The Open Network (TON), a layer-1 blockchain closely integrated with Telegram and the backbone of its mini-app ecosystem, experienced a brief outage on June 1. This temporarily halted block production. The issue was resolved within approximately 40 minutes, and the network is now fully operational. While no funds were impacted, the incident has reignited discussions about the challenges of maintaining high-throughput blockchains. These challenges arise as they scale to meet growing demand.
TON Recovers Functionality After June 1 Outage
The TON developers team confirmed that the outage began at 12:51:00 UTC and assured users that transactions made during the downtime were safe from loss. According to an official update, the issue stemmed from a mistake in handling the masterchain dispatch queue.
To address the problem, the team implemented a quick fix and updated a few master chain validators. This enabled the blockchain to resume block production swiftly. A full technical report detailing the root cause of the issue will be available soon.
“As blockchain networks grow more complex, brief outages may become increasingly common, potentially hindering broader consumer adoption of cryptocurrencies and undermining public trust in the technology.”
This statement highlights a growing concern in the blockchain space. As networks like TON handle higher transaction volumes, their technical complexity increases. This makes them more susceptible to disruptions.
TON’s History of Brief Outages
This is not the first time TON has faced brief outages. In August 2024, the network experienced multiple disruptions due to overwhelming demand for the DOGS meme coin. This demand congested the blockchain.
- On August 27, block production was suspended at workchain block 45,341,899, causing several hours of downtime. Validators reset their nodes at 4:00 UTC to restore consensus.
- By 5:30 UTC , functionality was briefly restored, but the network crashed again hours later due to excessive DOGS memecoin transfers.
- On August 28, another outage occurred, halting block production at workchain block 45,350,522. This downtime lasted about six hours before being resolved.
While these incidents were resolved quickly, they underscore the challenges of scaling blockchain infrastructure to meet surging user activity.
Growing Institutional Interest Despite Challenges
Despite these brief outages, TON continues to attract significant attention from both retail users and institutional investors. In March 2025, the Telegram Open Network secured $400 million in funding from prominent venture capital firms, including Sequoia Capital, Draper Associates, CoinFund, and SkyBridge.
This influx of institutional investment highlights confidence in TON’s long-term potential, even as concerns about network reliability persist. As Telegram increasingly relies on TON for its cryptocurrency initiatives, the pressure to maintain stability will only intensify.
Final Thoughts
The June 1 outage serves as a reminder of the technical challenges inherent in high-throughput blockchains like TON. While the network’s quick recovery minimized disruption, the incident raises important questions about scalability. It also impacts reliability and public trust in blockchain technology.
As Telegram integrates TON more deeply into its ecosystem, ensuring consistent performance will be critical. This will sustain user confidence and drive broader adoption. For now, the network is back to normal, but the conversation around its long-term resilience is far from over.
“Even after the brief network outages, TON is gaining retail attention and institutional investment from big digital asset names in the crypto space.”
With its innovative design and growing institutional backing, TON remains a promising player in the blockchain industry. However, it must continue to address these technical hurdles to solidify its position.
