TONLens

Telegram-native AI crypto research assistant for TON – analyze wallets, tokens, projects & narratives instantly inside Telegram.

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What inspired me

As someone deeply involved in the TON ecosystem, I noticed a big gap: while TON is exploding inside Telegram (thanks to seamless Mini Apps and wallet integration), most research tools are clunky web dashboards that force users to switch apps. I wanted to bring professional-grade crypto research directly into Telegram — the place where TON users already live, chat, and trade. That’s how TONLens was born: a Telegram-native AI research assistant that lets anyone analyze projects, wallets, tokens, and ecosystem narratives in seconds without leaving the chat.

How I built it

I bootstrapped TONLens using Next.js (App Router) with TypeScript and Tailwind CSS. The core is a Telegram Mini App that feels completely native inside Telegram. I integrated:

  • @tonconnect/ui-react for secure wallet authentication
  • Live TON blockchain data fetching
  • AI-powered structured analysis (generating clean reports, comparisons, and insights)
  • TON-based micropayments for premium features

The project also includes a companion Telegram bot for instant text prompts. I deployed it on Vercel for instant access at ton-lens.vercel.app. For this hackathon, I pushed a fresh update just yesterday (March 29) — improving the main component (TONLens.jsx) and polishing the user flow.

Challenges I faced

  • Telegram Mini Apps have strict limitations on external links, storage, and UI behavior — making smooth wallet connection and responsive design tricky.
  • Implementing real TON Connect authentication while keeping the experience lightning-fast and mobile-friendly.
  • Balancing free AI reports with premium TON-paid features without breaking the seamless user experience.
  • Fetching and formatting live blockchain data in a way that feels instant inside Telegram’s WebView.

Debugging these constraints taught me a lot about real-world Web3 development.

What I learned

I learned how powerful Telegram’s ecosystem truly is when combined with TON. Building TONLens showed me the importance of user-first design — especially in emerging markets like Pakistan where most users discover crypto through Telegram. I also improved my skills in secure wallet integration, AI prompt engineering for structured crypto analysis, and rapid iteration under real user constraints.

TONLens is more than a tool — it’s proof that the future of crypto research is inside the apps people already use every day.

Research tool only · Not financial advice

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