
Welcome to the next installment of the **TON Giants Series**.

What's among the best ways to understand the benefits of participating in the Hackers League Hackathon? Hearing it straight from those who have firsthand experience.

The TON Giants Series showcases exceptional teams from the Summer Hackathon who demonstrated their potential and left a lasting impact. By sharing their bootcamp and hackathon experiences, our TON Giants teams offer valuable insights for developers in the winter Hackathon.

The **next edition** in the TON Giants series highlights **Chick Coop**, the inaugural game in the TON Blockchain farming universe.

Chick Coop is building a unique SocialFi experience on TON blockchain, starting with a simple yet strategic farming game. It’s more than just a game—it’s the beginning of a SocialFi Gameverse. Chick Coop’s vision is to create a fun, easy-to-play game that encourages healthy competition among individuals and teams.

Players can click, hatch, and upgrade their way to victory in Chick Coop. The game is about tending to virtual farms and earning rewards through the **Play to Earn** Airdrop model. Players can receive mini-airdrops throughout their gameplay and enjoy a larger reward at the end of their farming journey.

Here’s what the team had to say about their Open League Summer Hackathon experience.

### **Can you start by introducing your team and sharing how you came together for the Summer Hackathon?**

We are a team with experience in the market dating back to 2017, having witnessed and participated in the DeFi and GameFi booms. We clearly see the current opportunities that TON and Telegram present, particularly in opening the doors of Web3 to 1 billion Telegram users and mobile users worldwide. From the moment we understood the vision behind TON and Telegram's mini-apps, we were fully convinced of their potential and committed ourselves 100% to this vision. That’s why we came together to participate in the Summer Hackathon—driven by our belief in TON's direction and the future it can unlock

Our team consists of experienced professionals across various fields within the blockchain and Game and apps sectors:

- CEO: With seven years of experience in cryptocurrency as both an investor and builder, our CEO previously led a successful AI project and venture in 2022.
- COO: Founded and scaled a mobile game/app studio to 200 employees and five subsidiaries since 2017, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.
- CTO & CPO: Each has ten years of mobile gaming, AI, and blockchain expertise.
- CMO: Five years of experience in cryptocurrency, with a strong community-building and marketing background.

### **What initially motivated your team to participate in the TON Summer Hackathon, and what inspired the project that ultimately led to your win?**

Amidst numerous Layer 1 projects with similar money game ideas and fierce competition in a saturated market, TON stands out as a name with a distinct vision that offers real value to the entire Web3 industry. By integrating with Telegram, it opens the doors for all Telegram users and mobile users to seamlessly enter the Web3 space. We were deeply inspired from the moment we first learned about TON and decided to join immediately.

The journey through the Summer Hackathon was full of challenges. Our team faced numerous obstacles, such as having no prior experience building on mini-apps, using TON’s smart contracts, or marketing through Telegram Ads and TON’s ecosystem. However, thanks to the dedicated support from the TON Foundation and its team, we were able to understand the vision and worked tirelessly day and night. With 100% of our effort, we ultimately achieved victory. This was truly a milestone we will never forget in our journey.

### **For those of you who were new to the Summer Hackathon, how did your previous hackathon experiences influence your approach this time around?**

Previous hackathon experiences taught us the importance of clear goal setting, working with smart contracts, gaining a deeper understanding of the Telegram mini-app system, and utilizing the marketing tools available, as well as the support provided by the TON Foundation in building our project. These lessons allowed us to approach the next phase with a well-structured plan, efficiently dividing tasks and ensuring that we leveraged each team member's strengths while making the most of the resources from TON and Telegram. This experience also made us more resilient in overcoming time constraints and technical challenges

### **During the development process, what were some of the key challenges you faced while building on the TON blockchain, and how did you work through them?**

During the process of building on the TON Blockchain, we encountered challenges across multiple areas, including Marketing, Business Development, and Product.

**Marketing**: The user base on TON is completely different from what we had targeted before, so we couldn’t rely on our previous strategies and mindset for user acquisition. Additionally, the marketing tools on TON were still very new, some even just launched, so we had to simultaneously learn how to use these new tools, reach out to new users, and find ways to convert them into loyal users with fresh strategies.

**Business Development**: TON is a completely new space with new partners and projects, which meant we had to establish an entirely different working mechanism from what we were used to.

**Product**: TON and Telegram Mini Apps are new platforms, so our prior experience in building on other platforms wasn’t applicable here. We had to completely re-study the ecosystem in order to launch the best possible product that would resonate with the users on these platforms

### **Were there any particular tools or features on the TON blockchain that proved especially helpful in developing your project? What resources would you recommend future Hackers League entrants make the most of?**

We found that many tools on TON are both interesting and highly useful, but it’s crucial to learn how to use them correctly. Some notable examples include Adsgram, Telegram Ads, and Telegram App Center. All of these tools are definitely worth utilizing

### **Looking back, what was the most rewarding part of the Summer Hackathon for your team, and how do you think this experience has contributed to where your project is now?**

The most rewarding part was seeing our vision come to life and watching players interact with our game just as we had imagined. This truly gave us a strong momentum that continues to drive us forward to this day.

- Total Players now: around **4.5 million users**
- Monthly Active Users (MAU): **more than 1 million**

The community continuously contributes to the project, with thousands of messages each day. Currently, we’ve generated over **$1 million in revenue**, and our project is recognized as one of the most active and well-known on TON. We also benefit from top-tier ambassadors within the ecosystem, collectively reaching over **15 million followers and subscribers**.

The Summer Hackathon experience provided us with valuable feedback and allowed us to refine our project. It brought us closer to launching the SocialFi Gameverse on the TON Blockchain, with Chick Coop as the starting point. The Hackathon also opened doors for collaborations and networking within the TON community, which has been crucial for our ongoing development

### **Finally, what advice would you give to those looking to participate in the upcoming Hackers League Hackathon?**

Our advice is to build on TON with creative solutions. However, it’s also important to stay aligned with TON's vision to ensure a positive synergy between your project and the TON Foundation.

Collaboration is key, so make sure to communicate effectively within your team and with the Ton community.

Lastly, be prepared for challenges but embrace them as learning opportunities—they can push your project to new heights.

Find out more about Chicken Coop on their official pages:

[Website](https://chickcoop.io/) | [Telegram](https://t.me/chickcoop_announcement) | [X](https://x.com/chickcoop_io)

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice.*

##

TON Giants: Chick Coop

Today, we’re excited to release the next installment in our ‘TON Innovators’ series. This time, the spotlight is on TADA mini, a ride-hailing application that improves how people book rides by offering an intuitive, blockchain-powered experience directly within Telegram.

TADA Mini connects its network of approximately 300,000 drivers to the Telegram platform. Toncoin users can easily book rides through Tonkeeper and receive instant refunds for cancellations or other app-related inconveniences. The service was introduced in Singapore at the beginning of September, perfectly timed to provide convenient transportation for the much-awaited Token 2049 event. TADA organized a referral event to mark the launch, giving away token rewards for users engaging with chatbots, following social media channels, and inviting friends.

TADA Mini offers real-time ride-hailing and mission features, all easily accessible through this link: [https://t.me/TADA_Ride_Bot](https://t.me/TADA_Ride_Bot).

Now, let’s get to the interview. 

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice.*

## TON Innovators: TADA Mini

**Welcome to TON Innovators, TADA. You released TADA mini just in time for the Token-2049 event. Was it your plan to launch it during TOKEN2049?**

When TADA first launched in 2018, we used token rewards to attract drivers and build a strong driver community on Telegram. Today, we have established a platform that supports the livelihoods of over 300,000 drivers.

However, on the rider side, it was challenging at the time to educate Web2 riders about blockchain wallets and encourage them to use tokens for rides. As a result, it was difficult to introduce utility for token use during rides.

Therefore, we shifted our focus from educating regular passengers to targeting users already familiar with Web3. We eventually envisioned building a separate Web3 version of TADA's ride-hailing service.

With the introduction of wallet functionality in Telegram in 2024, we realized that a robust infrastructure had been created, allowing many users to easily use tokens. Since many Web3 users use Telegram, we thought we could bring TADA into the TON ecosystem.
As a result, over the past four months, we rapidly developed TADA Mini, targeting Token2049, where many global Web3 users participate.

**TADA is a global ride-hailing platform operating in Southeast Asia. What drove you to launch TADA Mini as a Telegram app, and how did you see the potential of this platform for such a project?**

First of all, by leveraging the Telegram platform, we can connect with its 1 billion user base, which holds potential as a source of trip demand. Geographically, this also aligns well with TADA’s drivers who operate in the SEA region.

From a user experience perspective, it’s incredibly convenient that anyone can simply connect the mini app in the chat window and easily request a vehicle whenever needed. we found this UX structure to be very user-friendly.

Moreover, we believe that TADA Mini aligns with TON Foundation's vision of “putting crypto in every pocket.” As more people start holding crypto in their pocket, we believe more Web3 users will use their tokens via TADA Mini when traveling.

**Tell us more about the team behind TADA Mini. What are their backgrounds and expertise that contribute to the project's success?**

MVL Group, the parent company of TADA, started in 2018 with the vision of revolutionizing the mobility scene with blockchain.

It was initially a small team, but thanks to the growth of TADA and others, it now has about 300 talented people from various fields in 7 countries worldwide. Looking at their background, they are active in mobility services, vehicle manufacturing, energy, and data, and in particular, they all work together with a single mission in blockchain projects.

In the blockchain sector, they have mainly focused on work for driver Web3 onboarding. These include multi-chain wallets and DeFI products for drivers, DePIN data maps that provide better routes through data analysis, and Vehicle RWA, which provides reasonably priced vehicles to drivers.

Although various products have been developed, they were mainly products for the 300,000 TADA drivers active in our ecosystem, not those used by the general public.

However, the newly launched TADA Mini targets all global Web3 users and can provide a new token utility in the real world to all Web3 projects. I think this is a very powerful feature that only TADA, which has a real business, can provide. Therefore, in the future, we plan to be more active in the blockchain scene based on TADA Mini.

**What sets TADA Mini apart from other projects in the TON and Telegram space? What unique features or benefits does it offer to users?**

The current blockchain scene is growing rapidly in areas the public can easily access online, such as games and memes. However, we believe that various services that combine real life and crypto should be launched in the future.

In this regard, TADA Mini differentiates itself from other projects because it can use ride-sharing services in real life. In the future, TADA Mini will provide powerful functions as real-life utility to various Web3 projects and numerous users in the TON ecosystem.

In addition, we are considering a direction to cooperate more closely with trendy features such as games and memes. For example, during the approximately 30 minutes that a passenger sits in a taxi and rides, the idea of ​​users simply accessing a mini-game and receiving game coin rewards or ride discounts can be realized.

If we make these types of ideas more concrete, we can introduce various win-win functions for both the project and the users.

**How have users responded to TADA Mini so far? What are some of the most common feedback or suggestions you've received?**

Many users are enthusiastic about the fact that riding is more accessible than expected on Telegram.

In the case of the pre-ride event for the first 4,000 users, it went viral on the Token2049 site on Tuesday the 17th, and all of them were sold out by the evening of Wednesday the 18th. Considering that an average of 2 to 3 people ride in one vehicle, this TADA mini provided a new experience to about 10,000 people.

This is because the user's first experience is the most important when introducing a product, and unlike existing Ride-Haliing web2 apps, it has the advantage of simplifying cumbersome procedures such as app downloads, card registration, and KYC as much as possible, allowing anyone to try riding very quickly.

However, the development process was tight because it had to be launched during this Token2049 period. Therefore, some of the functional implementations were somewhat insufficient. In particular, we have received feedback that there is room for further improvement in functions, such as moving to a chat room in a mini-app structure and clearly distinguishing between blockchain transaction and boarding waiting times.

**Are there any other community-driven initiatives or events in the pipeline?**

During the event, various missions were carried out for TADA Mini subscribers, which are similar to what other projects in the TON ecosystem are already doing.

In addition, information about the TADA mini ride-sharing event at the TON Foundation and TON Society was also very helpful in attracting users and promoting it, and we focused on distributing various promotional leaflets at the Token2049 site so that they could be used by actual users.

In addition, the unique feature that only we could do was the taxi-related function.

The fun features like banner ads and events before and after trips can attract users from other projects to join TADA mini. Additionally, games while riding can keep users engaged and spread the word about the platform to others, especially at events like Token2049. This can help TADA mini continuously attract new users and grow its community.


**What other strategies are you implementing to encourage wider adoption of TADA Mini and promote its use among the general public?**

Originally, TADA was a popular service with 100,000 daily trips on the Web2 app. However, since these Web2-only apps are services for the general public, most users do not necessarily use cards or cash and do not necessarily purchase crypto to use them.

Therefore, through this event, we minimized exposure to the general public and conducted limited online marketing targeting Web3 users first. This allowed us to obtain various behavioral data, such as whether Web3 users actually use crypto to ride and what barriers exist to further activate this.

Currently, we understand that various exchanges, wallet partners, and other projects are also implementing different strategies for crypto mass adoption. Accordingly, TADA Mini will continue actively collaborating with them based on the experience and data accumulated from this event.

If we can onboard users from other project ecosystems to TADA mini one by one, we believe we will be able to lead the popularization of crypto in the future.

**What future developments and enhancements can users expect from TADA mini?**

TADA Mini is still in its early stages. Within the limited time, we have focused on implementing the actual operation of Crypto Ride-Hailing via Telegram and TON. Therefore, we will also focus on implementing a better user experience and creating a more aesthetically pleasing product in the future. We have also received feedback from major projects within the TON ecosystem, such as Blum, regarding the UX/UI aspect, so we plan to actively utilize their advice.

Accordingly, we will continue to improve features so that more projects' tokens can be used in TADA mini in the long term.

One of our main operations tasks is gradually increasing the driver pool currently connected on TADA mini to several countries worldwide. Currently, this can only be done in Singapore, but within this year, TADA mini will be sequentially opened in four countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, where the actual TADA service is being provided.

In addition, we are continuously considering ways to expand the service to more countries, such as Hong Kong, and quickly gather a global driver pool.

What an excellent session with **James Yang (CIO of MVL/TADA)**

We leave you with this:

TADA mini is transforming ride-hailing with a sleek integration into Telegram. Users can book rides directly through Telegram, skipping extra apps and complex sign-ups. With a network of nearly 300,000 drivers, TADA mini offers real-time communication and quick, reliable rides.

Learn more about TADA mini on the following social platforms.

[Website](https://tada.global/) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TADASGP) | [Telegram](https://t.me/TADA_Ride_Bot)  

Downloads

[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/tada-ride-hailing/id1412329684) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.mvlchain.tada)



TON Innovators: TADA Mini

Another day, another TON Innovators interview introducing you to the best of the best from within the TON Ecosystem. Under the spotlight today is **[Fanton Fantasy](https://fan-ton.com/)**, a Telegram game that redefines the fantasy league experience by merging the competitiveness of traditional fantasy football with blockchain and Telegram.

Fanton offers a unique experience in which you compete in fantasy football tournaments against the rest of the world, vying for the top spot and attractive rewards. The game operates through Telegram in a seamless and accessible user interface, where you draft your teams, compete in various tournaments, and earn points based on your squad's real-world performance. 

Fanton is capturing the masses, and its success is underscored by being [recognized as the Top Product of the Week by Product Hunt](https://fan-ton.com/producthunt/). Fanton is a leader in the fantasy sports industry, and its exciting roadmap includes expansion into other sports, enhanced features, and customizable tournaments. 

Now, let’s get to the interview. 


*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice.*



---

## TON Innovators: Fanton
**Welcome to TON Innovators, Fanton. Your team can be considered one of the OGs of the TON and TG ecosystem, so tell us where it all started.**

Hello, community. This is Fanton CEO, Eldar! The Fanton journey began while I was working for one of the largest loyalty programs in Eastern Europe. I envisioned creating Fanton there. At the time, I was in charge of gamification. We made games with the bonuses of this loyalty system. One of my ideas was a fantasy football game, but bureaucratic red tape stalled its development.

After learning about the TON ecosystem from my friend, who launched one of the most successful NFT collections on TON at the time, which sold for $2 million, I thought fantasy sports and the NFT could coexist harmoniously. By then, it was only possible to create mini-ups inside Telegram. 

I shared my idea with Vadim Sterlin, a friend and university classmate. We realized that a similar game already existed. However, we believed we could create a superior gaming experience for Telegram and TON users. 

We discussed this concept for several months, but fear held us back. After Vadim’s Vipassana retreat, we gained the courage to proceed. We invited our former Kaspersky Lab colleague, Aleksey, to join the project. Together, we started creating the Fanton project. We’re thrilled with the results. 

**Your team is one of the very few that is doxxed and does not hide behind pseudonyms. Can you introduce us to the core people driving Fanton?**

We revealed our faces from the start to show our seriousness and commitment. By opening our faces, we made it clear that this project means a lot to us, and we are ready to put our reputation on the line and do our best to make everything work out for us. We are still doing it. 

From the beginning, we attended the AMA sessions with open faces and communicated openly with our audience. In Web3, this transparency is crucial. Projects featuring visible founders inspire trust as teams and individuals risk their reputations.

To believe in investing your time or money, of course, something may not work out, the business may work without it, and the percentage of companies that grow to self-sufficiency is growing. The percentage is tiny, but these are the things that, in my opinion, allow the project to be more open with its audience and more honest. 

- Our team is led by myself, Eldar Khayretdinov as CEO

- Vadim Sterlin - COO and co-founder

- Aleksey Frolagin - CTO

We started this project from the ground up. Sergey Lyadov, our head of community, and Igor Bael, our commercial director, joined us later. While we could list many team members, each is essential to our success. I decided to name just the top-level directorial positions.

And, of course, our community, which helps us with advice, ideas, and so much more. A vibrant, engaging community is vital in any Web3 project. As they say in football, the 12th player is the fan. And here, our 12th player is our community.

**Let’s assume I’m new to the concept of fantasy football. How do I begin with Fanton? Do I need to do my research first, or can I jump straight into it?** 

If we talk about the fantasy football genre, you must love and like football to play and have fun. Everything is simple.
•	You select five players for free and see what results you get.
•	Analyze your results to understand the scoring system, what actions earn points, and how fantasy football works.
•	After the first tournament, you can try several more free tournaments. And even though you can earn tickets to paid tournaments, these require better skills.

