Telegram and TON have rolled out a wallet update: gasless transactions in USDT and login using Passkey

The developers of the TON ecosystem and the built-in Telegram wallet presented a large-scale update of smart contracts and the mobile interface. The main event of the release was the introduction of a new smart account architecture W5 (Account Abstraction), thanks to which users can now make gasless transactions in USDT. There is no longer a need to pre-purchase and hold the native TON token on your balance sheet solely to cover network fees.

How do gasless transactions work and how are the commissions charged?

Previously, beginners had to go through a whole quest: in order to transfer USDT stablecoins to a friend or pay for a purchase, they first had to find an exchange or P2P exchanger, buy TON, transfer it to a wallet, and only then pay a network fee. In the W5 standard, transfer fees are automatically deducted directly from the USDT amount sent via decentralized relayers. The user sees an even, understandable figure in dollars, and the smart contract itself converts and compensates the validators for the cost of processing the transaction on-chain.

Why is logging in using Passkey and Face ID safer than a classic seed phrase?

Along with the waiver of mandatory gas, the wallet received seamless authorization through Passkey. Instead of copying 24 secret words onto a piece of paper, users can link the key to device biometrics (Face ID, Touch ID or smartphone PIN code). Private keys are generated and encrypted inside a secure hardware module (Secure Enclave). This practically reduces to zero the risk of funds being stolen through phishing sites and scam bots on Telegram, which often fall for inexperienced cryptans.

What does this mean for mass adoption and P2P transfers?

Removing the fee barrier makes on-chain transfers in Telegram as simple as sending a regular sticker or transferring using a phone number in a banking app. For the multi-million audience of the messenger, Telegram is turning into a full-fledged non-custodial Web3 bank, where you can store, send and receive stablecoins in a couple of clicks without the headache of gas and network settings.