(Source: http://www.newrusmedia.ru)

Telegram of Pavel Durov may launch its blockchain and Gram crypto currency by March 2018, according to the report of TechCrunch with the reference to sources. To issue its crypto currency, the company will go for ICO (Initial Coin Offering, primary placement of tokens).

According to TechCrunch, the messenger will attract USD 3-5 billion. Interest in ICO is shown by large investors, including Mail.Ru Group, the newspaper reports. The company did not respond to the TechCrunch request.

The blockchain platform will be called Telegram Open Network (TON). It will make the payments of users safe, as well as other transactions. In the fourth quarter of 2018, it is planned to launch an electronic wallet, thanks to which it will be possible to transfer both the crypto currency and ordinary money. As noted by TechCrunch, the own crypto-currency economy of Telegram and the transition to a decentralized blockchain system will also allow the messenger to avoid any pressure from the authorities in different countries. Anton Rosenberg, a former employee of VKontakte, announced the plans to launch TON in December 2017. According to him, this will solve, among other things, the task of monetizing the messenger.