Telegram merchants may now accept bitcoin payments as services provider Wallet moves outside its chat-centric payment method. The wallet, which is based on the The Open Network (TONNE) blockchain, already supports crypto transfers between users via chats. It is now allowing retailers to integrate cryptocurrencies into the payment systems they employ, according to an emailed release on Thursday. Tether (USDT), bitcoin (BTC), and toncoin (TONNE) can be used to pay for products and services in the system.
“In the past, DIY solutions have been available in the form of relatively primitive bots with links to cryptocurrency payment systems or similar products attached to them,” the Wallet team reiterated “With WalletPay, merchants can now seamlessly accept cryptocurrency payments within the Telegram app, with features available such as the ability to make payments directly within chats.”
While the availability for crypto services within Telegram began more than a year ago by making sending and receiving it in theory as simple as sending an instant message, it has yet to be extensively embraced. According to the payments provider, just 2 million of the more than 700 million Telegram users use Wallet services.
Telegram’s cryptocurrency journey began with the establishment of the TONNE blockchain project several years ago. However, due to legal conflicts with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), this progress was halted in 2020. The TONNE Foundation, a group of TONNE supporters, has kept the project alive.