If you’re already a fantasy football fan, you’ll find it easy to immerse yourself in our game. We've worked hard to simplify onboarding into Fanton tournaments for everyone, and it's clear that our efforts are paying off. 

We hope we’ll make the simplest fantasy football in history due to Telegram’s simplicity and convenience, as well as the fact that we make our fantasy convenient, understandable, and beautiful for most users. At least, we hope that this is the case, and indeed, we find confirmation of this among our audience, most of whom learned about the fantasy football genre only thanks to our project and became active fans of fantasy football.

**What makes Fanton Fantasy different from traditional fantasy football platforms?**

1.	First, user-friendliness and integration inside Telegram make it possible to attract native users. Users don’t need to download the application or log in to the website. 

2.	Secondly, a simple Fantasy Football format; you only need to choose five players, and your team is ready. We also allow anyone from anywhere in the world to register for membership. 

3.	Lastly, users can pay in TON or Telegram stars, which is quite simple and native to any player who is not even familiar with crypto. It's easy enough to understand, register, and figure out how a game of this genre works.

**Let’s discuss the NFT aspect of the game. Do I need to own Fanton NFTs to play the game, or do they provide players with some edge in tournaments?** 

NFT cards were crucial catalysts for our project, providing the initial funding to develop the game. Initially, we launched a collection of football players, and after that, we developed a product that you can play using these NFT cards. Each NFT card belongs to one of three categories: 


- **Legendary** - of which there is only one for each football player

- **Epic** - of which there are only three

- **Rare** - there will be only 12 for each player

Each NFT rarity has its coefficient: Legendary—х2, Epic—x1,75, and Rare—x1,5. 

To facilitate participation, we offer both NFT tournaments and Common tournaments. While NFT tournaments require participants to own an NFT card, Common tournaments allow players to choose any player for different positions, regardless of NFT ownership. The model makes the game accessible to more people.

Currently, NFT tournaments and NFT cards appeal to collectors and gamers. These digital assets can also be investments, offering potential returns through gameplay.

**Fanton offers a variety of leagues, teams, and nationalities from which to pick the players. Do you plan to expand the list? Are there any new leagues players can look forward to?** 

We currently have eight leagues in the game, including the top European leagues (England, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), the Russian, Brazilian, and the MLS championships. We plan to increase the number of leagues, and this season, we aim to add leagues such as the Saudi Arabian league (Rest of the World), possibly the Turkish league, and others. 

Our team is currently discussing these additions, keeping in mind the needs of our customers. We want to ensure that the engaging tournaments complement our leagues. These new leagues must be appealing and in demand to attract interest. Given the growing number of Chinese users on Telegram, we are also considering adding the Chinese League. Further tournaments are still under discussion. I believe we will expand the number of leagues.

**What drove you to launch Fanton as a Telegram game?**

Over two years ago, Telegram introduced the ability to create mini-apps. Inspired by this, our friend launched an NFT collection on TON called Animal Red List, which earned $2 million. This success made us realize that fantasy football was a perfect fit for NFTs and that we could create a fantasy football game within Telegram. 

Since TON and Telegram complement each other so well, we saw an opportunity to simplify this process and make it intuitive for Web2 users. Web3, in this context, becomes a product designed for Web2 users, utilizing familiar Web2 mechanics.

The cost of attracting users appeared to be much lower than on traditional websites, where users need to register. With Telegram, users can log in using their Telegram ID without additional registration. There's no need to download a separate mobile app, either—if you have Telegram, you simply click 'start,' and the game begins.

Recognizing the potential of creating a game within Telegram in the fantasy football genre, we moved forward with our idea, and it has successfully found its audience. Moreover, Telegram allows users to manage channels, facilitate interactive chats, and share various updates. These advantages benefit those who love our game and want to receive news promptly.

Through Telegram channels, we can publish news for fans of our game, facilitate user chats, and directly communicate with them. We can also conduct video AMA sessions where we appear on camera, answer questions, address user concerns, and maintain an open dialogue. Having the game itself integrated into Telegram is incredibly convenient. Recognizing the potential, we decided to launch our game on Telegram.

**How does Fanton’s use of blockchain affect the fantasy sports experience?**

Blockchain technology allows us to attract many users worldwide to our game, as anyone with a crypto wallet can participate in our paid tournaments. Additionally, we offer free games where users can join, get onboarded, and explore Web3 through engaging mechanics tailored for football fans, particularly in the fantasy sports genre. Launching our project as a Web3 initiative allows us to attract investments, grow our project, and build a strong community by introducing our token.

For those who have been with us from the start and believe in our project, our token offers the chance to earn through in-game mechanics and by being early supporters. After launching our token, players can earn it through various game mechanics and airdrops, allowing them to profit from their early involvement in the project. This approach has helped us attract and retain an audience from the very beginning, as users are engaged not only with the game itself but also with the potential to earn from their loyalty and early participation in the project.

**What is the $FTON token? On which launchpads will the IDO take place?**

We are gearing up for the launch of $FTON, the utility token for the Fanton game. $FTON will be one of the first major tokens on TON with in-game utility. This week, we announced significant investments from top investors, including Animoca Brands, Delphi Digital, Kenetic Capital, and Hashkey. 

We also want to highlight the support we've received from the Notcoin and Tonstarter acceleration program—it's been an invaluable experience, and we’re grateful for their assistance. Additionally, we have powerful launchpads lined up for the upcoming IDO, including Magic Square, Eesee, and another exciting one. We’re optimistic about a bullish listing season this fall!

**What upcoming features and expansions can players look forward to in Fanton?**

We are actively integrating the $FTON token into our game mechanics. After $FTON's launch, we plan to gradually switch from TON to $FTON as the token users will use to take part in our paid tournaments and buy NFT cards within our product. We will also allow $FTON holders to stake the token and earn a percentage through staking.

Additionally, we are adapting the NFT tournament system, which will be introduced in the coming months, making the gameplay even more engaging. As described in our channels, the NFT tournament will also introduce a new Seasonal tournament format, which was well-received during Euro 2024 when we first tested it.

Our upcoming updates will introduce new tournament formats, including Single Match tournaments. In this format, players have the freedom to choose five players from any position. The new format will increase the variety of choices and allow for more creative team compositions, enhancing competition among players.

We’ll introduce a 'Cap' system in our tournaments, starting with the NFT tournaments. A cap sets a maximum limit on the number of points users can use to build their teams. It ensures players choose the top-rated, well-known players, and mix in lesser-known players, making squad selection more creative and strategic.

We’re also considering launching a web version of our game, targeting the European audience. Since football is popular in Europe, and many people already enjoy fantasy football, this is a natural expansion. Although the current Telegram audience in Europe is limited, creating a web version will help us reach new users who can easily transition to Telegram, where they can enjoy a more convenient and enjoyable gaming experience. Lastly, we're negotiating with well-known football players, clubs, and major sponsors to enrich our platform.









TON Innovators: Fanton

Welcome back to another edition of TON Culture Kings, where we dive into the world of memecoins on TON Blockchain. Today, we’re excited to feature Kakaxa (Russian for poop), a hot memecoin that’s captured the imagination and wallets of many. Kakaxa is making waves by emphasizing transparency, community engagement, and “cleaning the s**t out of blockchain.” Joining us today is the team behind Kakaxa.

Let’s dive in to learn more about their journey, community, and what lies ahead.

*IMPORTANT: This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of TON Foundation. This is not investment advice.*

## **TON Culture Kings: Kakaxa**

**Welcome to TON Culture Kings, Kakaxa! You guys had a phenomenal launch with a 48x return in 3 days. Can you share the story behind such a successful debut and what you believe contributed to this explosive start?**

Sure! Transparency and trust were also critical. From the beginning, we committed to cleaning the blockchain of dubious projects by being one of the first to openly reveal our identities. Sergey Romanovich, a well-known Russian actor, blogger, and crypto-enthusiast, leads our project. His credibility and large following of over 2.2 million subscribers significantly boosted our visibility and trustworthiness.

Our active and cohesive community was another crucial factor. We engaged in constant outreach, promotions, contests, and raids, creating a vibrant and enthusiastic community. Our hours-long AMA sessions were pivotal in building this community. During these sessions, we introduced our project and educated our audience about the TON blockchain and the broader crypto market. This transparent and interactive approach set a new standard and raised the bar for other projects.

Additionally, our commitment to social responsibility, such as planting over 2,000 trees for our presale participants and project holders, showcased our dedication to making a positive impact beyond the blockchain.

Lastly, our meticulous planning and execution were fundamental. We conducted numerous AMA sessions before launching our token, ensuring our community was well-informed and prepared. Listing our token during a live AMA session created a unique and engaging experience that further solidified our bond with our supporters.

**Tell us about humor and memecoins—your project has certainly relied heavily on humor for its success. Why do you think humor is such a powerful tool in the world of crypto and blockchain?**

Humor is a powerful tool in the world of crypto and blockchain because it makes complex and often intimidating topics more accessible and engaging. For KAKAXA, humor with slogans like “made a fortune on shit” and “invested in shit” captured people's attention and made our project memorable. 

This light-hearted approach helped create a sense of community and trust, breaking down barriers and encouraging people to participate and invest. For a meme coin with utility like KAKAXA, humor is crucial as it enhances the appeal, making the project a financial investment and a fun and relatable experience. By using humor, we could stand out in a crowded market, foster a strong, active community, and drive our overall success.

**You’ve mentioned that Kakaxa aims to clean the blockchain of “shit” by promoting transparency and de-anonymization. Can you elaborate on what you’re going to be doing and how you hope it will impact the TON Ecosystem?**

KAKAXA aims to clean the blockchain of “shit” by promoting transparency and de-anonymization, which is crucial given the prevalence of scam projects in the space. We were one of the first projects to reveal our identities with Sergey Romanovich and the whole team. We hold hours-long AMA sessions to educate our community about the TON blockchain and the broader crypto market, emphasizing the importance of knowing who is behind a project. By setting this trend of de-anonization and maintaining open communication, we hope to raise the standards for new projects, foster trust, and ultimately create a safer and more transparent TON ecosystem.

**Tell us about the team behind Kakaxa. How did you all come together? What are your backgrounds?**

We have been in the crypto space for a few years. We have one of the largest crypto communities, where we educate people about crypto, trading, FA, etc. 

Founder of our project is Sergey Romanovich who is  a Russian movie actor, blogger and crypto-enthusiast. He has more than 2.2 million people subscribed to his social networks.

The co-founder and advisor is Isa, who is a full-time trader with years of experience in the crypto market. 

Ozzy is a business developer.

Guseyn is a project manager who has been in the crypto and NFT space for a few years. 

**What are some of the most effective strategies you’ve used to keep your community active and cohesive?**

To keep our community active and cohesive, we’ve employed several effective strategies at KAKAXA. We focus on constant and engaging community outreach through regular promotions, exciting contests, and dynamic raids where we reward our community, and it keep our members involved and motivated. We also prioritize transparency and education by holding hours-long AMA sessions where we discuss the TON blockchain, the crypto market, and our project’s goals. This approach not only informs but also builds trust and a sense of inclusion. By combining these efforts, we foster a strong, engaged community that is passionate about KAKAXA and its mission.


**You recently released a whale tracker bot to follow large wallet activities on TON. How has this tool been received by your community, and what benefits do you see it bringing to your users?**

Our community has received the whale tracker bot with great enthusiasm. This tool allows users to stay updated on the activities of large wallets on the TON blockchain, tracking which tokens whales are buying and selling. By providing real-time insights into significant market movements, the whale tracker bot empowers our users to make more informed investment decisions and stay ahead of market trends. It enhances transparency within the ecosystem and adds an extra layer of value for our community, reinforcing our commitment to providing useful tools and maintaining a high level of engagement and trust.

**Can you give us a sneak peek into what your new Telegram game will be about and how it integrates with the Kakaxa ecosystem?**

Certainly! We're excited to give you a sneak peek into our upcoming Telegram games, KAKAXA LOVE and KAKAXA SHOT. KAKAXA LOVE is a tap-and-catch game where players use our character to catch poop, combining simple mechanics with our signature humor. On the other hand, KAKAXA SHOT is a more dynamic shooter game featuring various maps where users battle against monsters. This game will include seasons, battle passes, different skins, and a multiplayer option where friends can play together. Both games integrate seamlessly with the KAKAXA ecosystem, offering our community fun and engaging ways to interact with the brand while promoting active participation and engagement. These games also reflect our innovative spirit and commitment to providing unique value to our users on the TON blockchain.

**Can you discuss the KKX LABS project accelerator and its recent success with the $DOGG project’s closed pre-sale?**

Absolutely! The KKX LABS project accelerator is a key initiative by KAKAXA aimed at supporting and nurturing new projects entering the TON blockchain ecosystem. Recently, we had significant success with the $DOGG project’s closed pre-sale, which raised $400,000. This pre-sale was a milestone, demonstrating the accelerator’s ability to identify and foster promising projects. Following the pre-sale, the DOGG token saw a 250% increase upon listing, showcasing the project's strong market reception and our effective support strategies. Additionally, we are receiving numerous pitch decks from other projects, and we are meticulously reviewing and selecting the best ones to support. Through KKX LABS, we aim to continue driving innovation and success in the TON ecosystem by providing comprehensive support to emerging projects.

**How did your idea of planting more than 2,000 trees for presale participants come about, and what are your future plans for expanding this green initiative?**

The idea to plant more than 2,000 trees for our presale participants stemmed from our commitment to making a positive impact and giving back to the community. We recognized the importance of environmental sustainability and wanted to align our project with actions that benefit the planet. This initiative not only rewards our early supporters but also contributes to global efforts in reforestation and environmental conservation. 

Moving forward, we plan to expand this green initiative by planting more than 10,000 trees this year alone. Our goal is to continually increase our environmental footprint positively while inspiring others in the blockchain and crypto space to prioritize sustainability and social responsibility. This initiative reflects our core values of transparency, community engagement, and making a meaningful difference in the world beyond financial success.

**Looking ahead, what are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities you see for Kakaxa? Any major milestones or goals you’re aiming to achieve in the near future?**

Looking ahead, Kakaxa sees several significant challenges and opportunities on the horizon. One of our key priorities is expanding our community and ensuring its continued engagement. We aim to achieve this by further developing our games like KAKAXA LOVE and KAKAXA SHOT, creating a vibrant ecosystem within the TON blockchain. 

Another major goal is securing listings on tier-1 exchanges, which will enhance our project's visibility and accessibility to a broader audience of investors and users.

In terms of challenges, navigating the evolving regulatory landscape in the crypto and blockchain space remains crucial. We are committed to maintaining compliance and transparency while advancing our mission of cleaning the blockchain of fraudulent projects through de-anonization and community education. Ultimately, our goal is to solidify Kakaxa as a leader in the memcoin space on the TON blockchain, recognized for our commitment to innovation, community building, and sustainable growth. We are excited about the future and the opportunities it holds for us to make a lasting impact in the crypto world and beyond.

**Finally, any advice for other memecoin projects looking to get big in the ecosystem?**

For other memecoin projects aiming to succeed, focus on building a strong community through active engagement and transparency. Embrace humor strategically to capture attention, but ensure it aligns with your project's values. Prioritize utility by offering innovative solutions that enhance user experience, like Kakaxa's games and whale tracker bot. Maintain transparency to build trust and credibility, standing out in a crowded market. These steps can help memecoin projects establish themselves and attract sustained interest in the crypto ecosystem.


TON Culture Kings: Kakaxa

Today, we’re bringing you another interview from the Future Giants series, where we introduce you to teams you most likely have never heard of: teams building something big yet still flying under the radar. 

In today’s episode, we interviewed [GAMEE](https://www.gamee.com/), a high-engagement mobile gaming platform focused on onboarding a mass gaming audience to Web3. Founded in 2015 and part of Animoca Brands since 2020, GAMEE has partnered with over 40 communities, including Mocaverse, Decentraland, Sandbox, and Cool Cats. 

Their primary focus is its Telegram app and community, where users can earn WatPoints and crypto rewards.

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice.*

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Screenshot_2024_08_07_at_11_02_57_Blockchain_meets_mobile_gaming_GAMEE_8b20afc272/Screenshot_2024_08_07_at_11_02_57_Blockchain_meets_mobile_gaming_GAMEE_8b20afc272.png) 

**Hello GAMEE. Welcome to your premiere on TON Blockchain. Like every other project, let’s start with a brief introduction. What is GAMEE?**

Hi! GAMEE is a Web3 gaming platform powered by our infrastructure token – $GMEE. And now we’re gearing up for the exciting launch of WATCoin on TON, under the watchful eye of the WatBird character. There have been various ways to earn WatPoints, with the most recent being the [Wat Racer](https://t.me/gamee/watracer) game.

**Can you introduce us to your team? What’s your experience?** 

Sure! Our CEO, Martin Zakovec, runs the show alongside co-founders Bozena Rezab, Jan Castek, and Miroslav Chmelka. GAMEE has been around since 2015 – and we’ve also been building games on Telegram for six years!

**You’re one of the oldest active gaming projects in Web3, yet frankly, you’re still flying under the radar, particularly within the TON Ecosystem, so your name might be completely new to our readers. Why do you think that is?** 

We’re one of the largest gaming platforms on Telegram, with 90M players. Whether we’re flying under the radar is debatable – we’ve already had over 4 million wallets collecting WatPoints on TON! We have 3.2M in our [community](https://t.me/gameechannel) and 3M daily players collecting WatPoints in Wat Racer. And the numbers keep on growing.

**Can you share with us some data? Surely, you’ve accumulated impressive statistics over the years.** 

Right now, we currently average 3M DAUs on Telegram, a total player base of 90M, and have had well over 10 billion gameplays. We’ve also given away over $1 million in rewards!

**What are GAMEE's main features and services? What does GAMEE offer to its players?** 

Everything is centered around the WatBird character, a degen bird that has taken on a life of its own! Telegram users can play our Wat Racer game to collect WatPoints and earn them by [completing missions](https://t.me/gamee/earn). Outside of Telegram, they can also earn WatPoints by [staking $GMEE](https://points.gamee.com/mining) on Ethereum or holding partner blue-chip NFTs like Pudgy and Mocaverse.

