Topics web3

DuckChain (DUCK): Transforming Telegram Into a Crypto Super-App

Intermediate
web3
Explainers
Altcoins
Blockchain
Feb 11, 2025

The explosive growth of The Open Network (TON) blockchain in 2024 has focused the crypto industry's attention on the Telegram messaging app and its potential web3 use cases. The Open Network, frequently referred to as TON, became the first major blockchain project to tightly integrate the worlds of crypto and Web 2.0–based social media. And Telegram, with its nearly 1 billion active monthly users and popularity for one-to-one and one-to-many interactions, can be an absolute goldmine for web3 projects.

It was only a matter of time before other blockchain technology projects recognized the messenger's massive potential, and rushed to leverage opportunities. One of the earliest among these projects is DuckChain (DUCK) — a Layer 2 blockchain based on Arbitrum Orbit technology and linked to TON’s Layer 1 network. DuckChain aims to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, Ethereum virtual machine (EVM) compatibility and cross-chain interoperability with a unified gas system, and to close integration with Telegram to become a significant bridge between Web 2.0 and web3 environments.

Key Takeaways:

  • DuckChain (DUCK) is a Layer 2 blockchain whose close integration with Telegram provides avenues for the seamless use of various assets — TON coin, Bitcoin (BTC), EVM-compatible tokens and Telegram Stars social tokens — within the platform's decentralized apps.

  • The chain's native token, DUCK, is used for governance, AI-driven governance assistance, staking, gas fee payments, liquidity provision within decentralized protocols and the facilitation of cross-chain asset transfers.

  • You can buy DUCK on Bybit as a USDT Perpetual contract.

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What Is DuckChain?

DuckChain (DUCK) is a high-performance, AI-powered Layer 2 chain designed for tight integration with the Telegram social media network. It’s based on Arbitrum Orbit technology, a framework for building highly scalable and cost-efficient Layer 2 chains with EVM compatibility. As a Layer 2 platform, DuckChain links to TON’s Layer 1 network while also providing the functionality to integrate assets from the Ethereum and Bitcoin environments.

DuckChain's Arbitrum Orbit–based foundation supports its platform’s high throughput and low transaction costs. Naturally, the use of the Arbitrum Orbit stack also ensures EVM compatibility. In fact, DuckChain is one of the first, if not the first, web3 solutions within the wider TON ecosystem that features direct compatibility with EVM. As of yet, TON’s underlying blockchain has no built-in compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem, making DuckChain a pioneer in bridging these two major blockchain environments.

DuckChain is not only fully EVM-compatible — it’s also connected to Bitcoin, allowing assets from Ethereum and Bitcoin ecosystems to be utilized on the platform. Additionally, Telegram Stars — social tokens widely used on Telegram for monetization — can be tokenized on DuckChain for further use within its decentralized apps (DApps). In the future, the platform also hopes to implement cross-chain interoperability with Solana (SOL) as well.

DuckChain’s network has also integrated several AI-supported functions. These include AI-driven governance, personalized AI assistants for token holders, AI analysts that assist users in navigating the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem and AI-driven cross-chain operations.

The DuckChain team has made AI integration a key focus for its platform. In January 2025, the project’s communications began frequently referring to DuckChain as the “Telegram AI Chain,” highlighting the importance of AI functionality for the platform's future direction and vision. DuckChain — or the Telegram AI Chain, if you will — is building up an impressive network of partner platforms to realize its AI vision. Among the key AI partner platforms are Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), Phala Network (PHA) and FLock.io (FLOCK). Each of these partners will support specific functions and use cases for DuckChain’s AI agents.

How Does DuckChain Work?

DuckChain’s Layer 2 network uses the underlying TON blockchain for finalized transaction settlement. Built using Arbitrum Orbit, it enjoys EVM compatibility, high scalability and low transaction costs. The chain’s architecture includes three primary layers — aggregation, execution and data.

Aggregation Layer

DuckChain’s Aggregation Layer is a component of its blockchain’s architecture, serving as a bridge between DuckChain and TON’s Layer 1 network. It’s made up of three elements: 

  • The Decentralized Oracle Layer (DOL) uses oracle technology to relay information on DuckChain’s state to TON. This layer is critical in ensuring that TON validators receive up-to-date, credible data on the state of the Layer 2 platform.

  • The Decentralized Asset Verify Layer (DAVL) enables the secure transfer of crypto assets between DuckChain and TON. 

  • The Intent Collaboration Layer processes user intents and transforms them into executable transactions. This functionality is critical for synchronizing liquidity data between the chains for intent-based DeFi applications.

Execution Layer

The Execution Layer is DuckChain's main processing engine, powered by Arbitrum Orbit technology. In addition to transaction processing, this layer is also responsible for keeping DuckChain synchronized with the Telegram environment.

DuckChain's Execution Layer can handle around 5,000 transactions per second (TPS) thanks to Arbitrum Orbit technology, which facilitates the processing of high volumes of transactions in a scalable and cost-efficient way.

Data Layer

The third component of DuckChain’s architecture, the Data Layer, ensures that all transaction data is securely stored and accessible for verification. DuckChain’s platform uses a distributed mode for its data storage. The Data Layer allows Layer 1 validators to access and securely verify transaction data from the DuckChain Layer 2 network.

