The Open Network Foundation (TON Foundation) has appointed Nikola Plecas, a former Visa executive, as its new Vice President of Payments. Plecas will lead TON’s global payments strategy as the blockchain scales to support Telegram’s extensive user base of over 1 billion. Plecas brings a strong background in crypto and

• TON Foundation names Nikola Plecas as Vice President of Payments.
• Focus areas include fiat-crypto on-ramps and user experience.

The Open Network Foundation (TON Foundation) has appointed Nikola Plecas, a former Visa executive, as its new Vice President of Payments. Plecas will lead TON’s global payments strategy as the blockchain scales to support Telegram’s extensive user base of over 1 billion.

Plecas brings a strong background in crypto and digital finance. At Visa, he served in several crypto-focused roles, including Senior Director for new product commercialization and Crypto Business Lead in Europe. He helped design Visa’s digital currency engagement model and streamlined crypto on-ramps across multiple markets.

TON Expands Payment Infrastructure

At TON, Plecas will manage global financial partnerships and lead the compliance strategy. He will focus on expanding the network’s payment infrastructure, ensuring seamless user access across jurisdictions. The foundation announced the appointment in a blog post on May 28.

“In the first few months, the focus is on shaping a clear payments vision for TON’s ecosystem,” Plecas said. “That means identifying high-impact areas, especially improving the fiat-to-crypto experience.”

He aims to streamline on- and off-ramps, enhancing user convenience across TON-based applications.

CEO Max Crown emphasized that payments remain central to TON’s long-term roadmap. Crown, who previously co-founded MoonPay, joined TON Foundation in April. “Nikola brings deep industry knowledge and a focused strategy that aligns with our goal to scale payments infrastructure globally,” Crown said.

TON Foundation is actively integrating financial tools within Telegram. On May 1, the foundation partnered with Ethena to bring USDe and its staked version, sUSDe, to Telegram users. The staked token will be deployed as tsUSDe, offering users U.S. dollar-denominated yield inside Telegram’s interface.

Additionally, it has been working closely with Tether. In February 2024, TON integrated with the USDt ecosystem through LayerZero, enhancing stablecoin interoperability. The foundation also aims to connect with over 100 blockchains, including Ethereum, Tron, and Solana.

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