**What makes GAMEE different from its competitors? Let’s say I’m a Web3 player looking to try something new. Why should I give GAMEE a shot?** 

We’ve been around for a long time now, and we know what our community wants most. We are proud to say that our $WAT project is community-firs. Not only is WatBird and his project a fun way for Web2 users to get on board with Web3, but it also serves as a way to reward participants with a fully earned asset tied to WatBird’s [Wat Racer game](https://t.me/gamee/watracer). The community loves the crazy WatBird character running the show and the regular community contests and giveaways!


**What brought you to TON? It’s not your native chain, as your project has existed for over nine years now. What are TON’s advantages compared to other blockchains**? 

We see the potential that TON has in bringing about mass Web3 adoption. As a company that has always prided itself on introducing millions of players to the power of Web3, it’s a no-brainer that we should commit to a TON-based project. The fact that it is so simple to set up and use crypto on TON means the biggest hurdle that stops many from venturing into Web3 has been easily overcome.

**There are rumors that you might be partnering with an unnamed successful TON project. Can you tell us more about this?** 

There isn’t one; there are many. We’ve recently partnered with Mocaverse to help boost their community numbers on Telegram, and last week we launched an initiative with Notcoin to reward $NOT holders with WatPoints. We’ve also recently collaborated with Yescoin to bring new WatPoint-earning missions to our players. And of course, more great collaborations are coming!

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/unnamed_82350b0fa8/unnamed_82350b0fa8.jpg) 
**You’re working on a new game called Wat Racer. What’s the game about? Can you show us some screenshots or videos from the gameplay?** 

[Wat Racer](https://t.me/gamee/watracer) is now live! Players can now race to collect WatPoints in the game, as well as pink coins that allow them to boost their earning capacity and upgrade their vehicle. You start in a pretty slow and shoddy cart and can keep upgrading until you reach the ultra-fast golden lambo.

**Can you tease some upcoming announcements that we haven’t mentioned yet?** 

We’ll leave the announcements to WatBird! He’s about to launch the WATCoin, and he has many great ideas up his sleeve (if birds have sleeves?). [Follow him on Telegram.](https://t.me/gamee/WATCoin)


Future Giants: GAMEE

Welcome to TON Innovators, our written series in which we interview projects building within the TON Ecosystem and shaping the future of Web3. Today, we’re bringing you a second interview with Catizen, a Telegram game that took the world by storm. [We first interviewed Catizen in early May](https://blog.ton.org/ton-innovators-catizen), but much has changed since then, and Catizen has become one of the most popular and biggest Web3 games ever. 

Citizen has dominated The Open League leaderboard for three consecutive seasons, beating their competitors and highlighting their innovative approach to Web3 gaming with unique mechanics, evolving gameplay, and capturing visuals. 

In this interview, we will explore how they achieved an amazing 7% conversion rate of on-chain users and an impressive average revenue per user (ARPU) of nearly $30. We will dive into how Catizen leverages the unique mechanics of TON and Telegram to improve their business model and achieve virality. We will also discuss their plans and recent announcements, so read the entire interview. 


*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice*


-----------


## **TON Innovators: Catizen #2**
**Welcome back, Catizen. We spoke to you over three months ago, and much has changed since then. Can you give us a brief overview of everything that shaped those three months?**
Compared to May (the last TON Blog interview), both our community and game evolved a lot. Over the past three months, Catizen has transitioned from Phase 1 to Phase 2 and is now entering the third phase. We have successfully implemented an innovative IAP+IAA self-sustaining business model, launched the game engine and SDK, and became one of the largest crypto-loving cat communities, completing our financing round.

We are now fully prepared to lead our community into the third phase, which includes the realization of our mini-game center and token airdrop, and the transition to a decentralized Catizen Ecosystem.

**You’re now the most successful project in the history of The Open League, winning three consecutive seasons in a row. How did you achieve this? Before this interview, you mentioned your impressive 7% conversion rate of on-chain users. How do you do this? What strategies and unique business models do you employ?**

The Open League evaluates games based on on-chain interactions and Unique Active Wallets (UAW), ensuring a fair assessment of mini-games within the TON ecosystem by considering community quality and on-chain conversions. Catizen has established a strong foundation in these areas.
Even when compared to tap-to-earn mini-games from other ecosystems with a much larger-scale user base, Catizen still stands out in these evaluation metrics. Our Telegram Premium user community has surpassed 2 million members. 

According to Statista, at the beginning of this year, there were approximately 5 million Telegram Premium users, meaning that over 40% of Telegram's paying users are members of the Catizen community. Additionally, we have over 1.5 million on-chain users and more than 550,000 paying users. These users are active and authentic.
The continuous conversion of our high-quality community is attributed to our well-defined product positioning from the outset and a business model that differs from the typical tap-to-earn approach.

By leveraging our rich and professional experience in Web2 mini-games, we understand how to utilize the unique advantages of the TON and Telegram ecosystems. By combining the IAB (In-App Bidding) and IAP (In-App Purchase) models, we have successfully implemented a business model that continuously and stably converts a large user base into a high-quality user group.

At Catizen, we have revolutionized the traditional In-App Advertising (IAA) and In-App Purchase (IAP) business model from Web2, transforming it into a combination of In-App Blockchain (IAB) and IAP. Major Web2 companies such as Google and Tencent have invested billions in training users to watch ads to complete tasks for boosts or additional game props. We have advanced this concept by guiding users through on-chain interactions, educating Web2 users on how to connect wallets, and gradually transitioning them into Web3, leveraging their familiar gaming habits to achieve higher game levels.

In a previous interview with Coindesk, we mentioned that many of our users are attracted not just by airdrops but by the joy of gameplay. Hyper-casual games operate in this manner, and within the Web3 ecosystem, activities such as playing games, purchasing in-game items, and participating in on-chain interactions can provide users with opportunities to earn additional income, thereby offering further incentives. Catizen's healthy revenue stream is due to our simplified IAP model. When users engage with Catizen, they have clear objectives—they aim to climb the leaderboard for higher rankings. To achieve this, they need to purchase Fishcoins (in-game currency) to gain more control over their game progression. 

We have designed Catizen to be straightforward, considering it the starting point of our ecosystem. This ease of use ensures that everyone, whether from Web2 or Web3, can quickly get started. Users can explore the functions of earning Fishcoins, learn to connect to the blockchain, and gain extra boosts. The process encourages users to explore on their own, and it’s simple enough that the transition from playing to purchasing, from Web2 to Web3, from being a regular player to potentially becoming a $CATI Holder, only takes about three clicks. Regular engagement with Catizen will familiarize users with the process.

We established this business model from the inception of Catizen because we recognized that changing business models and user expectations mid-course is challenging. Unlike many mini-apps that follow the meme-way, lacking a sustainable business model post-TGE, Catizen aims to educate users and familiarize them with Web3. This is evidental in our conversion data. Our high-quality user base and strong purchasing power position us well for future growth. 

Catizen's unique approach and deep foresight in building a robust ecosystem, rather than just another clicker game, set us apart. We believe this strategic differentiation is key to our long-term success and our ability to embrace future roadmaps. Our IAP and IAB models are the result of in-depth research and seamless integration into our product, and we're pleased that our community has recognized the value of our assumptions and practices.

**On July 23, you published the news about Binance Labs investing in Pluto Studio, the publisher of Catizen. What does this mean for the future of Catizen?** 

That’s right, we recently announced the financing of our launch platform, Pluto Studio, with investments from TOP, Hashkey, Binance Labs, and Folius Ventures. All investors (TOP, Hashkey, Folius, Binance Labs) will be allocated a certain proportion of the Catizen team's tokens. Without affecting our airdrop economic model, they have chosen to invest in the long-term value of Catizen. 

This type of investment is rare in Web3; most investors, even those with a lock-up mechanism, do not fully align with the team’s interests. However, Pluto's investors stand with the team, moving forward and developing the future together.
We have discussed extensively that our business model and future development are not affected by the airdrop. The airdrop is merely the beginning of opening the entire Catizen ecosystem to the community.


**You’re the first TON project to receive an investment from Binance Labs. Why do you think Binance Labs decided to invest in Pluto?**

Binance Labs' investment in Pluto is primarily aimed at expanding within the TON ecosystem, which is recognized for its immense potential and promising future. From my perspective, the reason Pluto stands out as their first chosen project is due to the in-depth investigation by investors who have identified our distinct advantages over other projects. For instance, our high-quality community conversion model and our team's ability to conduct thorough research on ecosystem characteristics have enabled us to develop smart leveraging skills tailored to the unique features of the TON ecosystem.

Additionally, I believe our game center is another aspect that investors find highly promising. These investors focus on long-term value, so our future roadmap is undoubtedly a key factor in their decision to invest in us. This is another major distinguishing feature of Catizen compared to other mini-games in the ecosystem.

As mentioned previously, our team began developing the Catizen gaming bot in 2023, and it was launched in March 2024, well before Notcoin became globally recognized. During the development period, we conducted several AB tests on different core plays and extensive research within the TON and Telegram ecosystems, aiming for a strong start on TON. From day one, we have differentiated Catizen from all the clicker and tap-to-earn mini apps within the TON ecosystem.

From the technical level to our business model and community distribution, Catizen stands apart from other clickers on the TON chain. Unlike other Telegram Gaming Bots that are built as simple clicker games, we have our own game engine and SDK. While users might not immediately notice these technical differences due to the current focus on short-term airdrops, having our own engine and SDK allows us to establish an ecosystem and evolve into a mini-game hub. As our ecosystem matures, we can rapidly release new games to our community, creating a game matrix. We have already signed over 18 well-established Web2 mini-games, some with strong community bases and others generating substantial revenue. This technical barrier, along with the head-start advantage and our long-term vision, sets us apart significantly. 

Developing within the TON Ecosystem requires mastering its unique language, FunC, which is vastly different from other Web3 languages. Many developer teams are reluctant to invest time in learning a new, complex language in this fast-paced Web3 era. Moreover, we have the first-mover advantage, having focused on the TON ecosystem since 2022, spending over six months refining the Catizen Bot's experience and on-chain interactions.


**Your average revenue per user is almost $30. That’s very impressive. How did you achieve this, and what does it mean for Catizen?**

In fact, our ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) is growing at a rate of $1 per week, with the most updated data at 31.02 USD. This number is astounding, especially considering that, according to Token Terminal data, the average ARPU for projects in the crypto space is approximately $0.20 USD. Our ARPU is growing at a rate five times higher than this average each week. For Catizen, this means that we can benchmark ourselves not only against mini-games within the TON ecosystem but also against most crypto and GameFi projects.

Our community of on-chain users and paying users is continuously expanding. This exceptional growth indicates that we have achieved beyond-expected success in Phase 2, laying a solid foundation for leading our community into Phase 3.

**Longevity is the main issue of Web3 games. They often fail to survive long-term and keep their players active and engaged. How will Catizen’s existing advantages be applied to your future plans? How will the mini-game center and Launchpool mutually benefit the community and project partners?**

Longevity issue has not only appeared among web3 gamefi, but also web2 games. In specific, the lifecycle of any mini-game or even a well-crafted game is inherently short. Therefore, Catizen aspires to be more than just a short-lived mini-game, which is why we turned our attention to Web3. 
Web3 is an untapped blue ocean, lacking high-quality communities, experienced game development teams, and a fusion of skilled game developers with seasoned Web3 designers. In many projects with incomplete product models, crypto accelerates their decline. However, in a project with a comprehensive business model, crypto can be the core support that sustains upward development. This is because the user base and the Catizen ecosystem are continually reinforced by robust token incentives.

Pluto Studio is committed to expanding its portfolio of games. We have already contracted 18 games, which will be released soon. These games will cover a variety of genres and incorporate similar Web3 functionalities to engage further and educate our players. 

The 'Launchpool' feature in Catizen is designed to integrate gaming with DeFi principles. It allows players to stake their in-game assets, such as Cats or Fishcoins, to earn rewards over time. This mechanism not only enhances the gaming experience but also educates players about fundamental Web3 concepts like staking and liquidity provision.

How will our community continue to benefit?
Our community’s $CATI holders will receive various incentives:

- **Open Task Rewards:** By completing tasks, $CATI holders can earn tokens or stablecoins from other projects.
Revenue Sharing: A portion of the revenue generated from the mini-game center will be used to buy back tokens, ensuring the stability of the $CATI token value.

- **Game Center and Launchpool Participation:** Once mini-games gain community recognition, they will be added to the Catizen Launchpool. All $CATI holders can participate in the Launchpool by staking their tokens to earn additional tokens from other popular games.

Through these initiatives, we aim to create a robust and rewarding ecosystem for our $CATI holders, driving growth and engagement within the community.

If you understand the scale of traffic and numbers involved, CATIZEN will achieve a very strong cycle. By leveraging the advantages of Web3, Catizen can offer a sustainable and thriving platform far beyond the capabilities of a standard Web2 game, essentially creating a Catizen Gaming Universe where the best mini-games in the world are offered, built around the $CATI token.


**Lastly, you recently announced some game changes that received criticism and negative feedback. Would you like to share something about this with our readers?**

We've received many heartfelt inquiries about the progress of our airdrop, as well as concerns regarding recent changes within Catizen. 

Building a product in the ever-evolving and innovative world of Web3 is no easy task, and not everything can be perfect. We truly value your feedback and are always listening closely to our community. While some updates might seem unsettling now, we believe they are necessary for the long-term benefit of players and the future development of the Catizen Ecosystem.

**Here, we wish to specifically address the concerns raised by our community.**

- **Airdrop Delay:**
Delaying the airdrop was a difficult decision, and we understand the frustration it may have caused. After consulting with our partners, we felt it was the best course of action. Our main priority is to ensure that when the airdrop happens, nearly 27 million Catizen users can be benefited, and CATI holders have plenty of choices and potential. To achieve this, we are doing our best to make it happen:

- **Strategic Partnerships:** In order to secure valuable and expert partners who can provide us with professional advice and support, we have allocated a portion of our team's tokens for financing. 

- **Open SDK & Game Platforms:** To ensure we are fully prepared for the airdrop, we have opened our SDK and gaming platform. Our aim is to be prepared before the airdrop, focusing on long-term value rather than treating $CATI as a mere meme coin, which we think it is crucial for delivering a sustainable tokenomic structure for $CATI’s potential and use case scenarios.

- **Token Distribution Evaluation Integral:** We have divided the in-game props into several different dimensions (vkitty, fishcoin, wCati, xZen). The mechanism was designed to set fair ratios for player engagement and airdrop allocation at each stage, ensuring that every community member benefits equitably.

- **Previous Donations to PETA:**
We have received feedback from the community regarding PETA's past actions of euthanizing animals. In response, we have contacted the PETA team and received the following confirmation:
    1. [PETA has provided an official statement](https://www.peta.org/features/peta-kills-animals-truth/) addressing their past practices of euthanizing animals.
    2. We have confirmed with PETA that all donations from Catizen will be used exclusively for feeding, vaccination, rescue, and adoption assistance.
    3. We will maintain ongoing connections with PETA to monitor the use of our donations and will keep the community updated.

**We value your voice and stand with you! To ensure that our future donations align with our community's values:**
1. Catizen has temporarily suspended the in-bot collaboration with PETA and has halted the next planned donation.
2. We will first observe the impact and feedback from our previous donation before deciding on the next partner for our donations.
3. During this period, we encourage the community to actively report and recommend suitable organizations. All recommendations will be considered as potential partners for our future donations.


TON Innovators: Catizen #2

TON Culture Kings is back again! This is where the TON Foundation explores meme coins in the TON Ecosystem. Today, we’ll be talking to Hydra, a coin with a Telegram Mini App that aims to simplify user interactions with the TON Blockchain and breathe new life into the ecosystem NFT market. The Hydra team will join us today to share more about their mission, progress, and future plans.

Let’s dive in to learn more about Hydra’s journey, its community, and what’s on the horizon. The team put a lot of effort into this interview, so grab a coffee or your favorite drink, sit down, and relax. This one is quite long, but we're sure it's worth every second. 

***IMPORTANT:** This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not investment advice.*

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/tg_image_3024337545_f8c0049b3e/tg_image_3024337545_f8c0049b3e.jpeg) 
**Guys, welcome to TON Culture Kings! Can you start by telling us about the inspiration behind the Hydra Project and what motivated you to launch a Mini App?**

We have been working with the TON blockchain for over two years and deeply understand its structure and features. During this time, we have identified many aspects that frustrate us. It is no secret that there are many scammers and idle talkers in the Web3 ecosystem. Hydra Coin's goal comes from the opposite: we aim to create a high-quality product with unique farming mechanics and support projects that have run into difficulties or have been abandoned by their creators.
 
First of all, we do not divide tokens into ‘meme coins’ and ‘serious coins.’ We view each token as a tool. Each of the 65 tokens is our partner, to whom we will give the best utility, namely: extremely profitable earnings on liquidity supply and tight integration into Hydra services.
 
The situation in the NFT market is even more dire. The NFT era will end in 2022, and that ending was tragic for most holders. TON Hydra also has noble goals in this field, and with our game, we want to revive some NFT projects.
 
We have been searching and interviewing specialists for a long time to realize our idea but have only encountered misunderstandings and unscrupulous teams, which resulted in the loss of considerable time and money. Even people deeply involved in the IT sphere could not understand our service's concept or the mechanics of cryptocurrency in general. However, in January 2024, luck smiled on us: DEX DeDust.io was equipped with functionality similar to what we had planned to implement.
 
Currently, the TON blockchain is experiencing a ‘token era’. We have realized that many token holders will soon be left with useless tokens instead of the promised revenue. This is because most teams are either not positioned well or too inexperienced to fulfill the promises they make or are inherently fraudulent and only seek instant profits.
 
Therefore, we developed a unique mechanic for our $HYDRA coin by integrating the DeDust boost mechanism. We are applying a similar approach to our NFT @Hydrant. Together, implementing these ideas will allow many investors to offset the losses incurred in other projects with our infrastructure. Below, we will explain in detail how it all works.

**Can you tell our readers, just for clarity, what exactly a “liquidity-to-earn jetton” is?**

When we say that TON Hydra is a unique project with innovative mechanics, we do it not for the sake of pathos, but because it really is. **And here's why:**

Let's turn to history. Bitcoin mining mechanics was revolutionary for its time, but by today's standards, it is outdated and extremely energy-consuming. The Proof of Work algorithm consumes a significant amount of electricity and requires “meaningless hardware” while showing low KPI metrics. The new generation of cryptocurrencies, such as TON, have offered new mechanics and integrated a more advanced algorithm: Proof of Stake. This algorithm has significantly higher KPIs than PoW and allows investors with small budgets to earn passive income. However, staking has its disadvantages: it provides low returns while not increasing such an important indicator for blockchains as liquidity, and it does not contribute to the development and support of coins created based on this blockchain.
 