DuckChain Key Features

Telegram Integration

DuckChain’s close integration with Telegram creates access to on-chain opportunities for the messenger's nearly 1 billion active users. Telegram users can generate a DuckChain account in a streamlined way, without the usual procedures involved in setting up a blockchain network address. Thanks to DuckChain's integration with the core Telegram app, tedious procedures, such as private key and seed phrase generation, aren't required.

Its blockchain also provides a mechanism to deposit Telegram Stars — social tokens widely used on the messenger to pay for digital goods — and convert them into native crypto assets for DeFi purposes, such as gas payments, staking and trading.

Unified Gas System

DuckChain also features a unique unified gas system. Besides enabling Telegram Stars for gas payments, its system also lets users pay transaction fees on the network using The Open Network's native TON coin and tokens from compatible EVM chains.

TON coin is among the top twenty crypto assets on the market (as of Feb 10, 2025) by market cap, and features high liquidity levels. Gas payments in TON and popular EVM tokens provide the DuckChain network with sufficient levels of liquidity for transactions at all times.

Cross-Chain Interoperability

The Layer 2 chain is a unique platform, offering cross-chain interoperability via DuckChain bridges for three large ecosystems — Ethereum, Bitcoin and TON. This cross-chain functionality is of particular note for two reasons. First, it creates opportunities for using DApps among holders of BTC, the world's most-capitalized cryptocurrency. And secondly, it provides a common platform for assets from two large ecosystems — TON and Ethereum — that aren’t natively compatible.

AI Module

DuckChain's AI module supports several features powered by AI agents, a technology that’s currently experiencing explosive growth, including in the world of web3. One of these features is AI Governance DAO, powered by the Quack AI protocol. It supports members of the platform's governance DAO by assigning them personalized AI agents that assist the DAO members in analyzing proposals, suggesting new ideas and carrying out other governance processes.

In Q1 2025, the DuckChain project aims to introduce personalized AI agents for all holders of the platform's native token, DUCK. In addition to governance power, these agents will provide their owners with services such as blockchain education, guidance on user procedures and financial analytics.

DuckChain also integrates AI agents for cross-chain interoperability processes and the analysis of DeFi opportunities.

What Is DuckChain Token (DUCK)?

The platform’s native cryptocurrency, DUCK, had its token generation event (TGE) in mid-January 2025. DUCK runs on multiple chains — TON, DuckChain, Arbitrum and Base — and its utility functions include the following:

  • Governance and AI-supported governance: Token holders can vote to decide the protocol's rules and future direction. Governance AI agents also assist token holders in analyzing proposals.

  • Staking: DUCK tokens can be staked to secure the network's operations.

  • Payment for gas and transaction fees on the DuckChain mainnet.

  • Liquidity provision and other functions within the DuckChain platform's DApps.

  • Support for cross-chain asset transfers: DUCK facilitates the cross-chain transfer of assets from blockchain environments supported by the DuckChain ecosystem.

DUCK is currently priced at $0.0032 (as of Feb 11, 2025), and has a total and maximum supply of 10 billion. Its current circulation is 5.9 billion. Supply allocation shares are per the chart below.

DUCK supply distribution.

Source: diary.duckchain.io

DuckChain Airdrop

In January 2025, DuckChain announced its first airdrop campaign, with eligibility criteria determined on Jan 7, 2025. The airdrop was designed to reward two groups of early adopters: 

  • Users of theTelegram-based DuckChain mini app, which provides an interface for seamless integration of the platform's features within the messenger.

  • Participants in staking and other key on-chain activities. Among this group are those who had joined DuckChain’s AI Governance DAO.

The airdrop allocation criteria included various factors, such as using on-chain Telegram Stars, the number of friends invited to the platform, using testnet non-fungible tokens (NFTs), staking earnings, accumulating loyalty points and participating in the asset bridging event.

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Where to Buy DuckChain Token (DUCK)

The DUCK token is available on Bybit’s Derivatives market as a Perpetual contract with USDT. Under the contract, you can trade DUCK with up to 50x leverage.

Closing Thoughts

The DuckChain project is unique in several ways. First, it’s one of the first Layer 2 platforms for The Open Network — often referred to as TON. It also connects the ecosystems of three major blockchain environments — TON, Ethereum and Bitcoin — thus allowing holders of TON, BTC and Ethereum-compatible tokens to utilize them within DuckChain’s DApps. Very few (if any) web3 projects operating in the industry provide this kind of diversified connectivity.

At the same time, the most crucial feature of DuckChain is undoubtedly its integration with Telegram. The use of Telegram Stars within the platform is a unique feature that should act as a major driver for crypto adoption by the messenger's extensive user community. DuckChain isn't the first blockchain project to leverage Telegram, but it does represent the first major web3 initiative to provide easy monetization of Telegram Stars — the primary digital currency of the Telegram social network — within the world of smart contract–powered applications.

If you've stocked up on some Telegram Stars, and are thinking of crypto-related opportunities, DuckChain might be an intriguing platform for you to peruse.

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