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The Open Network (TON) Foundation, instrumental in developing Telegram’s fundamental Blockchain network, is poised to accelerate its global payment strategy with the strategic hiring of Nikola Plecas. Known for leading Visa’s cryptocurrency operations in Europe, Plecas steps in as the Vice President of Payments at the foundation. His key responsibilities will include expanding partnerships related to TON and Telegram-based applications, refining fiat-crypto transitions, and strengthening regulatory compliance processes. In aligning resources to growing priorities, Plecas aims to further open the gateway to TON’s vast potential audience.
Strengthening TON’s Payment Vision with Visa Experience
Drawing from his extensive experience as a leader in European crypto operations and product commercialization at Visa Crypto, Plecas brings invaluable sector expertise to the TON ecosystem. In a period of mounting regulatory ambiguities, his insights will be pivotal in solidifying TON’s payment infrastructure. Initially, Plecas plans to craft a clear vision for payment systems, identifying impactful use cases and constructing the essential bridges required by the ecosystem.
Collaboration with TON Foundation CEO Max Crown, who joined in April 2023, is also pivotal. Crown, a co-founder of MoonPay and former CFO/COO at the company, and Plecas aim to merge corporate networks from Visa and MoonPay with TON’s open-source architecture. This collaboration seeks to facilitate both regulatory and operational efficiencies for developers, fortifying TON’s standing against rival Blockchain networks in the payment domain.
Seamless and Secure Fiat-Crypto Transition within Telegram Ecosystem
A primary focus for Plecas is ensuring seamless transitions between fiat money and cryptocurrency for users. Simplifying “on-ramp” and “off-ramp” channels is anticipated to facilitate the buying and selling of Toncoin with a few taps through the Telegram wallet. Improved money flow will accelerate microtransactions in both gaming and social applications, fostering deeper integration into everyday life.
TON, naturally integrated with the messaging giant Telegram, capitalizes on this synergy to highlight Toncoin—boasting a market cap of $7.5 billion—in real-world transactions.
The revamped payment strategy is designed to bolster cryptocurrency usage in developing markets while establishing a compliant global framework that attracts institutional players. Consequently, TON may evolve beyond its “Blockchain for messaging” identity into a prominent large-scale payment network.