TON HYDRA offers an innovative mechanism called Proof of Liquidity (PoL). PoL eliminates the need for significant capital investment for staking, validation, or mining. Liquidity providers receive commissions on exchange transactions and are rewarded with new $HYDRA, making participation in the liquidity pool affordable and attractive to a wider audience. $HYDRA has 65+ liquidity pools with various prospective tokens on the TON platform, with a TVL of $3,000,000 already. TON Hydra encourages each holder of these coins to supply liquidity to any pool. Through this, $HYDRA receives collateral from 65+ third-party coins, each backed by the other 65+ coins, with Hydra serving as a bridge for them. DeDust also automatically reinvests swap fees into the liquidity pool, increasing the share of providers in a particular pool, further incentivizing participation, and increasing returns.
 
In this article, we won't go into exactly how the 65 pools incentivize $HYDRA growth, as this is difficult information for newbies to understand. To that end, we maintain a YouTube channel where we teach users the mechanics of DEX and Hydra. Our video tutorials help the TON audience to easily master the basic processes and effectively utilize the blockchain's capabilities.
 
However, it is worth noting the unique "routing" mechanism of the DeDust exchange, which allows strong tokens to support weak tokens through arbitrage performed by special trading bots. Only Hydra was able to effectively utilize this mechanism to its own benefit, as well as to the benefit of all our affiliated projects. In our team, we call them  “bees” that transfer “honey” (money) from one pool to another, helping to rebalance liquidity. By the way, you can also observe the honeycomb in our logo.
 
All of the above contributes to the fact that Hydra Coin takes the leading position in the number of transactions with tokens.
 
Thus, we created a self-sustaining token that allows users to earn from various cryptocurrency mechanics. Users can observe trading between pools and between DEX and CEX exchanges and capitalize on arbitrage opportunities. You can follow this activity through our affiliate channel: [@Hydra_Radar](https://t.me/Hydra_Radar).

**What kind of feedback have you received from the community about Hydra so far?**

Our project has a [special section on the forum](https://t.me/Ton_HYDRAcoin/28683/28684%20) where users can leave feedback. These reviews are not moderated, and everyone can express their opinion. We welcome constructive and reasoned criticism to help improve our project. We receive most of our feedback during live broadcasts, which we hold several times a week. These broadcasts provide an opportunity for open communication with the audience and prompt feedback.

**Community engagement is crucial for any project’s success. How are you fostering a sense of community among Hydra holders, and what strategies are you using to keep them engaged and excited?**

We hold 10-15 AMA sessions every month, lasting from 2 to 10 hours. These sessions occur on the [main channel](http://t.me/Ton_HYDRA_Community), on [our forum](https://t.me/+VzRDqV3w0e03Yzky), and in two closed chat rooms, one of which already has over 600 active participants, each of whom has paid to participate. During these sessions, each participant can ask questions and express criticism, receiving reasoned answers. We also discuss off-topic topics, which helps to strengthen the community. These events bring the community together significantly, and we are proud of the open and friendly atmosphere we have created with our audience. Many great people have joined our project, making the community even stronger.

**What are some of the key milestones you’ve achieved with Hydra so far?**

1. The cumulative TVL of our coin has exceeded $3,000,000.
2. Hydra Coin's capitalization has reached $160,000,000.
3. Listings have passed:
- [DeDust.io](https://dedust.io/swap/TON/HYDRA)
- [@xRocket](https://t.me/xrocket)
- [@OpenShieldBot](https://t.me/OpenShieldBot)
- [CoinGecko](https://www.coingecko.com), [Dyor.io](https://dyor.io/token/EQD4P32U10snNoIavoq6cYPTQR82ewAjO20epigrWRAup54_), [GeckoTerminal](https://www.geckoterminal.com/ton/pools/EQBF-YYoDy6ue0J4K-v5L_HYzwWCLpwXSLsTFmT7hr2uqHf5), and [OpenViewer](https://viewer.openproject.app/)
- [Tonex](https://tonex.app/nft/market)
- [EXTON](http://t.me/EXTON_SWAP_BOT)
- [TonBubbles](https://tonbubbles.com/)
- [Jetton.vote](https://jetton.vote/)
- At the time of writing, we are verified on [CoinMarketCap](https://coinmarketcap.com/dexscan/ru/ton/EQBF-YYoDy6ue0J4K-v5L_HYzwWCLpwXSLsTFmT7hr2uqHf5/)
4. [Took third place in Open League season 4](https://blog.ton.org/the-open-league-season-4-results-new-champions-emerge), receiving a prize of $100,000 for the development of our project.
5. Created [@TonHydraBot](https://t.me/TONHydraBot), which simplifies interaction with DEX for inexperienced users.
6. We gave away $20,000 worth of [retrodrops](https://t.me/Ton_HYDRA_Community/67).
7. Over $1,000,000 was mined in 6 months from liquidity pools.
8. [Recorded several tutorial videos on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Hydracoin), and spent more than 250 hours at open AMA conferences, answering all questions about the project and teaching newbies the nuances of our mechanics.

Hydra Coin currently supports about five tokens whose creators cheated and abandoned their audience. Hydra helps holders of these coins convert unprofitable tokens into liquid assets. The first service we partnered with was [@xJetSwapBot](https://t.me/xJetSwapBot). Unfortunately, this service was hacked, and 1,000 Hydra coins have not yet been returned, although, according to our records, the attackers have recovered the stolen funds. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

**You’ve mentioned plans to expand your use of NFT collections. Can you elaborate on how you intend to use NFTs? Which collections in particular do you have your eyes on?**

We are very saddened by the fact that many worthy NFT collections on TON have fallen victim to fraud due to the greed of their founders. These collections, with excellent visuals and a close-knit community, deserve to be supported.
 
We intend to give NFTs real utility. The first collection to be integrated into our ecosystem will be [TON DOODLES](https://getgems.io/collection/EQBdHpUa1u3IVs1b3xfjpSlXVD5lkNsfIcJMqtXu1IJ0rLHK). We plan to integrate other projects in the future for mutual benefit. As part of the initial phase, we will offer the ability to change the skin of the main character using NFT, as well as customize individual NFT attributes directly within the game. Our ambassadors' NFTs will be integrated as additional locations in the game and stylized to the ambassador's project.
 
[HYDRANTS NFTs](https://t.me/hydrant) released by us will provide players with additional bonuses. These NFTs will include a token mining mechanism on our smart contracts and will be integrated into our @farmizen game, providing additional value and functionality to our community members.

**What has been the most memorable moment within the Hydra community so far?**
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/tg_image_2347823986_1713896991/tg_image_2347823986_1713896991.jpeg) 
We have accomplished a lot in such a short period of time and we are proud of what we have achieved. There have certainly been events that have left their mark on our memory, but Hydra is, first and foremost, about the people who create it and the projects that integrate it. In this section, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped us overcome difficulties and supported and continues to support our aspirations to create a truly historic project not only within The Open Network but also in the crypto world in general.
 
First and foremost, we extend a special thanks to the DeDust.io exchange for giving us the opportunity to realize such a unique project as Hydra Coin.
 
We express our gratitude to all the teams on TON who support us.
Among them are SCALE, JVault, Raffles, Web3, Lucky, Microdiving, Dyor, Bolt and DHD Holders, Sharks Club, IVS, ScamScore, Potato, Grabs, CAVI, Fish, Kingy and DAO LLama. These teams and members have been with us since the inception of Hydra.
 
Seeing all the support from these teams and their commitment to our project, we realize that we have achieved our goals. Our name and logo symbolize the mythical Hydra, where ruby-shaped heads represent liquidity pools, each representing Hydra's invulnerability and cohesion with partner tokens. With this concept, we will be able to jointly overcome any challenges that are bound to arise on the TON blockchain.
 
We are confident that only by working together can we achieve great heights and overcome all obstacles in our way. Therefore, we feel it is our duty to mention all the teams and people who have made TON Hydra what it is, for they deserve it.

**How about the team behind Hydra? Are you guys doxxed?**

Our CEO, Sonya, is engaged in the most important tasks of strategic development of the project and is responsible for its successful implementation. Under his leadership, the project is steadily developing and reaching new heights. He actively interacts with partners and investors, representing the interests of the project. Ton Foundation has all the detailed information about him.
 
The second member of the team: Ihor.ton (whose text you have been reading for the last ten minutes and who apologizes for his lack of brevity) deals with various tasks related to coordination of the development and design team, provision and validation of their work; writing texts and programs; collaboration issues; development of identity; video/text instructions; and site/channel/chat moderation.
 
Also worth mentioning is our development team from [Taiga.Labs](http://taiga-labs.pro/) - Bauman graduates with excellent discipline and experience in working with startups, which is crucial for effective development in Web3. In particular, thanks to Mikhail for his high professionalism.
 
We are grateful to Kirill for his contribution to the project's development. He successfully negotiates with various projects, popularizes Hydra in the information space, promotes the project on personal media resources, and provides support in project management.
 
We want to emphasize the professionalism and contribution of our illustrator, Artemy, who easily understands all our ideas and provides high-quality and creative work. Thanks to designer Maxyao, who created the illustrations for this article. Special thanks to Andrei from [Microdiving](https://t.me/microdiving) for the high-quality merch with our project's identity!
 
We express our gratitude to our volunteers: Marina, Helena, Victor, Roman, Vladislav, Signor Tomato, Andrey, Rulet, Alexander, Mark Avreliy, Groot, Nikolay, Pill, Michael, Serge Che, Desoto, as well as to AlphaTon community, and many other holders and participants of our project, all of them are the standard of a cohesive community, the analog of which is hard to find on TON!
 
In conclusion, we would like to thank TON Foundation for the opportunity to publish this article. Your support is a key factor in developing our ideas and the TON blockchain ecosystem!

**Have there been any major challenges or setbacks that Hydra has faced? How did the team address these issues, and what lessons did you learn?**

We face difficulties and challenges daily, but that doesn't mean we will back down. Various methods were used against us: threats, blackmail, reports on our channels, and on the founder's account. Every possible “stick in the wheel” has been used against us. But fortunately, our rocket has no wheels, so we continue to move forward calmly and confidently. ;)

**Looking ahead, is there anything else we haven’t already mentioned that the community can expect from Hydra in the near future?**
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/photo_2024_07_22_02_40_11_d993e82b1d/photo_2024_07_22_02_40_11_d993e82b1d.jpeg) 
As we mentioned earlier, we are making a game called [Farmizen](https://t.me/farmizen). While we can't give a lot of details yet, we can share some details. This game will directly interact with DEX mechanics, specifically liquidity provision and swaps. By its design, you can guess the setting and understand how the farmer game will be connected to Hydra Coin mechanics. This implementation will attract a large paying audience that we plan to actively engage with by integrating them into the blockchain and educating them on the possibilities of cryptocurrency through gamification so that their experience will seamlessly transfer to the actual mechanics of working with cryptocurrency.
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/blog_tf_farmizen_fe05360f27/blog_tf_farmizen_fe05360f27.png) 
As for the logo, you can see in [@Farmizen](https://t.me/farmizen) that it is simply an inverted Hydra logo. However, there is a lot more meaning behind it. In addition to the core Hydra concept, the logo features elements of various shapes and sizes to symbolize the islands in our game.

The game's setting includes a system of flying islands on which the player grows various plants. It's not hard to guess that these islands represent Hydra's partner projects.
 
TON Hydra's mission is to provide a service with easy integration for the audience and passive income opportunities. Most people do not yet realize the full promise of the TON blockchain. We believe that many promising services will soon emerge on this blockchain, and we will contribute to this by developing and applying them. Smart contracts on the TON blockchain have greater functionality and flexibility than other blockchains, which allows us to more effectively integrate various DeFi mechanics into the game setting.

We believe that the main breakthrough of the TON blockchain will be in the area of interactive and gaming applications, and Hydra aims to succeed in this area.

**Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring memecoin creators looking to make it big in the TON Ecosystem?**

Don't create projects for the sake of money.


-----------





TON Culture Kings: Hydra

Welcome to TON Innovators, our blog series celebrating the cutting-edge projects and brilliant minds within the TON Ecosystem. Today, we feature [Nomis Protocol](https://nomis.cc/), a leading on-chain reputation system that uses Soulbound Tokens ([SBTs](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/TEPs/blob/master/text/0085-sbt-standard.md)) stored in users’ wallets. Nomis Protocol launched on TON on July 4, aiming to revolutionize how user activity is assessed and rewarded.

Nomis Protocol has already seen widespread adoption across major ecosystems like Blast, Scroll,  Linea, LayerZero, zkSync, and Polygon zkEVM. Its scoring solution effectively filters out Sybils, ensuring fair distribution of rewards and safeguarding these ecosystems.

As more users adopt this on-chain reputation system, the TON and Telegram communities will benefit from a stronger, more connected network. With its launch on TON, Nomis Protocol has the potential to redefine digital interaction in the Web3 space, fostering a more trusted and user-centric industry.

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not investment advice.*

---

**Nomis! Welcome to TON! Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your project and how the idea of an on-chain reputation system came about?**

Hey! Thanks for having us! We are extremely proud to become a part of TON Ecosystem and safeguard it with our unique solution. Let’s start from the beginning. 

Before this project, the team collected data from open internet sources and built mathematical models using neural networks. At some point, we questioned the availability and openness of large amounts of information. This led us to analyze blockchain data due to its transparency. 

The first version of our product was designed for DeFi projects to revolutionize loan issuance with excess collateral. We proposed adjusting the collateral amount based on the borrower's score, similar to the real-world process. As the project evolved, we developed a Web3 reputation system that can be applied to a broader range of projects, allowing providers to offer personalized conditions based on the scoring.

**How does the Nomis scoring model work, and what parameters are considered when assigning a score from 0 to 100?**

The Nomis Scoring Algorithm leverages 50+ onchain data points around a wallet and AI-powered mathematical modeling technologies, and sits on an infrastructure connected to 45+ top TVL blockchains and more than 30 data sources, including block explorers, Chainanlysis, HAPI, Greysafe, Snapshot, etc. 

It collects such wallet activity data as:
- Number of deployed smart-contracts
- Wallet balance
- The movement of funds on the wallet
- Total сonfirmed and rejected transactions on wallet 
- Time since the last transaction
- Value of all holding tokens

**What challenges did you face while developing Nomis Protocol, and how did you overcome them?**

Firstly, since no one had comprehensively addressed this issue before us, we essentially created a reputation layer for Web3 from scratch, considering all the features and challenges of such a large-scale task.

We encountered numerous problems, but we successfully resolved them. These included scaling the solution across various blockchains (Multichain Score, Crosschain DeFi Score, LayerZero Score, and others) and efficiently collecting wallet information from multiple sources quickly and comprehensively for scoring.

We also faced non-technical challenges, such as explaining to users (drophunters, degens, or normies) the importance of monitoring their Web3 reputation and its potential impact on them.

A significant amount of organizational, technical, and strategic work has been done to bring Nomis Protocol to its current state.

**How will the integration of Nomis Protocol with TON Blockchain enhance the overall ecosystem?**

We believe that onchain reputation can unite all power users and builders in one place — Web3. Increased onchain actions result in higher ecosystem volume and TVL. The more users contribute, the more they should be rewarded. This cycle determines the success of every project and product.

It's simple: to get a higher TON Score, users need to stay active on chain. This includes collecting unique activity days, making transactions, depositing, withdrawing, and using as many products as possible to sustain TON activity. As a result, TON Ecosystem grows. To reward this activity, we offer TON holders various options to leverage their Score and receive proper rewards. We gather all TON power projects and their offers on our ScoreFront. Just pick an offer and claim your rewards. Rewards are given simply for being a TON Score holder and supporting the ecosystem!

**Can you explain the significance of Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) in Nomis Protocol and how they contribute to user reputation?**

Soulbound Tokens are unique, non-transferable assets tied to individuals. Unlike traditional tokens, SBTs are permanently linked to their owner and cannot be transferred. They are used in personalized rewards and loyalty programs to signify achievements and unlock privileges.

SBTs are also essential for reputation systems, building trust and credibility through users' historical transactions. Nomis Scores are SBTs and Nomis uses it exactly for this purpose.

Minting your Nomis Score means getting the NFT of your onchain activity in your wallet. Each onchain action alters your Score, necessitating updates and re-minting, creating a new Score and NFT.

Nomis Score highlights blockchain's potential beyond finance, offering recognition and rewards to users while serving as a tool for project engagement and management. By aligning user activities with ecosystem rewards, Nomis Score sets a new standard for valuing contributions in the digital age.

**Can you explain how Nomis Protocol protects users and enhances security?**

The Nomis scoring model uses advanced machine learning methods to evaluate various parameters and determine a user's score. This score reflects the user's reputation within the ecosystem and indicates their relative usefulness. 

We do not store any sensitive or personal user data. Additionally, the data we use for scoring is publicly available and visible to everyone. We simply know how to analyze and use it competently.

**Can you share some success stories or case studies where Nomis Protocol has made a significant impact in other ecosystems?**

Nomis is one of the attesters for Linea, providing users with Proof of Humanity. During the Linea Park Campaign, the total value of minted Linea Scores reached $1 million, propelling the Nomis smart contract to the top spot on Linea. Overall, Nomis issued 251,000 attestations through Linea Park.

Additionally, Nomis was an attester for BAS Attestation and ran a solo campaign on Bast to increase its number of unique power users.
Nomis also helped QuickSwap to distribute the $MANTA airdrop among Galxe participants in the QuickSwap campaign using Multichain Score powered by Nomis. 

The team provided a solution with its data analytics and wallet scoring system to reward power users, with additional rewards for those with high onchain activity, effectively deterring Sybils and bots. Thus, Multichain Score holders received extra 10% of $MANTA. 

