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The Open Network ($TON) Foundation has announced the appointment of former Visa executive Nikola Plecas to head its payment division, as part of its initiative to shape a global payment strategy.
In his new role, Plecas will be responsible for planning $TON’s payment infrastructure, ensuring international compliance, and developing strategic financial partnerships. This move aligns with $TON’s ambition to serve over 1 billion Telegram users.
“Joining $TON Foundation is a unique opportunity to shape the future of payments on a global scale,” said Plecas, emphasizing that $TON will play a significant role in making blockchain-based solutions accessible to large audiences.
Leading $TON’s New Payment Architecture
Plecas will focus on building a globally integrated payment system capable of addressing the growing needs of a wide range of users, from developers to enterprises. During his time at Visa, he led multiple projects related to crypto product development, digital currency solutions, and fintech collaborations, actively contributing to shaping digital currency strategies in Europe.
$TON Foundation CEO Max Crown stated that payments are a key pillar of $TON’s growth strategy, adding, “Nikola’s industry expertise and vision provide the leadership we need to accelerate $TON’s global expansion.”
$USDe Integration Gathers Momentum on Telegram
In another development announced on May 1, decentralized stablecoin platform Ethena partnered with $TON to provide Telegram users access to $USDe and sUSDe. As part of the integration, sUSDe will be available on the $TON blockchain under the name tsUSDe, allowing users to access dollar-based savings directly within Telegram.
In February 2024, $TON Foundation also completed its integration with Tether via LayerZero. As part of its scaling goals, $TON plans to connect its ecosystem to at least 100 different blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Tron, and Solana.
These developments clearly highlight $TON’s ambition to evolve beyond messaging and become a major player in the financial technology space.