TON teams up with cross-chain bridge LayerZero to get access to 100+ chains

Blockchain developers using the TON stack can now deploy tokens from over 100 networks through LayerZero’s infrastructure.

Cross-change bridge protocol LayerZero has joined forces with The Open Network (TON) — also known as just TON — in a bid to advance blockchain interoperability, TON Foundation announced in a press release shared with crypto.news.

At first, LayerZero’s integration will only support 12 networks, including Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and TRON (TRX), though the number of supported chains is expected to grow over time. With the latest partnership, the TON ecosystem users can transfer assets like Tether’s stablecoin (USDT) and other tokens directly to the TON blockchain via Stargate, a swap protocol.

“By connecting TON to a wide variety of other chains, developers now have all the tools they need to build decentralized applications for a truly global audience.”

Max Pertsovskiy, chief operating officer at TON Foundation

LayerZero has also launched FunC++, a new tool aimed at simplifying development on the TON network. The tool is designed to make it easier for blockchain developers to work with TON’s programming language and build cross-chain apps. For context, the TON network itself was originally written in C++.

The partnership comes as the crypto community has voiced frustration over Telegram‘s decision to make TON the exclusive blockchain for its mini apps. In late January, Telegram revealed that all crypto-backed mini apps and games would have to use TON and the TON Connect protocol, shutting out other blockchains. The move quickly sparked criticism, with some saying Telegram is turning its ecosystem into a “walled garden,” restricting access to other networks.