What is Cocoon, & How Durov’s new AI network keeps user data secret

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New Delhi: Telegram co founder Pavel Durov has launched a new AI project that promises complete privacy for users. The platform called Cocoon is now live. It already handled its first AI requests from real users and GPU owners are earning Toncoin. Durov announced that on X and wrote that Cocoon aims to give users more control over how their data is processed.

He said centralized compute providers such as Amazon and Microsoft act as expensive middlemen who reduce privacy. Durov said Cocoon solves both the economic and confidentiality issues created by these companies.

What is Cocoon and why did Telegram build it

Cocoon is a decentralized AI computing network built on the TON blockchain. It is a distributed system where people who own powerful GPU computers can rent them to run AI models for others. In return, they earn TON, the native cryptocurrency of The Open Network.

The platform focuses on confidentiality. Cocoon promises that all user requests remain private during processing. The company says prompts and responses stay inside a trusted execution environment called TEE. That means even the server owner cannot see what the user asked the AI.

Durov told users that Cocoon will bring control and privacy back where they belong with users. He hinted that this is a direct answer to people who worry about major AI companies collecting data.

How Cocoon works inside

The system has three main parts. Clients that send AI requests. Proxies that find the best worker computers. Workers that use GPUs to run AI models like language models.

Both proxy and worker machines run inside TEE protected virtual machines. The current version uses Intel TDX hardware. This protection stops anyone outside from reading what is happening inside the computation.

There is also automatic payment. Clients pay proxies for each completed job. Proxies pay workers and keep a small commission. The payment travels through the TON blockchain.

Right now the Cocoon team runs the proxies. The plan is to open the proxy role to anyone so the network becomes even more decentralized.

Why this matters for privacy

Privacy has become one of the biggest concerns with AI. Many users wonder whether their personal chats or sensitive business data could leak or be misused. Blockchain communities often argue that centralized AI could lead to manipulation and control.

Durov first revealed Cocoon at a conference in Dubai and said it was built because users demanded private AI. Telegram wants to build new AI features that run with 100 percent confidentiality.

India already has a very active Telegram user base. Privacy friendly AI inside popular apps could attract a lot of interest. For GPU owners in the country, Cocoon could also become a way to earn money by joining the network and sharing hardware.

The project is still early but it is already scaling. More GPU supply will join the network over the next few weeks. More developers will start using it too. Durov said new Telegram features will run directly on Cocoon.