Technology veteran Andrey Rogozov leads the strategic integration of Toncoin with Telegram

Andrey Rogozov, who until recently held the position of Vice President at VK, is shifting his focus from managing the Russian social network to an ambitious blockchain project. His move to the TON Foundation marks a significant shift in the development of the Toncoin ecosystem, a cryptocurrency project rooted in the work of the Telegram team.

Rogozov’s decision to focus on blockchain reflects the growing convergence between traditional tech companies and the cryptocurrency industry. According to VK, starting from the second quarter, Rogozov will advise the company’s management on key strategic directions while dedicating himself fully to the development of Toncoin.

New Role in the Toncoin Ecosystem and Blockchain

Andrey Rogozov sees his main task as establishing communication between various developer teams working on projects based on the Toncoin technology. He states that current negotiations with the Telegram team are focused on fully integrating blockchain into the main messaging app.

Rogozov does not hide the scale of his vision. He views Telegram not just as a messenger but as a global content platform with millions of channels functioning as media outlets. In this context, developing cryptocurrency tools that enable rewarding content creators becomes fundamentally important.

The current integration of Toncoin into Telegram already includes functionality via specialized bots: one facilitates token donations to content creators, and another allows purchasing tokens directly within the app through the Neocrypto service. However, Rogozov emphasizes that this is just the beginning of a larger process.

Platform Transformation Strategy through Toncoin Integration

According to Andrey Rogozov, integration with Telegram will give the Toncoin ecosystem a competitive advantage that no other blockchain has. Many projects are in development and will soon be accessible to tens of millions of platform users.

Rogozov is convinced that the potential of this development direction extends over the next ten years. His task is to ensure the proper functioning of all system components and coordinate between teams. This position allows him to be at the center of one of the most dynamic movements at the intersection of social networks and blockchain.

Rogozov plans to bring several specialists into the FON Foundation, although the details of hiring and their affiliations remain undisclosed. Together, they form a team responsible for integrating and developing the entire ecosystem.

The History of Toncoin: From Abandoned Project to Revival

The roots of Toncoin go back to the ambitious TON project, which Telegram planned to launch in 2019. However, a legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2020 regarding the legal status of the token forced the company to abandon its original plans.

It was then that a community of developers, who worked on tools for the TON ecosystem and participated in Telegram hackathons, picked up the abandoned code and developed it further. The result of these efforts was two independent projects: Free TON (later renamed Everscale) and Newton (later becoming Toncoin).

In December, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov publicly endorsed Toncoin as the direct successor to the original blockchain developed by his team. This endorsement lent legitimacy to the project and refocused attention on integrating blockchain with the messenger.

Andrey Rogozov’s Path from Social Networks to Cryptocurrencies

Rogozov’s transition into the blockchain industry is not accidental. As early as 2014, he took his first major step into the cryptocurrency world by purchasing Bitcoin in its early days. Since 2007, Rogozov has worked at VKontakte.com, Pavel Durov’s first company, where he held various leadership positions.

His professional journey is closely intertwined with Durov’s story: when Pavel Durov moved on to develop Telegram, Rogozov participated in this process. After Durov focused on the messenger, Rogozov headed VKontakte.com as CEO, and later took a position as Vice President for social platforms at Mail.ru, the company that acquired VK.

Following Mail.ru’s rebranding in October, Rogozov found himself at the forefront of transforming the Russian tech scene. His experience in scaling platforms with millions of users is now applied to the task of implementing cryptocurrency infrastructure into the global Telegram network.

In late autumn, Rogozov founded the non-custodial wallet Tonkeeper, providing users with a tool to manage Toncoin. This step underscores his deep involvement in the ecosystem and preparation for broader integration.

Andrey Rogozov’s joining the TON Foundation symbolizes the evolution of the cryptocurrency project from an underground developer initiative to a movement attracting key figures from mainstream technology. His participation brings not only managerial expertise but also the potential to bridge the gap between traditional mass platforms and decentralized financial systems.