**How does Nomis Protocol plan to engage and educate the TON and Telegram communities about the benefits of on-chain reputation systems?**

Nomis is a protocol, meaning it can be utilized for various scenarios in permissionless yet trustless ways by anyone or any project. While it has been primarily used for Sybil prevention, our broader vision is to ensure fair rewards distribution for contributors, early adopters, and active participants. In line with this, we developed ScoreFront — our own product built on the top of the protocol. This platform allows Nomis Score holders to convert their onchain reputation and crypto traction into eligibility for a wide range of rewards: airdrops, whitelists, points multipliers, discounts, unique access, rates, powers, and many more. Essentially, the higher your Score, the better your chances of receiving personalized and beneficial experiences, acknowledging you as a real power user. 

Our primary goal in deploying on TON was to deliver meaningful and personalized experiences for TON Score holders from the very beginning. The launch of the protocol wouldn’t have been as impactful for ordinary users without the adoption by the ecosystem projects. These integrations provide rewarding experiences by ScoreFront offerings, and also enhance security and efficiency for end users of other dApps. Here are notable projects utilizing our solution: StormTrade, Aqua Protocol, STON.fi, Nimbus, DeDust, Tonkeeper, Addickted, DeGuard, Wonnie, XYRO, DAOPEOPLE, Pumpers, Campfire, with many more to come in the following months!

In summary, Nomis Protocol, through ScoreFront, engages and educates the TON and Telegram communities by highlighting the benefits of onchain reputation systems and offering valuable experiences and rewards for active Web3 participants.

**What future developments or features can we expect from Nomis Protocol after its launch on TON?**

First, we aim to expand the impact of TON Score on the TON Ecosystem, enabling most protocols to use it to protect their users and distribute value more equitably. To achieve this, we are actively pursuing various partnerships.

Additionally, beyond the Nomis’ TON Score, projects will establish an ecosystem where user reputation is paramount. We provide the necessary infrastructure, handling the most challenging aspects of user scoring.

Regarding our future developments, we have prepared our own quest platform. On this platform, we plan to launch a global ecosystem quest for TON. This quest will attract projects from the ecosystem interested in high-quality, engaged users, as well as users from other ecosystems with whom we have successfully interacted for some time. These users will be encouraged to explore TON and its ecosystem projects.

We also created Web3Social Score for Cyber that scores activity on Base, Ethereum, Blast, and even Farcaster. Similar to this Score, we plan to create a Social Score that reflects the social activity of users, influencers, and channel owners. Drawing from our relevant experience, we aim to offer all parties the opportunity to monetize their Social Score through various mechanisms, including gamification.

This initiative, we believe, will attract more attention to TON and drive mass adoption.

**What advice would you give to other developers looking to build on TON, especially those interested in creating socially-oriented solutions like Nomis?**

Start developing now while the TON ecosystem is still growing. This is the perfect time to build on TON. Integrate Nomis Score into your applications to reward your most active users, and they will bring you even more benefits. Contact us; we are always open to collaborations and partnerships!

TON Innovators: Nomis

Welcome to another thrilling edition of TON Culture Kings, where we dive into the wild world of memecoins and community projects on TON Blockchain. Today, we’re pumped to spotlight $ARBUZ, another well-known token that’s making waves in the TON Ecosystem by offering a fresh and fun way for users to earn juicy rewards.

In this interview, we’ll peel back the rind on $ARBUZ, exploring its origins and what’s next for the project. So grab a slice, sit back, and let's get into the sweet, sweet world of $ARBUZ! 🍉

**IMPORTANT:** *This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not investment advice.*

## **TON Culture Kings: ARBUZ**

**Guys, welcome to TON Culture Kings. Alright, spill the seeds—how did $ARBUZ get started?**

The name ARBUZ (watermelon) came from my past experience. In Russia, there is a law prohibiting the sale of watermelons cut in half. At one time, as a student, I wrote about it on the internet, and one of my subscribers called me the "watermelon chief" after drawing attention to the article. This inspired me to organize a watermelon festival and then create the token $ARBUZ.

**How does $ARBUZ stand out among other memecoins on TON Blockchain? Any secret ingredients?**

ARBUZ stands out because of his total commitment to the community, we gave away all the coins to people. First, it started its bidding exclusively on [xRocket](https://t.me/xrocket?start=i_none), with no DEX involvement. Secondly, the entire issue was given to the user and they determined the price themselves. This meant that there were no rules or restrictions. In order to get tokens, I had to purchase them together with other participants.

**So, what’s the deal with Arbuz Fest? Give us the lowdown on the main activities and rewards.**

The essence of the Arbuz Festival was the following: participants who received $ARBUZ were faced with the question of what to do with it. The festival became a learning platform, allowing them to understand how wallets and liquidity pools work on TON. Guests from the Web2 world quickly became familiarized and delved deeper into the process.

It was a sort of introduction of people to cryptocurrencies, as the check that drew them into the channel was like a pass to a new area. Just like what's happening with Notcoin nowadays, people were coming in and exploring the TON Ecosystem.

**What are some of the fan-favorite Arbuz Fest tasks, and how do they work?**

The easiest task was to send 1 TON to the wallet every day to earn 10 festival watermelons. Within a few months, this simple activity became a routine, and people started every morning by getting watermelons.

Later came ARBUZ Clicker, which gained popularity among people, and many began to perform tasks that appeared in it. The community realized that they wanted to have their own watermelon app, and they just made it.

**The $ARBUZ community seems super active and engaged. What’s your secret sauce for keeping everyone so pumped?**

Fun and joy is something that unites us all. Our project started as an experiment, conceived to see what would happen if we distributed watermelons to everyone and then started to lift people's mood. Today, we have over 10 admins in our Telegram channel who are creating memes and content. We have a team doing content for TikTok and Twitter. All of these people just enjoy the process. That's our secret sauce.

**How do you handle the highs and lows of the memecoin market? Any tips for your community on staying positive and engaged?**

Memecoins are what it takes to pump and dump. This is an integral part of it. The main purpose of a memecoin is to entertain the audience. If a memecoin has an original idea, it promotes deep engagement and creates an atmosphere of fun.

**For someone who’s skeptical about memecoins, what would you say to convince them to give $ARBUZ a try?**

Memecoins are such an unpredictable thing that when it seems like it's a total scam and nothing good is to be expected, then that's when it's time to look into them.

**What’s been the funniest or most unexpected moment in the $ARBUZ journey so far? Any memorable community moments you’d like to share?**

The ARBUZ project is pure fun. We create dozens of memes every day about $ARBUZ, the drop, clicker, and Vudi (author of the [investkingyru](https://t.me/investkingyru) channel in Telegram). What's especially fun is that there are many channels where people create their own content, contributing to the popularization of ARBUZ as a project.

**Looking into the future, what exciting updates or features can the $ARBUZ community look forward to? Any sneak peeks?**

Summer is known to be the time of watermelons. Now, they are appearing on the shelves of stores in the cities, opening up opportunities for offline fun. You can shoot TikToks, create videos, and just have a good time. Plus, we have a big drop coming up on August 2: 500,000 $ARBUZ will be distributed to participants of the ARBUZ Fest, which almost ten thousand people are looking forward to attending.

We're also actively entering Ethereum and Solana, developing clickers and bridges for them to bring in new audiences. This is just the beginning.

$ARBUZ also won the third season of The Open League, which saw record awards for liquidity providers in the league's entire existence. This is an achievement without precedent.

**For the newbies wanting to dive into the $ARBUZ world and Arbuz Fest, what’s your top advice for getting started?**

First of all, it's important to find out if people share our sense of humor. If the answer is yes, then welcome! After that, you can purchase a token, create your channel and share your memes. We will pay attention to you and invite you to become part of this large, friendly and fun community. We are open to everyone!


TON Culture Kings: ARBUZ

Welcome to another exciting episode of TON Innovators, where we celebrate the trailblazers and visionaries within the TON Ecosystem. Today, we’re *tapping* into the world of Yescoin, a viral swipe game that recently came 2nd in [The Open League](https://blog.ton.org/the-open-league-season-3-results) and is becoming one of the fastest-growing Telegram apps. Yescoin is another example of a fun and engaging way to interact with blockchain technology while potentially earning rewards.

Today, we sit down with the team behind the real Yescoin to get the inside scoop on what makes their project stand out, how they are navigating the challenges, and what exciting developments lie ahead. Let’s dive into the conversation!

-------

**Yescoin! Welcome to TON Innovators! Can you start by giving us a brief overview of your project and what inspired you to pioneer a swipe game on Telegram?**

Yescoin is a casual Web3 game on Telegram, where players can collect gold coins by swiping their fingers. It allows users to onboard onto Web3 in a fun and seamless way, which significantly lowers the barrier to entry, thus becoming a bridge between Web2 and Web3.

All of our team members are avid Telegram users, and we've been thinking about the creation of an app for crypto mass adoption on this platform ever since Telegram's launch of Mini Apps in 2023.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Frame_4000233_9a37f3fef1/Frame_4000233_9a37f3fef1.png) 

Our choice of swiping as the core interaction for our product had two inspirations. Steve Jobs first created the idea of unlocking your phone by swiping in 2007, which made us realize that swiping is the most natural way for users to interact with mobile devices. Also, the classic game Fruit Ninja achieved billions of downloads using simple but addictive swiping gameplay, eventually becoming a global phenomenon.

In just over a month, our fun and easy gameplay has attracted over 18 million players and facilitated over 6 million users to connect their crypto wallets. Everything has happened sp fast. Sometimes even we ourselves can't believe we really did it! But one thing is for sure: We all need to be *swiping* our way to Web3.

**You guys came 2nd in The Open League – that’s a big achievement. How did you achieve such rapid success?**

Firstly, we'd like to thank TON Foundation. Actually, when we submitted our application, The Open League was set to officially start the very next day. However, we were still unsure about a lot of the details, and even debated whether we should wait to participate in the next round. But we decided to give it a shot and reached out to The Open League staff for help. To our great relief, they patiently explained the rules and provided us with extensive guidance, which made us feel truly welcome.

At that time, we were faced with a major challenge of helping millions of users to create and connect their wallets, which made us quite nervous yet also very excited. With user experience as our first priority, our team worked 24/7, tirelessly iterating and improving. To ensure our users' asset security and their smooth experience, we tested four beta versions before official launch. Although we only participated for one week with a middling ranking, our true satisfaction comes from helping millions of users seamlessly create and connect their wallets. In the first hour, as we watched 220,000 users connect their wallets and complete online interactions, the entire team was thrilled. At that moment, we saw the potential for mass adoption to become real. All this should largely be owed to Telegram's immense user base and strong support for developers.

Lowering user barriers and enhancing user experience is our shared mission. We hope more talented developers will join The Open League in the future, enriching the TON Ecosystem together.

**Can you explain how the game mechanics work? How do players earn Yescoins, and what kind of tasks can they complete, and have you got any special strategies or tips for new players?**

The basic gameplay of Yescoin is very straightforward - simply by swiping your fingers on your cellphone screen, you can collect gold Yescoin coins. During the game, you can earn more gold coins by opening treasure chests and purchasing various items, such as the YesPac robot. You can also do so by completing various tasks, including daily tasks, upgraded tasks, and event tasks.

For example, we recently launched a Daily Crypto Learning Task where users can learn about blockchain everyday and complete a check-in to open a YesBox, earning both on-chain and off-chain rewards. Other daily tasks include inviting friends to join, forming squads, following Yescoin on social media, and so on. Moreover, completing each upgraded task will earn players extra gold coin rewards, including connecting wallets and upgrading your accounts.

Of course, our occasional event tasks are great opportunities to win surprise rewards. So make sure you don't miss out on our special events, holiday activities, creative challenges, and more.

  ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Frame_4000236_24dcded500/Frame_4000236_24dcded500.png) 

For new players, we recommend completing daily tasks and inviting more friends to join. This will help them quickly accumulate their first Yescoins while getting familiar with the game mechanics. We also strongly encourage new players to participate in our special event tasks, such as limited-time missions and content competitions. These community events allow players to showcase their talents, win special rewards, and also quickly immerse themselves into the community and connect with Yescoiners from around the world.

**Tell us about your community. Have there been any particularly fun, memorable or meme-able moments among Yescoiners?**

Since the very first day of our launch, Yescoin has been experiencing explosive growth. Even with our years of development experience, we were amazed by Telegram's viral mechanics.

The team has been busy managing the pressure of a massive influx of users on our servers, without much time spent on brand promotion or business development. We decided to prioritize our community above all else, and every team member has dedicated time to listening to first-hand community feedback, iterating products, and optimizing user experience. In the meantime, our founder has always reminded us to listen to the unheard voices. Every week, we engage in in-depth one-on-one conversations with dozens of Yescoiners, to discover their genuine needs.

Perhaps it was because of our prompt responses and sincere communications with our community that more and more Yescoiners voluntarily started to promote Yescoin on social media, which eventually inspired us to launch the community content contest.

We are also actively discussing the long-term cultural development of the Yescoin community. Our inbox has received thousands of creative suggestions and personal stories involving Yescoin.

We received a rap song about Yescoin from a 16-year-old French boy and an oil painting dedicated to Yescoin from a Turkish artist. One Yescoiner shared a story about having a competition with a local team about who could invite more Yescoin players, while another talked about how they celebrated a birthday with a group of Yescoiners they had never met before. We even heard from a Yescoiner who taught her 85-year-old grandfather to swipe for coins.

There are countless creative ideas and stories, which we plan to compile into a collection to share with the community in the future, showing how Yescoin has helped create real human stories and how these narratives have in turn become part of the Yescoin story itself.

Optimism is a recurring theme mentioned by many Yescoiners. It appears all the time in the content and stories we receive, inspiring us to keep pushing forward. We hope more Yescoiners will use their creativity and stories to spread this optimistic spirit to more people.

Last but not least, we want to proudly talk about the Yescoiner community. In just over a month, over 18 million people from more than 200 countries and regions, despite their differences in languages, cultures, or identities, have come together because of Yescoin. This is incredible power, and also the most valuable asset of Yescoin.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Frame_4000238_891a95fbc5/Frame_4000238_891a95fbc5.png) 

In June, we'll officially launch the Global Yescoin Ambassador Program to invite more Yescoiners to co-build our community, creating an even greater story.

**With the success of Telegram Mini Apps, more and more scams are popping. It seems there are multiple ‘Yescoin’ projects too. Can you tell us what measures have you taken to protect your community?**

When we first started, our user base was growing very fast. However, soon after, multiple 'Yescoin' imitators appeared in the market. Initially, we didn't pay much attention, but as time went on, we encountered some truly challenging moments— our trademark and even our logo were maliciously registered by others, our backend servers were constantly under DOS attacks, and misleading rumors, phishing attempts, and fake Yescoin token announcements were muddying the waters.

Despite these challenges, we always prioritized our users and their asset security. We spent a considerable amount of time repairing servers to ensure everything is on track. We promptly clarified every suspicious piece of information on our Telegram channel and official Twitter.

We are immensely grateful for the trust and support from every Yescoiner, who stood by us during the hardest times. Please follow our official Twitter and Telegram. Asset-related announcements should be considered valid only if they were official communications.

We also discovered the presence of malicious bot farms in our app. Thanks to our unique swipe-based interaction and the relentless efforts of our technical team, we have largely prevented such malicious activities. But of course this is still an ongoing battle.

Defending the fairness of everyone in our community is our most important duty. We firmly believe that only by enhancing product experience, maintaining fairness, and valuing our community can we become the true Yescoin in the hearts of our users.

The name Yescoin originated from our team's idea in 2023 of a product that can bring large-scale users into Web3. We wanted a name that the world could immediately remember, and so we had three options: Seedcoin, Onecoin, and Yescoin. For various reasons, this product didn't enter the market back then. However, thanks to the emergence of Telegram bots, we decided to bring this idea to life and eventually named it Yescoin (we didn't overthink it back then).

We must admit there was an element of luck involved, as the novelty and huge success of Notcoin brought us quite a lot of extra attention. We extend our highest respect to the pioneer and its zero to one innovation. Standing on the shoulders of giants, we see a broader landscape full of possibilities. We can't help but think of the Dao in Eastern Philosophy, where mutual support leads to mutual success. We felt inspired to quicken our paces, hoping that one day YES and NOT will complement each other like 'Tai Chi' and become integral parts of the Telegram and TON Ecosystem.

**What role does TON Blockchain and Telegram play in Yescoin? How does it enhance the game and user experience?**

Telegram Mini Apps can be used without having to install anything, and Wallet and TON Space provide a seamless connection experience. These features are the crucial backbone of Yescoin's viral growth and the future large-scale onboarding from Web2 to Web3.

In the meantime, numerous Telegram communities and channels have become the main venues for users to share and interact with each other. Telegram's diverse user base, global distribution, high user engagement, and long online duration have greatly facilitated the promotion of our product.

Telegram is the core platform for Yescoin's growth. Thanks to the great performance of TON Blockchain, we are confident in our ability to onboard hundreds of millions of users into Web3.

**Can you share any upcoming features or events that Yescoin players can look forward to in the near future?**

During this month's rapid growth, our entire team has been working around the clock to create a cool and enhanced user onboarding system called the Three-Stage Rocket Plan, for rich on-chain and off-chain rewards and infrastructure preparation for the upcoming airdrops. It will be launched soon. 

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Frame_4000284_34d143d0f0/Frame_4000284_34d143d0f0.png) 

Also, we are planning a series of Summer Carnival-themed events with super surprises.

Additionally, we are currently brainstorming for the second half of the year. In the future, a boat named Yescoin will sail to ports in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas to meet with more Yescoiners and host events, promoting our ultimate onboarding mission. The plan is still being developed, and we welcome interested partners or sponsors to contact us.

Still, it's just the beginning. Please don't hesitate to join Yescoin. We have some exciting partnerships and major announcements coming soon - but allow us to keep them under wraps for now. More details will be announced on our official Twitter and Telegram channel!

**You have 30 seconds to convince someone in an elevator to play Yescoin – what do you say?**

Do you want to earn coins by simply swiping your fingers? Join Yescoin now!

Do you want to receive the luckiest prizes this summer? Join Yescoin now!

Do you want to play the hottest Web3 game with friends from around the world? Join Yescoin now!

Do you want to co-build the future most inspiring community in crypto history? Join Yescoin now!

TON Innovators: Yescoin

Welcome back to TON Innovators, our series celebrating the innovative minds and groundbreaking projects within the TON Ecosystem. Today, we’re talking to [Storm Trade](https://wallet.tg/), a trading and exchange platform seamlessly integrated with Telegram, [Wallet](https://wallet.tg/), and built on TON Blockchain. Storm Trade is setting new standards by aiming for DeFi mass adoption, exemplifying the synergy between advanced blockchain technology and accessible social platforms.

