Telegram Pushes Deeper Into Web3 Finance With Built In Crypto Yield for Millions

span>Telegram/span> is no longer content with being a gateway to crypto conversations. It now wants to become a gateway to decentralized finance itself. The company’s built-in self-custody TON Wallet has introduced yield-generating vaults forspan>Bitcoin/span>,span>Ethereum/span> andspan>Tether/span>, allowing users to earn variable returns directly within the messaging app’s ecosystem.

The move represents a structural shift. Telegram’s wallet is evolving from a passive storage tool into an active DeFi entry point embedded in a mainstream social platform. Instead of navigating complex decentralized applications, users can now deposit assets into vaults that deploy on-chain strategies designed to generate yield.

According to the company, the feature is powered by established DeFi infrastructure providers includingspan>Morpho/span>,span>TAC/span> andspan>Re7 Capital/span>. These partners handle lending mechanisms, asset allocation and risk management, abstracting much of the technical complexity from end users.

The most eye-catching numbers are attached to the USDT vault, where certain strategies are reportedly reaching yields of up to 18% APY. While such returns are variable and inherently tied to market conditions, they stand out in an environment where traditional savings products offer far more modest gains. Vaults for Bitcoin and Ethereum offer similar exposure to yield opportunities, broadening the appeal beyond stablecoin holders.

Andrew Rogozov, CEO of The Open Platform and Wallet in Telegram, framed the launch as a milestone in accessibility. “Access to self-custodial vault strategies for ETH, BTC, and USDT directly within the TON ecosystem is a massive step toward making decentralized finance truly universal,” he said. The ambition is clear: reduce friction to near zero and let distribution do the rest.

Distribution, in Telegram’s case, is formidable. The wallet reportedly counts more than 150 million users, with over 100 million already funding their accounts through networks such as Ethereum, Solana or Tron. That embedded user base gives Telegram a scale advantage that most DeFi-native platforms can only imagine. Instead of fighting for attention, it can surface yield products inside an app people already use daily.

The yield rollout follows earlier upgrades, including cross-chain deposits that allow users to move assets across blockchains without manual bridging. Since 2025, Telegram has been expanding its “Earn” features, initially offering yield on Toncoin before gradually integrating support for Ethereum and USDT.

This trajectory suggests a broader strategic pivot. Telegram appears intent on transforming itself into a Web3 super app that blends messaging, payments, trading and decentralized finance under one interface. In doing so, it lowers the psychological and technical barriers that have historically limited DeFi adoption.

If the experiment succeeds, the implications extend beyond Telegram. Embedding crypto yield into a mainstream social platform could redefine how retail users encounter decentralized finance. Rather than seeking out DeFi, they may simply discover it where they chat. For an industry long criticized for complexity, that subtle shift in user experience could prove decisive.