Telegram launches decentralized AI network rewarding GPU owners with TON tokens

The CEO of Telegram announced a decentralized computing network called Cocoon at Blockchain Life 2025, positioning the messaging platform as a major player in the distributed artificial intelligence infrastructure. The network will allow owners of graphics processing units to sell computing power for tokens and provide developers access to AI capabilities without channeling user data through centralized systems.

What to Know:

• Cocoon allows GPU owners to contribute computing power and receive blockchain tokens as compensation.
• Telegram will be the first major client of the network, integrating AI features into its messaging application and mini-app ecosystem.
• The platform launches in November 2025 with open applications for hardware providers and software developers

Decentralized Computing Joins Messaging

Durov described Cocoon, an acronym for Confidential Compute Open Network, as infrastructure that merges Blockchain technology with artificial intelligence services. The system addresses privacy concerns that arise when users utilize AI tools within messaging applications.

GPU owners can register their hardware to provide processing power to the network.

In exchange, they receive payment in blockchain tokens. Developers gain access to computing resources for AI applications at rates that Durov suggested could be lower than those of traditional cloud providers.

Telegram plans to integrate Cocoon's capabilities across its platform.

The company operates an ecosystem of mini-applications and automated bots that serve its user base. Functions such as message aggregation and automatic drafts will operate through the decentralized network instead of servers controlled by a single entity.

The network is designed to prevent user data from passing through centralized AI providers. This approach addresses concerns about how technology companies manage private communications while offering enhanced features with AI.

Market Positioning and Technical Framework

Applications for both hardware providers and developers opened up after the announcement. The November 2025 launch timeline gives the company about a month to finalize the infrastructure before deployment.

Durov characterized the pricing model as market-driven and transparent.

The competition among GPU providers should reduce costs while maintaining service quality. The decentralized structure also aims to resist content filtering or access restrictions that centralized platforms might impose.

The CEO positioned Cocoon within Telegram's stated commitment to user privacy. He cited the growing consolidation in technology as motivation to create alternative infrastructure that operates outside traditional corporate control.

Understanding the Technical Components

The Blockchain works as a platform that processes transactions and executes smart contracts. Users exchange tokens for goods and services within applications built on the network. The integration of the Blockchain with Telegram provides direct access to hundreds of millions of potential users.

Decentralized networks distribute computing tasks among multiple independent operators instead of routing everything through corporate data centers.

This structure can reduce single points of failure and limit any entity's control over the system. GPU hardware accelerates the mathematical calculations required for AI processing, making these chips valuable for machine learning applications. Mini-apps run within the Telegram messaging interface, allowing users to access services without leaving the app. These programs range from games to financial tools, creating an ecosystem where Cocoon's AI capabilities could find multiple use cases.

Conclusion

The Cocoon network from Telegram represents the expansion of the messaging company into decentralized AI infrastructure, with the platform serving as a developer and main client. The success of the system will depend on whether it can attract enough GPU providers to meet the computing demand while offering developers a viable alternative to established cloud services.