Telegram, the encrypted messaging app giant, is reportedly thisclose to launching TON, it’s widely-anticipated blockchain platform.
According to CoinDesk, TON is in the final stages of preparation and Telegram has released codes and documents for a testnet version of it on Friday. Developers can now check out a full node, a validator node, and the blockchain explorer.
TON, which is short for Telegram Open Network, was one of the key drivers of Telegram’s $1.7 billion two-stage pre-ICO last year. Investors and blockchain enthusiasts have been looking forward to the launch ever since.
Speaking to CoinDesk, TON Labs CTO Mitja Goroshevsky said that Telegram maintains 100 nodes on the testnet and that his startup maintains several more, adding that “source code for a full node that can access testnet, create and validate blocks has been released. Lite client was released several months ago. TON Labs will release Public Beta of its developer tools suite on Monday.”
TON’s testnet was originally scheduled to be launched on September 1 though for unknown reasons, was pushed back several days. The mainnet meanwhile is slated to be released no later than October 31.
Photo: Ruiwen Chua