transactions are processed as quickly as blockchain confirmations allow, with cross-chain swaps possible in as little as 3 minutes.
  • User-Friendly: The bot interface is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even for crypto newcomers.
  • 24/7 Support: Live chat customer support is available around the clock.
  • Reward System: WenSwap offers a unique point system where users can earn rewards for completing simple tasks and referring friends.

How to Use WenSwap:

  • Open the WenSwap Telegram bot (@WEN_SWAP_BOT).
  • Select the tokens you want to swap from and to.
  • Enter the amount you wish to swap.
  • Provide your receiving address.
  • Send the required amount to the provided deposit address.
  • Wait for the blockchain confirmation and receive your swapped tokens.

WenSwap’s Telegram-native approach makes it an attractive option for users already familiar with the platform and those looking for a quick, privacy-preserving way to swap tokens.

TON Bridge: The Official Cross-Chain Solution

The TON Bridge is the official bridging solution provided by the TON Foundation. It offers a more traditional approach to moving assets across chains. Here are some key features of the TON Bridge:

  • Direct Integration: As the official solution, it’s directly integrated with the TON blockchain, ensuring high reliability and security.
  • Support for Major Tokens: Users can bridge popular stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and DAI, as well as other major cryptocurrencies.
  • Transparent Fee Structure: The TON Bridge charges a flat fee of 1 TON per transfer, plus the destination blockchain’s transaction fee.
  • Multi-Chain Support: While primarily used for Ethereum-TON transfers, the bridge supports other chains as well.

How to Use the TON Bridge:

  • Visit bridge.ton.org and connect your wallets (e.g., MetaMask for Ethereum, Tonkeeper for TON).
  • Select the token and amount you want to transfer.
  • Provide the receiving address on the destination chain.
  • Approve the transaction and pay the required fees.
  • Wait for the required number of confirmations (e.g., 65 blocks on Ethereum).
  • Complete the transfer by paying the 1 TON fee on the TON side.

The TON Bridge offers a more traditional bridging experience and may be preferred by users who prioritize official solutions or need to move larger amounts of funds.

Choosing Between WenSwap and TON Bridge

When deciding between WenSwap and the TON Bridge, consider the following factors:

  • User Experience: WenSwap’s Telegram-native interface might be more intuitive for Telegram users, while the TON Bridge offers a familiar web-based experience.
  • Token Support: Check which platform supports the specific tokens you need to swap or bridge. Both support a wide range of tokens to swap.
  • Fees: Compare the fees between the two options for your particular transaction.
  • Transaction Size: For larger transactions, the official TON Bridge might provide additional peace of mind.
  • Speed: WenSwap may offer faster processing times for certain swaps.

Conclusion

The Open Network (TON) continues to grow as a promising blockchain platform, offering scalability, speed, and seamless integration with Telegram. As more users look to engage with the TON ecosystem, services like WenSwap and the TON Bridge provide valuable on-ramps for moving assets onto the network.

Whether you choose the privacy-focused, Telegram-native approach of WenSwap or the official, web-based TON Bridge, both options offer secure and efficient ways to start exploring the diverse world of TON-based applications and services. As the ecosystem evolves, we can expect even more innovative solutions to emerge, further simplifying the process of bridging to TON and unlocking the full potential of this exciting blockchain platform.

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