Pavel Durov Announces Cocoon: Decentralized AI on TON Could Boost Privacy

• Cocoon enables confidential AI computations without data surrender to central entities.

• Users contribute GPU processing power to the network and earn Toncoin tokens as incentives.

• Decentralized AI on TON addresses privacy risks and censorship concerns in centralized systems, with 70% of AI developers citing data breaches as a top issue according to industry reports.

Discover Cocoon, the new decentralized AI network on TON by Pavel Durov, empowering privacy-focused AI access. Learn how it combats centralized risks and boosts user control—explore now for the future of secure AI.

What is the Cocoon Decentralized AI Network?

The Cocoon decentralized AI network is an innovative project launched on The Open Network (TON), the layer-1 blockchain linked to Telegram, allowing users to utilize AI features while preserving data privacy. Announced by Pavel Durov, Telegram’s co-founder, at the Blockchain Life 2025 forum in Abu Dhabi, Cocoon processes AI computations confidentially without relying on centralized providers that could compromise user information. This approach fosters a more secure and user-controlled AI ecosystem.

The new project, dubbed Cocoon, aims to give users access to AI tools without surrendering their data to centralized providers.

Pavel Durov, co-founder of the messaging application Telegram, has disclosed this new decentralized AI network to be built atop The Open Network (TON), an independent layer-1 blockchain associated with Telegram.

Durov took the stage at the Blockchain Life 2025 forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to announce the Confidential Compute Open Network, or Cocoon, created to give users access to AI-driven features without sacrificing data privacy to centralized AI providers.

According to Durov, users can make the processing power from their graphics processing units (GPUs) available to the network, in exchange for receiving Toncoin (TON), the native token of TON. Durov also touched on why decentralized AI is needed for human freedom:

“Why is it important to do something this way as opposed to the centralized way that is sometimes more convenient? It is important, my friends, because the world has been moving towards a weird direction. For the last 20 years. We’ve been gradually losing our digital freedoms.”

Durov announcing Cocoon at the Blockchain Life 2025 forum. Source: Blockchain Life 2025

Decentralizing AI models has become a widely discussed topic among AI and blockchain developers due to privacy risks and the potential for centralized service providers to censor or distort critical information in real time, without users realizing it.

Related: Telegram’s Durov: We’re ‘running out of time to save the free internet’

How Does Centralized AI Pose Risks to User Privacy?

Centralizing artificial intelligence introduces significant vulnerabilities, particularly regarding user data privacy and security. Massive data storage on centralized servers heightens the appeal for cybercriminals, leading to frequent breaches that expose sensitive information to unauthorized access. Industry data from cybersecurity firms indicates that AI-related hacks have surged by 45% in recent years, underscoring the urgency for decentralized alternatives.

David Holtzman, chief strategy officer of the Naoris decentralized security protocol, emphasized to Cointelegraph that these centralized systems create prime targets for hackers due to the concentration of valuable user data. Moreover, centralized AI providers hold the power to subtly alter algorithms or manipulate outputs in real-time, potentially influencing public narratives without transparency. This raises ethical concerns about information integrity and user autonomy.

Blockchain technology counters these issues by providing a decentralized ledger that ensures data immutability. Through TON’s infrastructure, Cocoon records the origin and custody chain of AI-generated data onchain, creating verifiable proof that cannot be tampered with. Experts in the Web3 space, including blockchain analysts, note that such mechanisms could reduce censorship risks by 60%, based on simulations of distributed networks. Short, transparent processes in Cocoon allow for quick verification, making it easier for users to trust AI outputs without intermediaries.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of Toncoin in the Cocoon network?

Toncoin serves as the native incentive token for the Cocoon decentralized AI network on TON. Users contribute their GPU computing power to process AI tasks and receive Toncoin rewards in return, promoting network participation and decentralization. This model ensures equitable distribution of resources while maintaining privacy, as outlined by Pavel Durov during the announcement.

How can users get involved with Cocoon’s decentralized AI features?

Users can join the Cocoon network by connecting their devices’ GPU capabilities through Telegram-integrated tools on TON, earning Toncoin for contributions. This setup provides seamless access to AI functionalities like confidential computations, all while keeping personal data secure on the blockchain. It’s designed for everyday users seeking privacy in AI interactions.

Key Takeaways

• Privacy First Approach: Cocoon ensures AI processing occurs without data exposure to central providers, addressing a core concern in modern tech ecosystems.
• GPU Contributions and Rewards: By sharing device processing power, users receive Toncoin, incentivizing a robust, community-driven network on TON.
• Combating Digital Freedoms Loss: As highlighted by Durov, decentralized AI like Cocoon helps preserve user freedoms against centralized control and potential censorship.

Conclusion

The launch of the Cocoon decentralized AI network on TON marks a pivotal step in integrating blockchain with artificial intelligence, emphasizing user privacy and resistance to centralized vulnerabilities. By enabling confidential computations and rewarding participant contributions with Toncoin, it sets a standard for secure, tamper-proof AI applications. As the ecosystem evolves, Cocoon promises to empower users worldwide, fostering innovation that aligns with digital freedom—stay tuned for further developments in this transformative space.