On July 21, 2026, STON.fi officially launched its cross-chain swap feature, connecting the TON network to TRON and seven EVM-compatible blockchains without relying on bridges, wrapped assets or centralized exchanges. The rollout positions TON’s leading DEX (decentralized exchange) as an inter-network liquidity layer built around stablecoins and user intent.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- 9 connected networks: TON, TRON, Ethereum, Base, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche, Arbitrum, and Robinhood Chain.
- Execution layer powered by Omniston, using Hashed Timelock Contracts (HTLCs) for atomic swaps.
- Most swaps complete in 15 to 40 seconds, with automatic refund if the route fails.
- Protocol metrics: $7.6B cumulative volume, 36M+ transactions, 6M users, peak TVL (total value locked) of $373M.
- STON token capped at 100M units, DAO governance with staking and 3 to 24-month lock-up.
A launch that repositions STON.fi in the cross-chain market
The new feature is available through the app.ston.fi/cross-chain interface and explicitly targets the stablecoin market, which now exceeds $300 billion in total market capitalization according to the official announcement. TRON and Ethereum concentrate the bulk of that liquidity, which justifies the priority given to their direct interconnection with TON.
According to the press release, the goal is to allow users to move capital between stablecoin markets, TON-native assets, DeFi (decentralized finance) protocols and Telegram-native applications without centralized intermediaries. This move extends the long-term strategy of the protocol, founded in 2022, which has been transitioning from a TON-specific DEX toward a transversal infrastructure layer.
Omniston and HTLC: atomic execution without a classic bridge
The technical engine behind the product is Omniston, STON.fi’s proprietary execution layer. Swaps rely on Hashed Timelock Contracts (HTLCs), smart escrow contracts deployed simultaneously on both chains involved. The shared cryptographic condition guarantees that both legs of the swap execute in a single atomic move, or do not execute at all.
Before confirmation, the interface displays the exact amount the user should receive. If the liquidity route cannot be completed, funds are returned to the sender instead of being locked or partially executed. This property sets the approach apart from traditional bridges, where assets are often exposed to lock-up risk or smart-contract exploits.
The system relies on resolvers, independent liquidity providers tasked with sourcing the asset on the destination chain. This decentralized architecture aims to deliver both predictability and speed: the majority of swaps complete in 15 to 40 seconds, a latency compatible with consumer-grade use cases and on-chain payments.
« People don’t think in terms of blockchains — they think in terms of what they want to do. Our goal is to make moving between ecosystems as simple as swapping within a single network. »
Slavik Baranov, CEO of STON.fi Dev
Market positioning and protocol metrics
According to STON.fi’s press room, the protocol reports $7.6 billion in cumulative trading volume, more than 36 million transactions and 6 million unique users. Peak TVL reached $373 million. These figures confirm the protocol’s status as TON’s leading native DEX, ahead of competitors such as DeDust and Megaton Finance.
For context, a May 2024 report already indicated TVL above $115 million on the TON-native segment and a monthly spot volume of approximately $676 million in April 2024. Growth has accelerated since the integration with Telegram and the rise of Toncoin (TON), which regularly ranks among the top ten assets by market capitalization.
| Indicator | Value | Period / Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative trading volume | $7.6B | All-time — STON.fi press room |
| Total transactions | 36M+ | All-time — STON.fi press room |
| Users | 6M | All-time — STON.fi press room |
| Peak TVL | $373M | All-time high — STON.fi press room |
| Native TON TVL | $115M+ | May 2024 report |
| Monthly spot volume | ~$676M | April 2024 |
Funding, governance and leadership team
STON.fi has secured a funding round led by CoinFund, with participation from Delphi Ventures, Karatage and TON Ventures. Several angel investors also joined, including Sergej Kunz and Anton Bukov (co-founders of 1inch) as well as Philipp Zentner (CEO of LI.FI). This cap table composition reflects the protocol’s anchoring across the TON ecosystem, cross-chain DeFi and the broader bridge market.
« STON.fi is the liquidity layer underpinning mainstream crypto activity on TON. Seamless integration into Telegram Messenger opens native possibilities for simple peer-to-peer transfers of digital assets, serving users where they are and removing the need for intermediaries. »
Einar Braathen, Partner at CoinFund
Governance is organized as a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization). The native token STON has a fixed total supply of 100 million tokens, all minted at launch, with a progressive burn mechanism. Users who stake their STON receive ARKENSTON tokens and can vote in the DAO under a lock-up period ranging from 3 to 24 months.
The current leadership team includes Slavik Baranov (CEO), Alexey Papirovskiy (CPO), Andrey Fedorov (CMO & CBDO), Dmitriy Malinovskiy (CFO) and Ethan Clime (Head of Developer Relations). The protocol was founded in 2022 by Viacheslav Baranov, Stanislav Bazylevich (COO), Mike Fedorov (CBO) and Andrey Fedorov.
Conclusion: toward an intent-centric infrastructure layer
With this launch, STON.fi moves beyond its original role as a TON-specific DEX and positions itself as a cross-chain liquidity layer focused on stablecoins and end-user experience. The HTLC + resolvers combination, the 15 to 40-second execution window, and the absence of wrapped assets form a differentiated positioning compared to traditional bridges, several of which have suffered major exploits in recent years.
Key scenarios to monitor include actual product adoption by Telegram users, competition with other cross-chain routing stacks (LayerZero, Wormhole, LI.FI), and the TVL trajectory beyond the $373 million all-time high. If integration with consumer applications materializes, STON.fi could consolidate its status as the main entry point between TON, TRON and the EVM stablecoin economy.
Sources
- CryptoSlate — STON.fi Launches Cross-Chain Swaps
- STON.fi Press Room
- Gate.com — What is STON.fi
- STON.fi Blog
- PR Newswire — STON.fi funding round
- Binance Square — STON.fi coverage
This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice. Do your own research (DYOR) before making any decision.
