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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe headline refers to Telegram’s September 13, 2023 announcement of TON Space, a self-custodial wallet integrated into Telegram’s existing @wallet service. Its planned November rollout excluded the United States and some other regions. That is no longer the current position: U.S. access to the self-custodial wallet began rolling out on July 22, 2025. The product later became TON Wallet and, since May 27, 2026, is officially called DeFi Account.
In other words, “excluding the US” is historically accurate for the 2023 launch plan, not for the product’s current U.S. availability.
What Telegram announced in September 2023
Telegram and the TON ecosystem announced TON Space on September 13, 2023. It was designed as a self-custodial extension of Telegram’s existing @wallet feature, with a general rollout planned for November 2023. The United States and certain other regions were excluded from that initial rollout.
The announcement was not simply Telegram building and operating a wallet on its own. Reporting identified The Open Platform (TOP) as the company behind the wallet initiative, while the TON ecosystem supported the underlying network. Current terms state that DeFi Account operates independently and is not a subsidiary or affiliate of Telegram FZ-LLC.
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What “self-custodial” means
In a self-custodial wallet, the user controls the private keys rather than a centralized service holding them as an exchange would. Wallet in Telegram provides the interface and connections to TON applications, but its product page says it does not store users’ keys or control their wallets: wallet.tg/ton.
The primary recovery method is a 24-word recovery phrase. The terms explain that keys are generated locally and that safeguarding the phrase is the user’s responsibility: wallet.tg/docs/ton-wallet/terms. Losing it can permanently remove access, and support generally cannot reverse a blockchain transfer or restore a wallet in the way a custodial account provider might.
Telegram’s two wallet products are not the same
“Telegram wallet” can refer to two different custody models inside Wallet in Telegram.
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| Product | Custody | What it is for | Recovery and availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crypto Wallet | Custodial; the service controls the keys | Broader trading, deposits, withdrawals and support for assets and networks offered by the service | Account-style recovery may be available, but regional and feature restrictions apply |
| TON Wallet / DeFi Account | Self-custodial; the user controls the keys | TON assets, NFTs, decentralized applications and TON Connect | Primarily recovered with the 24-word phrase; availability and features vary by country |
The distinction matters: a balance shown in the custodial Crypto Wallet is not the same as assets controlled by a DeFi Account recovery phrase. A TON Foundation CEO clarification also warned against treating the two products as interchangeable: t.me/s/thetonceo/24.
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The sources establish the exclusion but do not disclose one definitive legal reason for every country. The restriction fit a period of heightened U.S. regulatory sensitivity around Telegram and TON. Telegram had previously abandoned its original Telegram Open Network fundraising and token project after litigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a history discussed in the 2023 coverage.
That context helps explain why the launch plan was cautious, but it does not prove that a particular SEC rule, license or U.S. statute was the specific operational cause. The 2023 announcement did not fully explain the jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction decision.
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What users could do with TON Space—and what DeFi Account offers now
Capabilities described for the 2023 launch
- Send and receive TON-based assets.
- Hold cryptocurrency on the TON blockchain.
- Manage NFTs, collectibles and jettons, TON’s token standard.
- Access TON-based applications from Telegram.
The TON ecosystem’s Q3 2023 report described TON Space as a self-custodial wallet for cryptocurrencies, NFTs, jettons and TON DNS assets: blog.ton.org/ton-ecosystem-report-q3-2023.
Functions documented for the current DeFi Account
- Send and receive Gram, the current name used for the asset formerly called Toncoin.
- Manage TON-network tokens, NFTs and tokenized assets.
- Swap assets.
- Connect to decentralized applications through TON Connect.
- Send cryptocurrency to Telegram contacts.
- Buy and sell assets through third-party providers.
These functions can change by region, provider and app version. DeFi Account is fundamentally a TON wallet. Do not assume that Bitcoin, Ethereum or Solana exist natively on TON merely because another Wallet in Telegram service may handle assets associated with those networks.
What changed in the United States
Wallet in Telegram announced that the self-custodial TON Wallet would begin rolling out to U.S. users on July 22, 2025, describing access to sending, storing and managing digital assets and TON-based Web3 functions: wallet.tg/news/ton-wallet-launches-in-the-united-states-for-almost-87-m-telegram-users.
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This does not mean every Wallet in Telegram feature is available in every U.S. state or for every asset. The custodial Crypto Wallet, individual trading tools, third-party providers, on-ramps and specific tokens can remain subject to separate geographic or eligibility limits.
From TON Space to DeFi Account
- TON Space: the name used at the September 2023 announcement.
- TON Wallet: the later branding for the integrated self-custodial wallet.
- DeFi Account: the official name from May 27, 2026.
The current support page says the 2026 rename did not change the wallet address, assets or access: help.wallet.tg/article/1032-welcome-to-defi-account. The same page refers to the native asset as Gram, formerly Toncoin; users should not treat that wording change as a required swap or migration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use a self-custodial wallet safely
Menu labels can vary by Telegram version and region, but the current documentation refers to the DeFi area in Wallet in Telegram. Before depositing funds:
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- Confirm that you are opening the self-custodial DeFi Account, not the custodial Crypto Wallet.
- Write the 24-word recovery phrase on paper or another offline medium. Never photograph it or store it in a cloud note.
- Never send the phrase to Telegram support, a bot, a friend or a website. No legitimate support workflow needs it.
- Enable strong security on your Telegram account and protect the email recovery method if you use one. Email recovery is a convenience layer, not a replacement for the phrase.
- Check the destination address and network before every transfer. Blockchain transactions can be difficult or impossible to reverse.
If the recovery phrase is exposed
Assume the wallet is compromised. Create a new wallet and transfer the assets away immediately, following the security guidance at help.wallet.tg/article/366-secure-your-ton-space. If you lose Telegram access, recovery depends on the phrase unless another supported recovery option, such as email recovery, is available: help.wallet.tg/article/86-security.
The terms also indicate that the same wallet may be opened through another compatible TON interface with the recovery phrase. That portability increases the importance of keeping the phrase private.
Networks, fees and regional limitations
DeFi Account is TON-oriented, supporting TON’s native asset, jettons, NFTs and other TON-based tokenized assets. It is not a universal multichain self-custody wallet. The broader custodial Crypto Wallet may expose other networks or assets through its own services, which should not be attributed automatically to DeFi Account.
There is no single universal “Telegram wallet fee.” Costs depend on the transaction, asset, network, provider and account tier. A transaction may require a TON network fee; card purchases have third-party provider terms; and some supported situations allow fees to be paid in Gram, certain tokens or Telegram Stars. The applicable amount shown in the app before confirmation is the practical authority. See fee rates and limits, transaction guidance and card-purchase guidance.
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Who DeFi Account suits—and who may want another wallet
- Good fit: Telegram users who want convenient access to TON assets, Mini Apps and transfers to Telegram contacts.
- Trade-off: Self-custody makes the user responsible for backup, phishing defense and transaction accuracy.
- Less suitable: Users seeking extensive multichain self-custody, hardware-wallet isolation or minimal dependence on Telegram’s interface.
- Alternatives: Dedicated TON wallets such as Tonkeeper or MyTonWallet provide separate wallet environments. For substantial or long-term holdings, verify current TON support before choosing a hardware wallet.
The Bottom Line
Telegram’s self-custodial wallet was announced as TON Space on September 13, 2023, with the United States excluded from the initial rollout. U.S. access began on July 22, 2025, and the service is now called DeFi Account. The key facts today are the custody model, TON-focused scope, changing regional availability and the user’s responsibility for the recovery phrase.
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