Telegram gets $850 mn in pre-sale for its own cryptocurrency

Messaging app Telegram has raised $850 million in the pre-sale of its own cryptocurrency to develop the 'Telegram Open Network' (TON) blockchain, according to filings. The figure exceeds the $600 million originally forecast for the funding. It is the highest amount accumulated from a pre-sale in comparison to Initial Coin Offerings like Filecoin ($257 million) or Tezos ($232 million).