TON Foundation Appoints Maximilian Crown as Chief Executive Officer

The Open Network Foundation (TON Foundation), the non-profit steward of the TON blockchain ecosystem, has announced the appointment of Maximilian Crown as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately.

Crown, a seasoned fintech entrepreneur and co-founder of MoonPay, brings a proven track record in scaling high-growth crypto companies. As former CFO and COO at MoonPay, he was instrumental in transforming the platform into a global leader in crypto payments. He also cultivated key partnerships with banks, payment networks, and regulators, establishing MoonPay as a trusted player in the fintech space. Crown will continue to serve on MoonPay’s board.

Strengthening Leadership Amid Growing Institutional Interest

This appointment comes on the heels of Manuel Stotz, founder of Kingsway Capital, being named President of the Board at TON Foundation. Stotz’s addition reflects TON’s growing alignment with institutional investors and its expanding global footprint.

In January, TON achieved a major milestone by solidifying its strategic partnership with Telegram, becoming the exclusive blockchain partner for the Telegram Mini Apps Ecosystem. This partnership reinforces TON’s mission to deliver a secure, scalable, and user-friendly blockchain infrastructure for Telegram’s global user base.

Institutional confidence in TON continues to rise, evidenced by more than $400 million in Toncoin holdings by top U.S.-based venture capital firms.

Explosive Growth and Vision for the Future

TON Blockchain has experienced remarkable growth over the past year:

Active accounts grew from 4 million to 41 million

On-chain addresses surpassed 150 million

The number of Toncoin holders overtook Bitcoin wallet holders

TON apps emerged among the most-used crypto applications worldwide

Leveraging its unique integration with Telegram, the Foundation aims to onboard 30% of Telegram’s active users to TON by 2028. This ambitious roadmap centers around four strategic pillars:

On-chain use of Telegram-native IP (stickers, gifts, collectibles)

Launch of engaging multiplayer mini-games

Accessible DeFi savings solutions

Real-world crypto payment use cases

Leadership Perspectives

“In Max, TON Foundation is gaining an accomplished leader with deep experience in building global fintech operations,” said Manuel Stotz, President of TON Foundation. “His crypto expertise and operational excellence are exactly what we need as we take TON to the next level.”

“TON’s scalability, speed, and unique integration with Telegram make it unlike any other blockchain,” said Maximilian Crown, TON Foundation CEO. “With access to over a billion Telegram users, we have the chance to redefine global blockchain adoption. I’m honored to lead this next chapter.”