MoonPay Unlocks Crypto for Millions on Telegram with New Deposit Tool

NEW YORK, NY – February 11, 2026 – Crypto payment leader MoonPay has launched a new service aimed at dismantling one of the most persistent barriers to entry in the digital asset world: the complexity of moving funds between different blockchains. The new solution, called MoonPay Deposits, is now live within Wallet in Telegram, potentially simplifying the crypto experience for more than 100 million users on the popular messaging platform.

The service allows users to fund their self-custodial TON Wallet—part of Telegram's integrated wallet system—using cryptocurrencies they already own, such as Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH), regardless of the original blockchain. MoonPay's infrastructure automatically handles the intricate background processes of swapping tokens and bridging them across networks, delivering the final funds in an asset compatible with The Open Network (TON) ecosystem.

A Cure for Cross-Chain Headaches

For years, the crypto landscape has been plagued by fragmentation. Moving assets from one blockchain to another often involves a multi-step, technically demanding process fraught with risk. Users must navigate different network standards, manage multiple wallet addresses, and use third-party bridges, where a single mistake—like sending funds to the wrong network—can result in the permanent loss of assets. This friction has long been a major deterrent for mainstream users.

MoonPay Deposits aims to eliminate this friction entirely. By creating a single, streamlined deposit flow, the company abstracts away the underlying complexity. Users simply choose the asset they wish to send and are given a single deposit address. The rest, from routing to conversion, is managed behind the scenes.

"Users shouldn't have to buy new assets or navigate complex steps just to fund an account," said Ivan Soto-Wright, co-founder and CEO of MoonPay, in today's announcement. "We simplify the process by letting people use the crypto they already have while we handle the technicalities behind the scenes, making it easier to move value across the ecosystem."

This focus on user experience is a strategic move for the fintech firm, which has a post-money valuation of $3.4 billion and has been steadily expanding its influence. By making crypto more intuitive, MoonPay is positioning itself as a critical gateway for the next wave of digital asset adoption.

Fueling the Telegram-TON Ecosystem

The integration is a pivotal moment for both MoonPay and The Open Platform, the entity backing Wallet in Telegram. For MoonPay, it provides direct access to a massive, engaged user base. For the TON ecosystem, it opens a crucial inbound channel for liquidity from the broader crypto market.

Until now, participating in TON's growing world of decentralized applications (dApps) largely required users to first acquire TON-native assets, creating a closed loop that limited growth. This launch breaks down that wall. A user holding Solana (SOL) or a stablecoin on the Polygon network can now effortlessly convert their holdings into assets usable within Telegram's Web3 environment.

"One of the biggest challenges in crypto adoption is the first step – getting users funded and ready to participate," explained Andrew Rogozov, founder and CEO of The Open Platform and Wallet in Telegram. "Now, we're removing that barrier entirely. Users can bring their funds directly into TON Wallet from other networks, without unnecessary conversions, exchanges or lock-ins."

This move is designed to make the self-custodial TON Wallet feel as seamless as a traditional custodial service, while still giving users full control over their funds. By attracting liquidity and new users, the integration is expected to significantly accelerate the development and adoption of dApps on the TON blockchain, turning Telegram into a more formidable Web3 hub.

The Engineering Beneath the Simplicity

While the user-facing experience is one of simplicity, the infrastructure powering MoonPay Deposits is highly complex. The service functions as a sophisticated aggregator, connecting to a web of decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, liquidity pools, and cross-chain bridges to find the most efficient path for a user's funds.

This approach taps into the heart of the modern, multi-chain crypto economy. However, it also means navigating one of its most significant security challenges. Cross-chain bridges, which lock up vast sums of assets to facilitate transfers, have become prime targets for hackers, with industry-wide losses exceeding $2.8 billion by 2025. The security of a service like MoonPay Deposits is intrinsically linked to the security of the third-party DeFi protocols it relies on for the actual swaps and bridges.

MoonPay, which holds a coveted New York BitLicense and other licenses globally, operates as a regulated central orchestrator in this decentralized process. The company vets its liquidity partners and manages the end-to-end user flow, but the underlying asset transfers are executed on-chain via these external protocols. This hybrid model—a centralized, user-friendly interface for decentralized rails—represents a maturing approach to building scalable Web3 products.

A Regulated Giant in a Decentralized World

The launch of MoonPay Deposits is more than a product release; it's a statement of intent from a major player in the financial technology sector. With an estimated 7.2% share of the global crypto payments market and a series of high-profile partnerships with giants like Mastercard and Trust Wallet, MoonPay is embedding itself deep within both the Web2 and Web3 financial stacks.

Its ability to offer a service that touches on complex cross-border and cross-chain value transfers hinges on its robust regulatory footing, including licenses in the U.S. and MiCA authorization in the EU. As global regulators intensify their focus on crypto, particularly in areas like the FATF's Travel Rule and stablecoin oversight, companies with established compliance frameworks are best positioned to lead.

By integrating a sophisticated cross-chain solution directly into a mainstream application like Telegram, MoonPay is not only simplifying crypto for millions but also setting a new standard for how Web3 services can be securely and compliantly delivered to a mass-market audience. This fusion of regulated infrastructure with the open, interoperable world of DeFi may well define the next chapter of digital finance.