KEY FACTS: Wallet in Telegram has launched perpetual futures trading powered by Lighter DEX, enabling users to open leveraged long and short positions with up to 50× leverage on over 50 assets, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Toncoin, tokenized stocks, and commodities, directly within the messaging app without leaving their chats. The integration uses a custodial solution for seamless access, making high-leverage derivatives trading as simple as sending a message, and builds on prior expansions such as tokenized stocks and ETFs introduced in partnership with xStocks and Kraken in October 2025. Lighter leverages zero-knowledge proofs on an Ethereum Layer-2 for low-latency execution, capitalizing on the explosive growth of perpetual futures, which now dominate derivatives volume. While enhancing accessibility within Telegram’s vast user base and TON ecosystem, the high-risk nature of leveraged trading underscores the need for caution and responsible practices. The feature is now live for all Wallet in Telegram users.

Source: Telegram

Telegram Wallet Launches Perpetual Futures Trading with Lighter DEX

Wallet in Telegram, the popular third-party crypto wallet seamlessly embedded within the Telegram messaging app, has officially rolled out perpetual futures trading. The new feature, powered by Lighter, a specialized perpetuals decentralized exchange (DEX), went live on Thursday, allowing users to open leveraged long and short positions on more than 50 assets without ever leaving their chats.

This integration marks another milestone in Telegram’s evolution from a simple messaging platform into a full-fledged hub for decentralized finance (DeFi). With perpetual futures now available through an integrated custodial solution called Crypto Wallet, millions of Telegram users worldwide can speculate on price movements in crypto, tokenized stocks, and commodities using leverage of up to 50×, all with the tap of a button inside the app they already use daily for communication.

Perpetual futures, often called “perps,” are derivative contracts that let traders bet on an asset’s future price direction without actually owning it. Unlike traditional futures, perps have no expiration date, enabling positions to be held indefinitely as long as margin requirements are met. They have become one of the most popular trading instruments in crypto, accounting for the vast majority of derivatives volume on major exchanges.

Until now, however, accessing perps often required navigating complex exchanges, managing wallets, and dealing with clunky interfaces, barriers that have kept many retail users on the sidelines. Andrew Rogozov, CEO of The Open Platform (the developer behind Telegram-based protocols and apps on The Open Network, or TON), highlighted this challenge in the announcement.

“Perpetual trading has traditionally been intimidating for retail users,”...“By bringing it directly into Wallet in Telegram, we’re lowering the barrier to entry and making powerful financial tools accessible to a mainstream audience.”

On his part, Lighter’s founder and CEO, Vladimir Novakovski, emphasized the seamless user experience of the integration, stating that by integrating perpetual trading into Wallet, users can move from chat to market in seconds, making taking a position as simple as sending a message.

The integration is powered by a custodial solution, meaning users’ funds are managed securely within the wallet infrastructure while still benefiting from Lighter’s decentralized trading engine. This hybrid approach balances convenience and security, allowing near-instant execution of trades on a wide range of assets, including major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Toncoin (TON), as well as tokenized versions of stocks and commodities.

Wallet in Telegram has been steadily expanding its offerings. Just months ago, in October 2025, the wallet partnered with xStocks and the U.S. crypto exchange Kraken to introduce tokenized stocks and ETFs, giving users exposure to traditional markets within the Telegram environment. The addition of perpetual futures takes this momentum even further, turning the app into a one-stop shop for both spot and derivatives trading.

Lighter itself is a specialized perpetuals DEX known for its focus on high-performance, low-latency trading. By leveraging zero-knowledge (ZK) proof technology on an Ethereum Layer-2 solution, Lighter delivers the speed and efficiency needed for a consumer-facing app like Telegram, where users expect instant responsiveness.

The launch arrives at a time when perpetual futures are experiencing explosive growth across the crypto industry. According to data from CryptoQuant, perps nearly tripled in volume throughout 2025 and now represent up to 90% of total derivatives trading on leading platforms. Major players like Coinbase have also expanded into 24/7 stock perpetuals for non-U.S. traders, signaling a broader trend of derivatives moving from niche trading venues into everyday applications.

In October 2025, Blum, another hybrid crypto exchange built as a Telegram Mini App, introduced its own perpetual futures offering, initially supporting up to 100× leverage on 20 assets. Wallet in Telegram’s integration with Lighter, however, stands out for its broader asset selection and tighter integration with the core messaging experience.

Telegram boasts hundreds of millions of monthly active users, many in emerging markets where traditional banking and investment infrastructure are limited. By embedding advanced trading tools directly into the app, Wallet in Telegram and Lighter are effectively democratizing access to leveraged derivatives, instruments that have historically been reserved for professional traders.

Meanwhile, TON, the blockchain powering much of Telegram’s native crypto features, has seen rapid growth in decentralized applications, gaming, and payments. Adding perpetuals trading further solidifies Telegram’s position as a gateway to Web3.

Wallet in Telegram has emphasized user education and responsible trading practices as part of the rollout, though specific details on built-in safeguards (such as margin monitoring alerts or educational prompts) were not disclosed in the initial announcement.

Information Sources:

• Forbes
• Cryptorank
• Coinfomania
• Cointelegraph

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