Now, let’s dive into the story of Storm Trade, its development journey, and the exciting future that lies ahead. We’ll explore the innovative features, community engagement strategies, and the challenges faced along the way

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of TON Foundation. This is not investment advice.*

----
**Storm Trade, welcome to TON Innovators! Can you start by sharing the early days of Storm Trade? What inspired you to create a DEX on Telegram within the TON Ecosystem?**

Hi! Sure, I'd be happy to explain how Storm Trade came to be. Our goal was to simplify DeFi and make it accessible to everyone. In the winter of 2023, we took part in a hackathon and won second place, just behind DeDust. That’s when we first discovered the TON Ecosystem and saw its huge potential. We used our winnings to develop our project further, and we realized we were on the right track.

**How has integrating with Telegram impacted the user and community experience on Storm Trade? What unique perks does this offer compared to traditional trading platforms?**

Telegram is a huge and active platform, with a rapidly growing user base. In some countries, it's the top choice for both personal and professional communication. By integrating with Telegram, our exchange becomes easily accessible and user-friendly. There's no need for KYC or other checks. Just open Telegram, create and connect a wallet, and start trading—all in a few clicks. We aim to make trading as easy as chatting with friends, and our users love us for it.

**Can you share a story of a particularly memorable episode that happened on Storm Trade?**

Building an exchange is complex, so there are always interesting stories to share. For example, when we added our quest to Notcoin, our traffic became so high that it stopped our bot for a few minutes. We've improved our infrastructure since then, but that moment was unforgettable. It showed us that mass adoption is close for the TON Ecosystem, and we need to be ready.

**Security and privacy are critical in DeFi. How does Storm Trade keep users' assets and transactions secure and private?**

Running an exchange is serious business, so user safety is our top priority. We’ve implemented several key measures to manage high-leverage trading risks and ensure security and privacy.

First, we conduct thorough audits of our smart contracts to find and fix any vulnerabilities. This adds a layer of protection for our users' funds.

Second, we let users trade with self-custodial wallets, so they retain full control over their assets. This removes the need for KYC procedures, enhancing privacy by keeping personal information off our platform.

Third, our platform has a strong economic risk management model for liquidity providers. This includes multiple risk parameters to ensure stability and security, protecting providers from excessive risk.

We also use a decentralized liquidation engine to handle position liquidations transparently and fairly, protecting both traders and liquidity providers.

Importantly, users only risk the funds they’ve allocated as margin for a position. Even in significant market movements, exposure is limited to the specific funds committed to trades.

**Your website says you can “trade everything!” What unique things can users trade on Storm Trade, and what motivated you to offer such a wide range of options?**

At Storm Trade, our "Trade Everything" commitment goes beyond cryptocurrencies to include a variety of assets, including real-world assets, all on one platform. We recently added around 20 major cryptocurrency tokens, giving users a wide range of trading options. For example, our new Notcoin futures have quickly become popular.

But our vision is broader. We're working on adding assets beyond cryptocurrencies. Imagine trading Forex and commodities directly from Telegram—like oil futures or shorting gold at historic highs. At Storm Trade, we aim to make trading diverse assets easy and exciting, empowering users to trade seamlessly.

**Tell us about your team, who are you guys? What’s a day in the life of the Storm Trade team like? Any unique team traditions or rituals?**

Our team isn't very big. It includes 14 professionals from all corners of the world: from smart contract developers to customer support. These are people who have gone through difficult times and grown during their time at Storm. Our typical day starts with planning, but the best part is when we meet in person. Talking together, we see the power of what we’re building. This drives us to reach new heights and never settle.

We also have a meme thread in our work hub. We share memes from our community and laugh as a team. Sometimes, laughing at ourselves is the best way to keep going.

**Let’s talk about your backers and partnerships. How have these helped your development and growth?**

Yes, partnerships are crucial to our growth at Storm Trade. We work with ecosystem projects, investment funds, and media resources. We regularly host partner tournaments with great rewards, encouraging users to trade, climb the leaderboard, and compete for prizes.

We also work with top investment funds that support our platform with valuable resources.

We’re also excited to announce that we’ve teamed up with Pyth Network and Stork for low-latency price feeds. These partnerships enhance our platform’s capabilities and provide users with reliable market data.

We’re grateful for our partners' ongoing support and look forward to strengthening these relationships in the future.

**Can you give us some insight into your user numbers? How successful has the project been so far? What key factors have driven this growth, and how do you plan to keep it going?**

Great question. Our user base is quite large, with over 900,000 wallets connected to our Mini App. But we still have an exciting user onboarding process ahead.

Our platform supports community-building features like team tournaments, where traders can collaborate and compete, enhancing the social aspect of trading. We also distribute NFTs as rewards for participating in trading activities, adding a gamified layer that makes the experience more engaging and rewarding. This blend of social interaction and financial activity within a single app makes trading more accessible and fosters a vibrant, interactive community.

**Looking ahead, what major developments and new features can we expect from Storm Trade? How do these fit into your long-term vision for the platform?**

We have a lot of exciting things in store.

We're moving into SocialFi, adding interactive viral mechanics. Think of clickers but more engaging.

We're also developing 1-click trading, copy-trading, prediction markets, and new trading pairs. Our motto is “trade anything,” and we're committed to proving it.

Additionally, we're working on a secret ambassador program.

All these efforts aim to make Storm a powerful, balanced product—an entire ecosystem.

**Finally, what advice would you give to other developers and innovators looking to build on TON Blockchain? What unique opportunities does TON offer, and how can new projects make the most of them?**

For developers entering the DeFi space, my advice is to immerse yourself in the ecosystem and stay current with the latest developments. Participate in hackathons and study open-source code for valuable insights and experience.

However, it’s important to remember that success in DeFi requires more than technical skills. Build user-friendly interfaces and ensure strong security measures to gain trust.

Also, don’t forget to focus on product development, marketing, and community engagement. Listen to your users, respond to feedback, and build a strong community around your platform.

Prioritize both the technical and community aspects of your project—this is the key to long-term success.

TON Innovators: Storm Trade

Welcome to another edition of “TON Innovators,” where we discuss the trailblazers and game changers in TON Ecosystem. Today, we’re excited to feature [Connecton VPN](https://connecton.surf/), a leader in online privacy and security with a very special history. As the first VPN service powered by TON Blockchain, the [Connecton VPN Mini App](https://t.me/ConnecTONbot/app) represents a significant leap forward in how we think about secure, private internet access.

Connecton VPN is one of our favorite TON Ecosystem products, showcasing seamless integration of blockchain into everyday digital activities. It is a standout case study for the power of TON technology. The product embodies the TON and Telegram principles of privacy, security, and ease of use, offering a practical blockchain and crypto application. This is the epitome of ‘Web3 under the hood’, making blockchain *actually useful*.

Now, let’s explore the very unique team behind Connecton VPN, their challenges, triumphs, and the exciting future ahead for their product.

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of TON Foundation. This is not investment advice.*

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/connecton_d5b4c3e92a/connecton_d5b4c3e92a.jpg) 

**Connecton! Welcome to TON Innovators! To start with, please tell us your story. What inspired the creation of Connecton VPN, and why did you choose to build it on the TON Blockchain?**

This project started from a personal need. I was in Cuba back then, during the protests of July 2021, when the government blocked many internet sites, and lowered the bandwidth to prevent people from livestreaming those events. Being a fan of Telegram and the ideas of freedom and privacy, I bought a server using cryptocurrency, made a simple integration with Wireguard (a VPN protocol), created a Telegram bot, and onboarded thousands of users for free, just to help people connect to the internet and bypass censorship.

A few months later, realizing the cost of maintaining the service, I introduced a pricing model. Many users subscribed, and I attracted new customers. This made a good amount of money, allowing me to scale by adding more servers and taking the project more seriously. It went viral, and some media outlets covered this VPN service, known by a different name at the time.

Faced with the limitations of fiat payments, I began exploring cryptocurrency payments. By September 2021, TON was gaining popularity, but few in Cuba were discussing it publicly. As a tech influencer, I promoted TON on my Telegram and YouTube channels, and on my podcast. Back then, the payment infrastructure was underdeveloped, and Wallet lacked a payments API. To address this, I created a payments gateway called TelePay. Unfortunately, due to limited merchant adoption and fierce competition from CryptoBot, xRocket, and Wallet, TelePay had to shut down a year later. However, the engine codebase is still available if anyone is interested (*wink wink*).

The turning point for the product came when influential investors connected to TON contacted me about acquiring the project, then known as Lugo Network. The best option was to sell, and they offered me the role of CTO, the opportunity to hire a team, and make this the leading VPN on TON. I accepted, moved to Serbia, and started anew.

After two years, with 80k+ users, 4 VPN protocols, 17 locations, and a growing team, we are ready to take the next steps toward decentralization and a new approach. Recently, our board of directors underwent significant changes; my partners left, and I took ownership. This required new decisions and a long-term growth strategy. The team has been incredibly supportive during this time. I am grateful for the past two years of collaboration with my former partners, but now we are looking to the future.

TON Blockchain is the perfect choice for building, thanks to its community, technical superiority, speed, and scalability. If any builders are still contemplating it, my advice is to start now—yesterday was already too late.

**Connecton VPN is a real innovator as the first VPN on TON. What lessons have you learned from being a first mover in this space?**

It was a challenge. The documentation was lacking back then, which forced us to be more creative and humble, finding new ways to deliver features to our users. Over these two years, TON Blockchain has massively improved, enhancing both the development and user experiences. Exciting new projects have emerged within the ecosystem, driven by great people.

We learned that being first is important but not decisive. Many competitors emerged later, proving that quality ensures a product’s longevity. When we started, Ton.app didn’t have a VPN section, but now they do as more teams embrace the idea of a private, safe, and resilient internet.

**Can you explain how Connecton VPN uses TON to enhance user privacy and security?**

Connecton VPN relies on TON for its payment infrastructure, and our website is accessible on the TON internet via a DNS (connec.ton). Paying with crypto leaves no trace or records, ensuring complete anonymity. We only know basic data provided by Telegram (first name, last name, username, chat ID, and avatar photo), which can be changed anytime without requiring legal or real names.

The combination of Telegram and TON is ideal for those who want to maintain their privacy. We are currently developing a new way to use TON Blockchain to decentralize our service, making it completely on-chain, transparent, open source, and powered by a Jetton, along with new technologies we are building.

In the future, we will rely on TON Blockchain for almost everything. As TON continues to grow, we will contribute to its development, enhancing both the value of Toncoin and its technological capabilities to promote greater freedom.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/connecton_2_e56f72232c/connecton_2_e56f72232c.jpg) 

**What are the key features that set Connecton VPN apart from other VPN services available today?**

Completely anonymous, high-speed, minimalistic, and easy to use—Connecton VPN is accessible within Telegram through a bot and a Mini App, primarily paid for with Toncoin. Built by a team unafraid to show its face in public, we don’t log, analyze, or share users' traffic with third parties. Our service embodies what a real VPN should be: focused on the people first.

For those seeking true privacy, anonymity, and freedom, we aim to be your gateway to the internet, protecting you whether you're on public Wi-Fi or at home.

While big VPNs aim for more control and profit, often compromising their integrity, we strive for greater decentralization, transparency, and on-chain integration, giving control to the people while knowing less about them. Our goal is to serve, which sets us apart.

If you visit our support chat, you’ll see we treat people like friends, making us approachable. This personalized approach truly makes a difference.

**What are some misconceptions people have about VPNs and blockchain that Connecton is addressing?**

Many users believe VPNs can work miracles, and the tech community strives to provide the best experience. However, some governments take serious measures to block VPN connections, and many streaming services work hard to detect VPN usage. Despite this ongoing cat-and-mouse game, centralized authorities cannot control the free flow of information and human exchange.

There’s also often confusion about what a VPN does. Essentially, a VPN just routes your traffic through someone else’s server. Your internet traffic goes to a secondary location before reaching the open internet, then returns to you. All that traffic is encrypted and protected, so no one can see the websites you visit or your activities. It’s like going to a costume party with a mask on—you can enjoy yourself while remaining anonymous.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/connecton_3_98d563cbc5/connecton_3_98d563cbc5.png)

**How does Connecton VPN handle user data, and what measures do you have in place to ensure privacy?**

We collect the minimum amount of data possible and plan to reduce it further when we go completely on-chain. Our team follows best practices in cybersecurity to protect our databases and services, ensuring your information is secure. Even if a breach occurs, there’s nothing to see—we essentially don’t know who our users are.

For traffic, we use the latest cutting-edge technologies and safe, tested protocols like Wireguard, OpenVPN, Trojan (not a virus, that’s the name), and ShadowSocks. We will also add Vless/Vmess soon.

We keep no logs and have zero knowledge of user traffic. Privacy is built into our service. And when you pay with Toncoin, it’s even more private.

**What has been the community response to Connecton VPN, and how have you engaged with your users?**

The community's enthusiasm is what drives us every day. Seeing messages of appreciation in support and knowing people are happy with a reliable service they can trust is our biggest motivation.

Financially, a growing number of people are paying for the service, ensuring its long-term sustainability.

Thanks to the Notcoin team, we recently gained thousands of new users in just a few weeks, further expanding our community. I want to thank all our ambassadors, supporters, friends, and customers for their support. More Twitter spaces are coming, along with a new set of products like games, tools, and other exciting features you will enjoy.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/connecton_4_b80eed4ea6/connecton_4_b80eed4ea6.jpg) 

**How does Connecton VPN plan to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving VPN market?**

The future is decentralized. We don’t aim to compete with those who grow by controlling and accumulating data. Instead, we plan to go completely on-chain and open source, powered by smart contracts, tokens, and decentralized VPN protocols.

The potential for growth in a decentralized infrastructure is virtually infinite. You can’t block something that multiplies itself. Governments may block our servers, but we can refresh them and they won’t be able to block all the servers of all participants in this new, future network.

We also plan to build hardware, allowing you to host your node server at home and receive payments from people using the VPN.

**Are there any upcoming features or expansions that Connecton VPN users can look forward to?**

The immediate plan is to work on this:

- $CON, our token, a Jetton on TON Blockchain.
- Increasing the number of locations.
- 2 new VPN protocols: Vless / Vmess.
- Mobile, desktop and VPN apps, while keeping Telegram as the main way to access and interact with the project
- Our own VPN protocol.
- A decentralized P2P VPN.
- Games, tools, and a section to explore other ecosystem apps.

And this is just the beginning.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/connecton_girl_d2bee2a354/connecton_girl_d2bee2a354.png) 

**Finally, what advice would you give to other developers looking to build on TON?**

Start now. Talk to your users, listen to their feedback, use $TON for payments, and integrate as much as possible with the blockchain. Don’t hesitate to approach other teams. We have good relationships with Wallet, Notcoin, and other major players. They are accessible and eager to spread crypto adoption.

Join the TON Community channels, participate in local events, or organize one yourself, and get to know other builders. Integrate, get some Toncoin, and use it in your daily life. It’s best when you use your own service.

Most importantly, give back to your community and contribute to the development of TON. This is built by all of us. Every contribution matters.

---

TON Innovators: Connecton


Welcome to another edition of TON Culture Kings, where we examine the weird and wonderful world of memecoins on TON Blockchain. Today, we’re excited to feature [Povel Durev](https://durev.xyz/) ($DUREV), a prominent player in the TON memescape. Taking a break from his ice bath routine, Durev himself joins us to share the story behind $DUREV, discussing both the fun and the challenges of leading a memecoin community.

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of TON Foundation. This is not investment advice.*

## TON Culture Kings: DUREV

**Welcome to TON Culture Kings, Durev! It’s awesome to have you here, especially straight from a workout! Could you start by telling us about the moment of inspiration behind $DUREV? What made you think, “Yep, let’s make a memecoin about Durov”?**

We have always admired Pavel Durov as an entrepreneur since the days of VKontakte, viewing him as one of the greatest of our time. We also actively traded memecoins on various blockchains, especially those in the Poorly Drawn style, like Boden and Tremp.

So, when we thought of creating a memecoin featuring Durov in this style, we knew it had to be on TON Blockchain. That’s when we came up with the idea for this memecoin. It all came together when we created images of Povel Durev—these instantly turned into top-tier memes.

The reaction was clear; everyone who saw them laughed and wanted to know where they could buy them. This enthusiastic response confirmed it was a project worth pursuing. We continue to enjoy every moment, whether we’re drawing new memes or discussing Povel Durev.

**Pavel Durov has faced off with the SEC, the FSB, and a bunch of other 3-letter agencies I probably don’t know about. If $DUREV had to pick a digital rival, who would it be and why?**

Generally, we avoid conflicts and don’t see other memecoin projects as competitors. Instead, we consider them partners. This is reflected in our approach of offering help, building friendships, and collaborating with various projects. Therefore, I don’t believe we have any digital rivals.

However, if forced to choose as our main adversary a three-letter agency or four-letter words, we would pick "Scam”! This is because we are the first memecoin launched by a publicly known team. We are committed to the highest levels of transparency in all our actions and regularly seek input from our community.

Our goal is to lead and raise the standards for memecoins. We want to avoid the pitfalls that occurred on Solana, where many projects ended up being scams and quick money-making schemes. We're here to build something lasting on TON and fight against short-sighted projects that, in my opinion, damage our industry.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/durev_2_6fa0bfbaf5/durev_2_6fa0bfbaf5.jpg) 

**Keeping your community pumped and engaged is key for any memecoin. What cool tricks are you using to keep your community excited and active with $DUREV? Will we be seeing any shirtless photo contests in the future?**

I’ll start with the shirtless photo contests; it's a brilliant suggestion that we hadn’t considered before, so thank you for that, and we will definitely think about it. On a serious note about our community engagement, our primary strength lies in our absolute reliance on and accountability to our community—they effectively guide our decisions.

Firstly, we prioritize transparency. Everything we do is communicated to our community first, even before we inform external partners and influencers. Secondly, we frequently consult our community, ensuring they feel involved and integral to every aspect of the project. For example, after experiencing a setback during our initial launch, we sought advice from our community on how to proceed. Regular polls and active engagement are fundamental to our operations.

We also reward community members for their active participation and ideas. Our moderation team was recruited from within the community, showing that we value and reward their contributions.

