Telegram Secures $300M xAI Deal to Embed Grok AI, TON Surges 18.5%

New AI Integration Marks Strategic Pivot for Telegram’s Monetization and Ecosystem Expansion

Telegram has finalized a $300 million partnership with Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI to integrate Grok, the company’s AI chatbot, into the messaging platform used by over one billion monthly active users. 

The agreement, announced May 28, 2025, includes a combination of cash and equity contributed by xAI to Telegram and secures a one-year collaboration between the two tech firms. Under the terms, Telegram will receive 50% of subscription revenue from any xAI-powered services accessed through its platform, a move expected to solidify Telegram’s pivot into premium AI-enhanced functionality.

The announcement was made by Telegram founder Pavel Durov through Musk’s X platform, formerly Twitter, with a simple yet pointed statement: “Together, we win!” 

The market reaction was immediate and significant. The Open Network (TON) token, deeply tied to Telegram’s ecosystem, jumped 18.5% within 24 hours of the announcement, rising from $3.28 to $3.55. Notably, the rally began roughly two hours before the partnership went public, reflecting the growing investor sensitivity to Telegram’s strategic maneuvers. This spike also contributed to the overall coin market cap growth for the TON token, reinforcing its relevance in today’s crypto price index landscape.

The integration of Grok AI will be native to the app, embedding artificial intelligence into Telegram’s core user experience. Analysts expect this to reshape how users interact with the platform while providing Telegram a direct path to increasing monetization. This partnership fits into a broader narrative of messaging apps evolving into all-in-one super-apps—platforms that offer chat, financial tools, content, and now AI services under one digital roof. For xAI, the collaboration opens up a large-scale distribution channel and access to an enormous global audience, setting the stage for mass adoption of Grok in daily communication routines.

Telegram’s strong financial position has laid the groundwork for this shift. The company posted $1.4 billion in revenue in 2024, netting $540 million in profit, signaling operational efficiency and growing traction. To further reinforce its financial base, Telegram is simultaneously raising $1.5 billion through a new bond offering backed by institutional giants like BlackRock, Citadel, and Mubadala. The proceeds are earmarked for repurchasing outstanding debt from its earlier 2021 issuance—a tactical move to streamline its balance sheet ahead of deeper AI integration.

The timing of this AI push also intersects with the surge in generative AI demand across the tech sector. As rivals race to fuse intelligent chatbots into messaging interfaces, Telegram’s Grok deployment positions it as a frontrunner. The partnership bolsters Telegram’s presence not just in the messaging space, but in the AI-driven platform economy. Analysts view the deal as a win-win: xAI extends its reach far beyond traditional interfaces, and Telegram reinforces its ecosystem, elevating its standing in both the crypto price index and broader coin market cap rankings through increased engagement and utility.

But the Grok deal has quickly become a point of contention. While Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced the agreement as a done deal, citing a shared vision with xAI and Musk, the latter publicly denied any formal arrangement had been signed. Durov has since clarified that the companies have “agreed in principle,” but the lack of clear confirmation from Musk raises questions around the scope and execution of the partnership. 

The episode adds a layer of ambiguity to what was initially framed as a major strategic pivot—one that could drive significant value for Telegram while positioning Grok to reach audiences beyond Musk’s X platform.

This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.