Telegram has launched on-chain yield vaults for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT directly inside its built-in crypto wallet, offering users returns of up to 18% APY through integrations with DeFi infrastructure providers Morpho, TAC, and Re7 — without requiring them to leave the messaging app.
The new Telegram Crypto Staking feature is delivered through TON Wallet and is powered by integrations with Morpho, TAC, and Re7, three established DeFi infrastructure providers. Rather than traditional lock-up staking, the Vaults allow users to deposit supported assets into on-chain strategies that generate variable returns based on real-time market conditions.
According to product documentation, the launch makes it possible for everyday Telegram users to earn yield on assets that historically offered limited native income opportunities, particularly Bitcoin and USDT. The move reflects a broader trend of consumer platforms embedding DeFi tools directly into user-facing apps.
Vault-based yields inside Telegram
At the core of the rollout is Telegram’s new Vaults system. Through Telegram Crypto Staking, users can allocate BTC, ETH, or USDT into curated on-chain strategies without leaving the Telegram ecosystem. Returns are not fixed and can fluctuate depending on market demand, protocol performance, and underlying liquidity conditions.
The most aggressive yield currently comes from the USDT Vault powered by Re7. According to the wallet interface, this strategy offers a projected annual percentage yield of up to 18%, making it one of the highest-yielding options available inside a mainstream consumer app.
The ETH and BTC Vaults provide yield exposure for the two largest crypto assets by market capitalization, addressing long-standing demand for passive income options on blue-chip tokens.
A Telegram wallet spokesperson described the update as a milestone for Telegram Crypto Staking, noting that the goal is to “simplify access to on-chain yield strategies while maintaining transparency around how returns are generated.”
DeFi partners underpin the infrastructure
The functionality behind Telegram Crypto Staking relies on established DeFi primitives rather than proprietary systems. Morpho contributes lending optimization infrastructure, TAC supports technical integrations, and Re7 supplies active DeFi yield strategies, particularly for stablecoins.
Re7, which manages the highest-yield USDT Vault, has built a reputation for institutional-grade risk management within decentralized finance. In a prior public statement, Re7’s team emphasized that yield targets are dynamic and depend on market conditions, a point Telegram also highlights within the wallet interface.
“Variable yield is a core principle of DeFi,” said a Re7 representative in earlier commentary on vault-based strategies. “Returns adjust to risk and opportunity in real time, which is exactly what users should expect from products like Telegram Crypto Staking.”
Why Bitcoin and Ethereum matter
While stablecoin yields are common in DeFi, enabling Telegram Crypto Staking for Bitcoin and Ethereum carries symbolic and practical significance. Bitcoin, in particular, does not natively support staking, meaning yield must be generated through wrapped assets or lending-based strategies.
By introducing BTC Vaults, Telegram is effectively offering users a way to put idle Bitcoin to work without navigating complex DeFi dashboards. Ethereum, already widely used in staking and lending protocols, gains additional exposure through Telegram’s distribution scale.
Industry analysts say the inclusion of BTC and ETH positions Telegram Crypto Staking as more than a niche DeFi experiment.
“These are the most widely held digital assets,” said a DeFi researcher at a European blockchain consultancy. “Bringing yield opportunities for BTC and ETH into a messaging app dramatically lowers the barrier to entry.”
Messaging apps as financial platforms
Telegram’s move underscores a growing convergence between social platforms and financial services. With hundreds of millions of users globally, Telegram has quietly built one of the largest crypto-enabled user bases in the world through its wallet integrations and TON ecosystem.
By embedding Telegram Crypto Staking directly into the wallet, the company is betting that simplicity and familiarity will drive adoption. Users do not need to connect external wallets or interact with third-party DeFi interfaces, a friction point that has historically limited mainstream participation.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has previously spoken about the platform’s ambition to support open financial infrastructure, although he has not commented directly on the new Vaults feature. Still, the rollout aligns with Telegram’s broader strategy of integrating crypto functionality natively rather than as an external add-on.
Risk, transparency, and user awareness
Despite the appeal of high yields, Telegram emphasizes that Telegram Crypto Staking returns are variable and not guaranteed. Vault yields depend on underlying DeFi performance, smart contract risk, and market volatility. This disclosure mirrors industry best practices following increased regulatory and consumer scrutiny of yield products.
A spokesperson familiar with the wallet’s development said the team prioritized clarity around risks. “Users can see where yield comes from and understand that APY can change,” the spokesperson noted, adding that transparency is critical for long-term trust in Telegram Crypto Staking.
A signal for mainstream DeFi adoption
The launch of Telegram Crypto Staking reflects a broader shift in how decentralized finance reaches users. Rather than pulling people into specialized DeFi apps, platforms like Telegram are pushing DeFi outward into everyday digital experiences.
For DeFi providers, Telegram offers distribution at a scale few protocols can achieve independently. For users, the Vaults represent a simplified entry point into on-chain yield generation.
As competition intensifies among wallets and messaging apps, analysts expect more platforms to follow Telegram’s lead. If adoption gains traction, Telegram Crypto Staking could become a case study in how consumer apps normalize DeFi without sacrificing on-chain principles.
Whether users flock to the Vaults remains to be seen, but the rollout marks a clear statement of intent. With BTC, ETH, and USDT now earning yield inside a chat app, Telegram Crypto Staking is pushing decentralized finance closer to the mainstream than ever before.