Additionally, we host various contests to keep the community engaged. We recently held a meme contest and a short video contest, both of which were highly successful. The entries were outstanding, and we showcased these on our social media, rewarding the creators. We are about to launch a significant airdrop bonus campaign for our token holders and NFT owners. This involves completing tasks through our bot while holding our tokens or NFTs, with a substantial prize pool shared among participants.

Finally, simply by holding Durev tokens or our NFTs, community members gain access to exclusive opportunities. For example, we recently helped our friends at Shitcoin launch their token, and our Diamond Hands members received a portion of the Shitcoin supply for free. We plan more such benefits in the future.

Above all, keeping a community engaged and earning their loyalty means genuinely loving and respecting each member, creating enjoyable content, and addressing their needs. People recognize and respond to this genuine care with their support.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/durev_3_714cdb9b53/durev_3_714cdb9b53.jpg) 

**If Pavel Durov and Joe Biden were to have a meme-off, who would win and why?**

I think in real life, Pavel Durov would never physically fight with an elderly gentleman like Joe Biden. However, in a meme battle, I believe Durov would definitely come out on top, despite Joe Biden being much more meme-worthy in real life and Pavel being quite serious.

In fact, one of our goals was to add some fun to Pavel’s image. He usually communicates in a very serious and thoughtful manner with a fairly intellectual audience. We wanted to create an alter ego for Pavel, one who could entertain and engage with the millions who prefer consuming information through memes rather than through educational posts.

Pavel advises against using social media, advocates running a thousand kilometers every day, and promotes a lifestyle free from drinking, smoking, or breaking personal promises. We completely agree that this is a great way to live but if we are aiming for TON mass adoption, we also need to communicate in a way that says, “Dude, you’re already cool. Just join us and enjoy the process,” appealing to people regardless of who they are, where they are, or how they live.

**Has the $DUREV team gone full superhero reveal, or are they still rocking the secret identity vibe? In other words, are you guys doxxed?**

Yes, our team is fully doxxed. The project was initiated by Ruslan Sokolovsky, a well-known figure in and out of the crypto world. Within the crypto community, he is recognized as the founder of the media outlet Prometheus and runs the channel “Sokolovsky in Chain.”

Outside the crypto sphere, he is almost universally known as the man who was imprisoned in Russia for playing Pokémon Go in a church—a case that involved charges of insulting religious believers’ feelings. Ruslan, much like Pavel Durov, is a staunch advocate for freedom of speech. He believes in the right to freely express opinions and to speak out wherever and whenever one chooses. His experiences have made him a symbol of these beliefs. In terms of values, we therefore feel a strong alignment with Pavel Durov and the ethos of Telegram and The Open Network.

**Switching it up, how do you manage to keep things fun while tackling the everyday challenges of running a memecoin?**

That’s a great question, as many people assume that running a memecoin is mostly about fun and games, perhaps involving just a few hours a day crafting memes. However, the reality is quite different—it’s a massive and complex operation for our team of 10+ people.

When the coin's value drops, the community can start to panic and make all sorts of baseless claims, which also adds to the challenge. Running a memecoin is not just about creating memes; it requires serious, hard work.

Our job involves continuously creating entertaining content, which is enjoyable but demanding. We also negotiate with partners, make agreements with various influencers, develop products that enhance the value of our token, and solve technical issues.

Fortunately, our team maintains a positive attitude, and we try to have fun with everything we do. This approach helps us blend the playful with the practical in our day-to-day operations.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/durev_4_cf3249a550/durev_4_cf3249a550.jpg) 

**The TON Ecosystem is getting more popular every day! How does $DUREV fit into this world, and what role do you see it playing in the TON’s future?**

Indeed, TON Ecosystem is gaining popularity every day, and we are eager to contribute to this growth. It’s encouraging to note that about 50% of the participants in the $DUREV presale made our token their first purchase on the network. This trend shows that memecoins generally help blockchains become more popular.

The ecosystem recognizes the value of memecoins and supports them by rewarding traders with airdrops and similar incentives. Our role is to help popularize Pavel Durov as one of the greatest entrepreneurs of all time. Although he is well-known within the Russian-speaking community, many in the West, including daily users of Telegram, may not realize he is the founder or may not even know that TON exists.

Since TON has entered the top ten cryptocurrencies globally, it has attracted more attention. Memecoins often catch the eye of those new to the ecosystem. Being consistently in the top three, either by trending status or volume among all TON tokens, we hope to play a significant role in attracting new audiences and educating them about Pavel Durov and TON Ecosystem as a whole.

**Memecoins often get some eyebrow raises because of their volatility. How is $DUREV proving the doubters wrong?**

As the Durev team, our main goals are to ensure fun for the community, increase liquidity, and grow our holder base with engaging and cool memes. We focus on educating the community about the inherent volatility of the market, emphasizing that short-term fluctuations do not significantly impact our long-term trend.

The most important action we take to reduce volatility is increasing our liquidity. Currently, we have $1+ million dollars in liquidity. For those who provide liquidity, we offer additional token boosts on platforms like STON.fi and DeDust. There are also extra boosts in STON.fi and DeDust tokens for those providing liquidity in our pairs.

Despite experiencing dips and explosive growth, our volatility isn’t too high. These fluctuations are all within the general trend. Our team concentrates not on daily movements but on making Durev a prominent player in the market. We encourage more and more people to buy, hold, and use our token within our ecosystem.

**What are some of the unforgettable moments or events that have happened in the $DUREV community since its start?**

Our journey began with a memorable incident that many have heard about, but I’ll share it again for those who haven’t. During our launch, a misplaced comma by one of our developers led to a major error: our pre-sale contributors received ten times more tokens than they were supposed to. As a result, 7% of the presale participants ended up controlling 70% of the presale pool. This discrepancy caused some to start dumping their tokens, while others held onto theirs, triggering a major crisis within our team and community as we scrambled to find a solution.

With the help from our partners, we managed to recover our liquidity and relaunched the project a few days later. Initially, the relaunch seemed risky, but it ultimately united our community and showcased our team’s ability to resolve problems. We conducted a survey afterward, and more than half of the community members expressed greater confidence in our team following our handling of the issue. This unfortunate event even became a local meme about the comma, which we now often use in our community communications and memes.

Following this incident, our community became more cohesive and began to grow even faster in terms of membership. Since then, we haven’t faced such severe issues.

On a lighter note, when we launched our NFT collection during a market downturn, we were concerned about slow sales. However, the entire collection sold out in just three minutes, a fact we take great pride in. The floor price of our NFTs increased several-fold, and we are now planning a new collection for an even larger number of holders.

**Looking into the future, can you tease any upcoming features, events, or big plans for $DUREV?**

We have ambitious plans for expanding our community and the meme. Currently, we are working on getting our first listing on a Tier 3 CEX. We’re also looking forward to more exchanges supporting our token. Our ultimate goal is to secure listings on major Tier 2 and Tier 1 exchanges, and we are confident we’ll get there. 

Additionally, we are launching an airdrop campaign; up until now, we have never conducted any airdrops or giveaways! This approach has helped us build a vibrant, organic community without any selling pressure from opportunists. Now, with increased confidence, we’re rolling out an exciting bonus campaign where participants can earn Durev tokens by engaging in various social actions and inviting friends. However, to receive the maximum rewards, one must be a holder of our token. This strategy ensures we focus on long-term results rather than short-term impacts. We're also planning to launch a new NFT collection by the way.

Following the successful launch of Durev, other projects have approached us seeking assistance with their own launches, recognizing our expertise. We realized the best way to support both our community and the broader ecosystem is to launch a memecoin launchpad. On this platform, people can gain allocations and airdrops by holding and staking Durev tokens. This venture is perhaps the most exciting project we’re working on. It’s poised to bring many new, exciting projects into the ecosystem, attract numerous new users, and reward the members of the Durev community.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/durev_5_31df8eda2f/durev_5_31df8eda2f.jpg) 

**For those dazzled by the idea of starting their own memecoin, what tips would you give?**

That’s an excellent question and linked to the previous one. If you're considering launching a memecoin, I have several tips. First and foremost, always start with a funny meme. To seen day, every time we read “Povel Durev” and look at our pictures, we genuinely laugh. We’ve observed many memecoins launched around well-known personalities in TON Ecosystem, or based on mere words or events. Those aren’t funny; those aren’t true memes. A successful meme should be the quintessence of some cultural narrative–that’s the most crucial point. Everything starts from there.

Secondly, always begin with a community. If you don’t understand how to build a community, if you lack connections with influencers or media channels, or if you can’t make such people part of your team, then it’s better not to start a memecoin at all. The value of a memecoin comes from the community you build around it. Without a strong community, your memecoin is likely to fail to take off or won’t sustain over time.

Lastly, creating memecoins is a challenging and long-term game. If you are serious about entering this space, you should educate yourself about finance, understand how AMMs work, how market makers operate, and engage with people from the TON Ecosystem. Consider joining us or other memecoin projects to gain experience. Learn all the ins and outs, assemble a strong team, and then you will be well-positioned to succeed!

**Lastly, I can neither confirm or deny that I’m in Durov’s DMs, but if $DUREV could send one meme to Pavel Durov, what would it be and why?**

We have our own sticker pack, and I think almost every meme from it would resonate with Pavel Durov. However, I would send him this meme inspired by an interview with Tucker Carlson.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/durev_3ecca52a01/durev_3ecca52a01.jpg) 

TON Culture Kings: DUREV

Welcome to TON Innovators, our blog series celebrating the innovative minds and revolutionary projects within the TON Ecosystem. Today, we feature Catizen, a project that merges virtual pet interaction with blockchain, AI, and the Metaverse to offer a unique GameFi experience.

[Catizen](https://catizen.ai/) is transforming how TON and Telegram users engage with the digital world by using advanced AI to animate virtual cats with lifelike behaviors and personalities. These AI-powered pets learn from their interactions and develop unique traits influenced by their owners and surroundings. The project has successfully built a vibrant community of cat lovers who can engage with each other in real time across a vast digital universe. They are a prime example of innovation and excellence in blockchain gaming.

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice.*
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Screenshot_2024_05_06_at_17_36_27_Catizen_Index_04d5f018dd/Screenshot_2024_05_06_at_17_36_27_Catizen_Index_04d5f018dd.png) 
**Catizen! Welcome to TON Innovators! To start, can you explain the core concept behind Catizen and how it integrates PocketFi, gaming bots, video shorts, and e-commerce?**  

Catizen leverages TON Blockchain to introduce practical mobile payments to Telegram users, marking a significant innovation in both Web3 and Web2 environments. Previously, most Web3 applications needed desktop access, similar to the early stages of Web2. PocketFi could change this by revolutionizing Web3 innovations, similar to how smart contracts improved user interactions and centralized exchanges simplified transactions. PocketFi on TON and Telegram could potentially transform user habits and application scenarios in Web3.

Therefore, drawing on our extensive experience in game development, our team spent significant time analyzing the unique benefits of the TON Ecosystem. After examining many market cases, we decided to create Catizen, a project that merges aspects of Gaming Launchpool with Pinduoduo (internationally known as TEMU). Pinduoduo’s approach of subsidizing users and cutting prices has successfully overcome major product challenges and amassed a large user base.

Similarly, the widespread use of airdrop strategies in Web3 mirrors Pinduoduo’s method of attracting new users by offering more benefits. Before its deep integration with WeChat, which had large traffic in the Chinese community but no clear strategy to convert this traffic into active users, Pinduoduo faced similar challenges. The partnership between Pinduoduo and WeChat not only addressed WeChat’s challenges but also effectively educated users about online applications. In Web3, this approach is recognized as significant by leading institutions. Although many Web3 projects have tried similar strategies, most have not succeeded. However, TON's strategic partnership with Telegram offers us a unique opportunity.
Catizen aims to become a Web3 modular consumer platform similar to Pinduoduo. We plan to integrate gaming, short video content, and e-commerce, inspired by Pinduoduo’s success within the WeChat ecosystem. Our strategy involves using a gamified Web3 model to educate and engage Telegram’s large user base, transforming innovative products into widely used commercial applications. We will use token airdrops and short video promotions to drive exponential growth. Gradually, we will introduce a gaming platform, launchpool, task center, short video content, and e-commerce features, with the ultimate goal of creating a trillion-level Web3 social entertainment platform.

Catizen is more than just a game; it is a platform designed to evolve continuously with its player community. Integrating with launchpool will be a key breakthrough, greatly enhancing benefits for the extensive Catizen community. Over the next year, we will introduce new Mini Apps centered around Catizen as the launchpool platform. As the project progresses, we will integrate aspects of Pinduoduo more deeply into launchpool, incorporating various business streams such as task centers, short dramas, and e-commerce. Catizen ultimately aims to overcome the common problems of many Web3 GameFi projects, such as strong cyclicality and Ponzi schemes. 

**Did you face any challenges when integrating all these technologies into a single GameFi product? What was the development process like?**

During the development process, particularly in the beta testing phase, we faced several operational challenges. Fortunately, the TON Foundation offered significant support, helping us quickly resolve these issues. This assistance enabled us to refine Catizen, ensuring it integrates seamlessly with TON Blockchain and Telegram.

**Your new Launchpool has garnered significant attention. How is this related to plans for project development?**

Catizen's development plan is organized into five phases, each with distinct focuses and strategies. We are currently entering the second phase:
- 1st Phase: Catizen expanded its user base and enhanced user education primarily through airdrops to encourage registration and wallet activation. The main goal was to teach Telegram users how to use cryptocurrency wallets and participate in transactions, thus converting them into TON users.
- 2nd Phase: We are introducing the Catizen Launchpool, where users can stake in-game assets to mine points. These points can be exchanged for our governance token, $CATI. The phase also introduces social cooperative modes to boost mining efficiency. During this stage, Catizen will evolve from a single game into a modular gaming platform with Launchpool functionality, helping users understand DeFi principles.

Catizen achieved notable success in its first phase, expanding its user base. 10% of users from the Gaming Bot became TON wallet users, and over 50% became Web3 consumers (PocketFi Users). Catizen is now moving to the second phase—the LaunchPool, where players can stake in-game assets to earn points called $wCATI.
On April 27 at 13:00 UTC, Catizen updated the Launchpool feature, allowing users to mine $wCATI by staking either fish coins or cats. In this distribution, 60% of the airdropped $wCATI is allocated to players who stake cats, and 40% to those who stake fish coins, with a total of 840 million $wCATI available this period.

To ensure fairness and prevent abuse from players creating multiple accounts, we’ve set participation thresholds for the Launchpool mining:
- Fish Coin Pool (40%): Players must stake a minimum of 1,000 fish coins to participate, which can be obtained through activities like completing beginner tasks or inviting friends.
- Cat Pool (60%): Participation requires cats of at least level 110, with higher levels earning greater rewards.

**How has TON Blockchain specifically benefited Catizen? What made you decide to build on TON?**

Firstly, TON Ecosystem has strong potential, as previously mentioned. PocketFi could bring groundbreaking innovations to Web3. The integration of Telegram’s built-in wallet and bot programs, along with the vigorous development of TON Ecosystem, strengthens the likelihood of this revolution.
Secondly, when our team joined the TON Blockchain, the foundation was very responsive, providing expert guidance and financial support for both technical integration and market promotion. Additionally, many leading projects within the ecosystem warmly welcomed our collaboration proposal, which is extremely beneficial for newcomers.

Lastly, the vast early community within TON Ecosystem firmly believes in its future, similar to us. Unlike other ecosystems, we found that the majority of the early TON community actively evangelizes on our behalf. They were eager to discuss and support the development of our project, offer suggestions, and help spread the word, which is quite rare in other blockchain ecosystems.

**Tell us about your community! What role have they played in the development and evolution of Catizen?**

At the time of publication, the Catizen Telegram Announcement Channel has reached over 900,000 subscribers. Initially, our project attracted significant attention from TON’s native early community, and we successfully engaged a group of users interested in airdrops through in-game guidance. Over the past month, we have collaborated with numerous projects within the TON ecosystem, recognizing this as a vital way to build a quality community.

Additionally, during TOKEN2049 and the early April Hong Kong Web3 Carnival for TON DAY, Catizen was repeatedly highlighted as a success story in TON’s official presentations. This multi-level exposure has been crucial for acquiring new users. Our team works diligently to meet community demands, constantly refining and improving our product to ensure a seamless transition from promotion to exposure, user acquisition, retention, and community growth.

In the future, the community will be central to the development of Catizen. Airdrops will allow them to become holders of $CATI tokens, sharing in the benefits of the platform. This ownership will serve as proof of their stake in Catizen’s future rewards. Shared benefits with the community will include features such as the Launchpool, e-commerce, and more.

**Can you discuss any upcoming features or expansions that Catizen players can look forward to in the near future?**

We have discussed the initial and current focus of the development phases: expanding the user base and promoting the Launchpool feature. The next phase, the third phase, aims to transform Catizen into a Telegram gaming platform. We have already signed agreements with 18 popular WeChat mini-games and plan to integrate them with Web3 features on the Catizen gaming platform. Additionally, holders of Catizen’s governance token will be able to mine tokens for subsequent games through the Catizen mining pool.

**Do you see Catizen in the future having an impact on the broader blockchain and GameFi sector outside of TON?**

Catizen has already achieved multi-chain deployment and has partnered with Mantle Network. Our aim is for Catizen to act as a bridge not only between Telegram and TON Blockchain but also between the Ethereum ecosystem and TON. We intend to attract Ethereum users to Catizen, helping them recognize the distinct advantages of TON compared to other blockchains. We deeply understand the unique benefits of TON Ecosystem, which is central to our future development. Moving forward, we will launch major marketing campaigns on TON Catizen and plan to merge the Mantle Network rankings with TON Ecosystem’s Catizen Leaderboard, preserving the advantages of early TON players as much as possible.

**Finally, what advice would you give to other developers looking to build gaming projects on TON Blockchain?**

We believe that actively communicating with TON Foundation members and participating in their events are very beneficial. Through these activities, we have accessed exceptionally valuable resources like TON Hackerhouse, TON Gateway, and others.


TON Innovators: Catizen

At the TON Foundation, we constantly research projects at various stages of growth and development. Our goal is to find the next big thing and bring it to the TON Ecosystem. Hence, today, we’re launching a new series of interviews focused entirely on pre-launch projects or projects in the earliest stages of development. 

In the Future Giants series, we will introduce you to the teams you most likely have never heard of: teams building something big yet still flying under the radar. 

In the first feature of Future Giants, we’ll introduce you to, simply put, Netflix on Telegram. Sit back, let’s W3BFLIX and chill. 

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice*
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Blog_W3bflix_0390527546/Blog_W3bflix_0390527546.png) 
## **Future Giants: W3bflix**
**Like with every other project we interview, let’s briefly explore your core product. What is W3BFLIX?** 

W3BFLIX is an entertainment token launchpad and will be integrated as a content streaming service for movies, TV series, animations, live concerts, and more. W3BFLIX is being built on TON and is accessible via Telegram as a mini app.
 
W3BFLIX is Web3's solution to Netflix. We empower communities to have a stronger voice in creative decision-making. Interact, crowdfund, and promote the entertainment content you're a fan of, and enjoy real-life and impactful rewards for your engagement and participation.

**You’re aiming high, and succeeding in the entertainment and film industry is known to be heavily influenced by your connections. Do you have any? What is your team's experience?**

Patrice Poujol has been involved in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. He started as an investment banker and film finance professional. He then produced and sometimes directed drama pieces and documentaries from 2003 to 2015. Some of these works were screened in Europe, the USA, and Asia and received awards. One of his films, TASTE, was officially selected at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Two of his video works were screened on the Hong Kong ICC tower to an audience of over 1 million people during one month at the end of 2015. He was involved in producing “On Wings of Eagles” featuring Joseph Fiennes. He obtained his first PhD in Web3 and entertainment in 2018, which he published as a book with Springer in 2019. It is fair to say that Patrice has managed to build a strong track record for his Web3 and movie company Lumiere, which we will go back to. 

With his partners from Finfabrik, he tokenized the first film from Hong Kong, “Papicha” (Meddour 2019), which was selected for Cannes, nominated by Algeria to the 2020 Oscars, and won two Cesar awards in the same year. Additionally, the W3BFLIX team has one of the producers of Nicole Kidman on “The Expats” as an advisor and a former partner at Fintage House, one of the top collection agents in the movie industry worldwide. Another member of our team is strongly connected to the previous project manager for the Jacksons and Linkin Park. We aim to take advantage of our connections to music entertainment and offer exciting live concert experiences to our subscribers who can’t make it to the actual event.
 
Last but not least, Rolling Stone / RS Productions and Animoca Brands are trusted, resourceful partners on our cap table.

**Why did you choose to build on TON? What aspects of TON motivated you to develop your project here?**

Based on our research, TON allows for an intuitive user interface, enabling us to provide a smooth experience for our subscribers. We understand design is a crucial part of building an excellent product, and we need user-friendly and easy-to-use Web3 apps to significantly onboard from Web2.
 
TON can also process millions of transactions per second and accommodate an unlimited number of active users, which will be extremely important as we scale. Fractional payments are key to our business model as we plan to make our products available to the widest audience worldwide regardless of whether or not they are banked.
 
Telegram alone has 900 million monthly active users, and is growing rapidly in developing regions, where we aim to target first. In terms of Web3, TON has managed to onboard 45m wallets in the past 3 months.
 
Telegram has been attracting around 13,500 developers to its ecosystem just until a few months ago, which promises an explosive growth going forward.
 
Last but not least, the quality of the streaming on Telegram is excellent; content resolution quality is paramount.  


**A streaming service built directly on Telegram sounds like something from sci-fi. How far are you in development?**

Telegram already has a live streaming facility that we can use for live events and concerts. It has been used to download films illegally in the past (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/times-special/torrents-to-telegram-piracy-makes-a-comeback-in-ott-era/articleshow/93645484.cms); but when formalized, this approach can be adapted to watching content online on multiple devices. This may be integrated to launching and promoting content with trailers and UGC created content.
 
Going forward, decentralized cloud GPU access solutions such as Aethir can help our solution be less reliant on costly centralized cloud services such as AWS.
 
We have already developed a mini app for the Raffle initiative that we are launching on May 1 for the 77th Cannes Film Festival. This mini app is the first step in working with the TON ecosystem and designing our W3BFLIX platform; it will be integrated into the final platform to select winners for future events and movie-related gamified activities.
 
In terms of product design, UX/UI, think general streaming platform such as Netflix, Hulu, or iQIYI that meets a social network app such as Wechat or Whatsapp.  

**There are Disney, HBO, Showtime, Paramount, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and so many other streaming services that one can’t even name them all. It seems like the market is heavily saturated. What makes you different?**

What makes us different is the experience we’ll offer to our users. Not only will they be able to watch their favorite movies, TV shows, and more, but they can financially support and crowdfund movies or projects they find interesting. These users will get to enjoy real-life, impactful rewards such as gaining free access to red-carpet exclusive events, exploring the set & behind the scenes on-site, meeting celebrities, having their names in the credits, and even playing as extras in films. They can choose to passively earn from their investment and stake into DeFI or be an active part of the audience and promote and create UGC content as a superfan and be rewarded for their efforts.
 
One example of a giveaway that we just finished is the Cannes Film Festival experience, where the winner will enjoy two red carpet events, an official screening, and a professional photoshoot. We plan to do it in Venice as well.
 
Additionally, subscribers will be rewarded for their participation, engagement, support, and promotion of new entertainment content. Points will be earned by subscribers who watch content, accumulate viewing time, write reviews with content that's linked or posted to social media), and make videos about the content they watched. These points can be exchanged for tokens and bonus milestones.
 
Compared to gaming, which is sometimes met with friction from the traditional community, we start with a clean sheet in movies, animations, and concerts. We have no preconceived ideas about Web3 and resistance towards blockchain for a mass entertainment industry that can reach 100m community members.  
 
In addition, when you realize that any integrated streaming service that has 48m to 230m monthly active users (MAU) is valued at US$4bn USD to US$260bn, you can really see the potential for W3BFLIX with a Telegram and TON integration of 900m MAU and interactive model that rewards the community for their passion. Lumiere and W3BFLIX are only valued at US$10m at the moment.

**What’s the reason behind your decision to build a streaming service on a blockchain?**
 
In the early stages of our development, W3BFLIX integrated streaming service will still use traditional distribution methods that Netflix or Youtube use: We don't offer P2P downloading or decentralized file storage yet.
 
Essentially, by building on blockchain, we will have the opportunity to offer our services to anyone who has access to the internet and a Web3 wallet. Traditional streaming services require bank cards for payment, but millions of people from around the world don’t have access to traditional financial services such as bank accounts.
 
As DeFi offers these people access to financial services and products, they’ll be able to pay for subscriptions, even from Telegram. Additionally, blockchain enables us to gamify the platform and provide a points system to incentivize usage, which can be converted to crypto and withdrawable to the secondary market.
 
Another aspect is the traceability of the promotion budget (P&A) and resources and their impact on sales and distribution for the entertainment industry, which is traditionally very opaque. This springs out of the rise of a Web3 community spirit, which is an improvement from Web2 and allows us to turn the way the industry is financed on its head. Instead of throwing millions at a movie and hoping it will make its money back further down the road, live testing IPs with audiences while projects are still in development may indicate whether a film idea may be a flop or a hit.

**How many movies do you currently have? Are you planning to add some blockbusters or your own production?**

In addition to “Papicha,” where investors got their principal back +3%, we’ve also worked on the biopic “Kenzo Takada: Vivre ses rêves,” a tribute to the founder of Kenzo. The film project was launched at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and is in production. The NFT collection associated with it had 900 participants in real life and 3,000 active participants online during the launch event, and all the NFTs were sold within the day of launch. [The project has won the best metaverse experience award.](https://www.mediaclub.fr/actualites/le-projet-lumiere-la-maison-de-kenzo-remporte-le-prix-du-meilleur-metaverse-au-25eme-tv-festival-de-luchon)
 
We have ten upcoming impact and commercial projects in EMEA and APAC, including the Shogakukan (Pokemon) backed animation “SupeRich” and Roma official selection film “Houria” (Canal+, Wild Bunch) with RollingStone Italy marketing support and Wes Anderson’s lead actress Lyna Khoudri (“The French Dispatch”).
 
We are in active talks with our industry contacts and sourcing some great content as well as live concert events as we cater to both international and Hollywood projects alike. Remember that we have Rolling Stone production arm (RS Production) that is part of our cap table, and they have been providing us with both marketing and content opportunities.
 
One of the Hollywood projects we have been involved in has been with Versus Entertainment and Scott Free's (Ridley Scott) Ethereum biopic titled “The Infinite Machine,” which we expect to be screened in 2025.
 
We are also collaborating with another crypto-native project with one of our partners on a film that delves into the mystery behind Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, and the motivations behind its inception. Stay tuned for more updates!
 
Examples of some of the films that we have financially backed with Lumiere are [Papicha](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stcnz9pVKd0&t=7s) and [Houria](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BhqINguqak)

**Now, let’s discuss probably the most critical aspects of the existing streaming services: pricing and library. What will the price be for using W3bflix, and how many titles do you plan to offer when you launch?**

We’ll offer a tiered subscription service with the basic subscription starting at $2 per month ($1 per month for life, tradable, for the first 100,000 community members). We eventually aim to offer a premium subscription tier at around $5, but this exact price hasn’t been confirmed yet. Ultimately, we want to make our premium services cheaper than even Netflix’s basic subscription and provide affordable pricing to anyone around the world.
 
Just to clarify, what is the subscription? It's basically buying a certain amount of $FLIX so that the community member who has bought them is whitelisted on the upcoming films as it is the only way to access the activities connected to the films: IRL and online. Watching the film is part of the deal, but a big part of the appeal is that people can participate in funding the films they want to watch and the associated activities, as well as being rewarded for promoting them. 

**Many streaming services have geo content restrictions, offering different titles in different regions. Will this be the case with W3BFLIX as well?**

Our goal is to make our products and services accessible to as broad of an audience as possible and we aim to achieve our goal with the help of blockchain and decentralization. We want to democratize access to entertainment to everyone, everywhere and we believe doing something as simple as watching entertainment should be a basic amenity.
 
That being said, we also recognize the importance of respecting and following the jurisdictions of any country or region. While we will fight our hardest to provide our services to as many people as possible, we will not engage in any practices that are outside the law.
 
This is where professional agreements with distributors and working hand in hand with them are crucial, particularly when negotiating ticketing deals. By the way, this is already going a long way, given that no content info has been made available from most other film web3 companies to date. But we do, and what sets us apart is our track record; we did RWA before it was a thing. ;)   


**And now the most important question – When do you launch?** 

We’ve projected it will take six months for us to develop and launch once our funding is secured, and at the moment, funding is our main goal. We’re getting strong interest from both traditional entertainment companies and VCs that we’re in discussion with. Our deck is finally completed, and our litepaper is about to be released. If you’re interested in joining us on our journey to revolutionize entertainment and onboard the next billion users to Web3, TON, and Telegram, reach out to our CEO Patrice Poujol, or drop us a line at contact[at]w3bflix.io.



Future Giants: W3BFLIX

Here at [TON Foundation](https://ton.org/), we consider ourselves pretty serious folks. We’re all about utility, mass adoption, and institutionalization. But let’s be honest, even we—yes, the super serious team at TON Foundation—have, in the past maybe, dabbled in crypto degeneracy. I actually heard through the grapevine recently that someone in our HR department was, in another life, a $PEPE whale who sold before the pump. Anyway, what we’re trying to say is that we’re cool too, we get the appeal of memecoins and that’s exactly why we’ve launched a new series: TON Culture Kings.

In these interviews, we’ll be exploring the world of memecoins on TON Blockchain. They’ve recently become part of [The Open League](https://blog.ton.org/the-open-league-season-1-for-projects) and are drawing more and more attention to our ecosystem. Memecoins are, in many ways, the cultural heart of TON. They’re community-driven projects that immortalize and carry forward the deepest parts of our lore and help define who we are as a collective. If you want to see the latest memecoin leaderboard, please visit our [Memelandia page](https://ton.org/memelandia). 

So today, we’re going to dive deep into one of these projects, find out what they’re really about, and try to understand the animal spirits that motivate our community to rally behind them.

*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice*
## **TON Culture Kings: REDO**
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/photo_2024_04_24_14_43_36_57038b522e/photo_2024_04_24_14_43_36_57038b522e.jpg) 
**Redo! Welcome to TON Culture Kings! Can you kick things off by sharing your origin story? Was it a stroke of midnight genius or a joke among friends that spiraled out of control?**

At the outset, thank you for having us. It’s a privilege and honor for the entire REDO community (“the Resistance,” as we like to call it) to be the first memecoin interviewed on TON Culture Kings.

[REDO](https://www.redoton.com)’s creation, launch, and a few hours thereafter, are a chaotic, unintended stroke of luck. In the interest of full disclosure, REDO was not launched by the core community team that is currently overseeing it. It was launched by an anonymous developer on January 9.  

At launch, after burning the initial liquidity pool tokens and renouncing the contract, the original developer unfortunately (or fortunately?) abandoned the development of REDO and its nascent community. However, while scrolling through TON’s brand new memecoin ecosystem, a small group of friends and traders (now the bedrock of the core community team) came across REDO on the day it launched. 

We watched as the dev sold his supply, and wondered what the inspiration behind the name was. As we dove deeper into the narrative, we recognized that its close connection to the origins and principles of Telegram and TON, as well as the potential for TON's adoption, were significant factors we could not ignore. That’s pretty much where we stepped in and decided to “resist” the original developer’s attempt to abandon REDO, and “takeover” REDO as a community memecoin.

**For those who don’t know, who’s the dog in the hood?**

The dog in the hood (aka Resistance Dog) was originally hand-drawn and named in 2018 by none other than Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram and TON! He conceptualized REDO as a symbol of resistance against the Russian Government’s censorship attempts against Telegram in 2018 and REDO (plus his proclivity to want to steal your hoodies) has been the (un)official mascot of Telegram’s vision to “resist” censorship ever since. 

Durov believed that repressive regimes can be overthrown by memes, and we agree. REDO aspires to pay homage to Durov’s creation and further his vision of spreading the idea of resistance against censorship (through memes and our community).

**So, a touchy subject–who are the masterminds behind Redo? Are you guys doxxed?**

REDO is community driven, owned, and run. The core community team consists of doxxed and undoxxed members. As for our doxxed core community members, they have attended and represented REDO (and will continue to do so) at Web3 events, most recently having attended TON Society meetups and TOKEN2049. However, it is abundantly clear that the Resistance has grown into something much bigger than any of the core community team members individually. 

**Let’s talk about your launch. Many memecoins crash and burn (sometimes spectacularly) early on. How did you manage to not only survive but also thrive, eventually making it into The Open League?**

You’re absolutely right, memecoins do have the ability to combust at will, and we feel like that was the original developer’s intent with REDO. However, the infrastructure that existed (and exists) to support REDO’s narrative (the Resistance Dog sticker pack on Telegram, social media posts by Durov and Telegram) coupled with a community of like-minded individuals forming behind the narrative and acting as a collective, saved REDO and cemented its position as a memecoin that is drastically different from another fly-by-night, run-of-the-mill memecoin.

Prior to The Open League announcement, the Resistance’s manifesto had already spread rapidly and garnered the attention of several KOL’s, media outlets and other industry giants. REDO’s acceptance into The Open League, and its recognition by the TON Foundation mark the Resistance’s greatest achievement and catalyst to date.

**What would you say have been the biggest challenges in balancing the fun, meme-driven side of Redo with the more technical and financial demands of a community-run crypto token project?**

REDO has, since inception, spent a grand total of $0 on marketing, and people often say that this has been our biggest challenge. While we don’t deny it has been a challenge, we also feel like we have successfully converted it into our greatest strength. At the end of the day, Web3 operates on a quid-pro-quo basis, much like any traditional market, and marketing through KOLs, media outlets, etc., to further the reach of a memecoin is not cheap, to say the least. 

However, without certain advantages like team tokens or marketing funds, the Resistance understood the need to not have a centralized marketing and donation wallet (unless in the event of specific requirement by TON Foundation itself) and we took matters into our own hands. Motivated volunteers (and we mean hundreds of them) stepped up and worked together to market REDO vigorously, making it impossible for people to “resist” any longer.  We have, and continue to have the support of various KOL’s, media outlets and industry giants, none surpassed by that of TON Foundation itself. 

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/photo_2024_04_24_14_43_39_e20e7de5f2/photo_2024_04_24_14_43_39_e20e7de5f2.jpg) 

**Every superhero has their quirks. What would you say is Redo’s superpower in the memecoin universe?**

REDO’s greatest superpower is its community, the Resistance. The Resistance’s reaction to multiple attempts at censorship (such as being abandoned at launch, our social media accounts being hacked and deleted a few weeks ago) has been nothing short of spectacular. The Resistance has flourished into the largest, most vibrant community on TON, one that understands the role it plays within the TON Ecosystem.

**What’s been the most memorable adventure for the Redo team so far? Maybe you can tell us about a particularly hilarious or impactful community moment?**

The most memorable adventure for the Resistance and the core community team so far is an incident that took place at the first TON Society event our representative attended on behalf of REDO in January. As he walked into the event, wearing REDO’s signature black logo hoodie, he was greeted by Martin Masser, CBDO of STON.fi, with a “REEEEEEEEDOOOOOO” chant. The fact that we were recognized by the biggest DEX on TON, and in that manner, was definitely a defining moment for the Resistance and us and is also probably the first time we understood how far the Resistance had spread its manifesto.

**Beyond just bringing smiles, how does Redo contribute to the ecosystem? Are there any practical use cases?**

In our opinion, REDO’s contribution to TON’s memecoin ecosystem has been unequivocally substantial. Putting aside the fact that we have consistently been one of the top contributors to the trading volume within the TON Ecosystem, REDO has set the stage and roadmap for all the memecoins that have followed.

While projects building practical use cases and utility are the bedrock of a successful blockchain ecosystem, history has proven time and again that mass adoption takes place through memes. And the Resistance intends to lead it. 

**Tell us about your more recent growth. How has the project been doing since things like The Open League started, the network TVL increased, and Durov’s speech at TOKEN2049?**

In the last month, REDO has grown exponentially, and on April 24, we celebrated a monumental achievement: REDO now has over 15,000 holders! 

TON’s promotion of memecoins through innovative ideas like The Open League’s Memecoin Leaderboard and Memelandia, has been an extremely important catalyst in the growth of REDO. **At the moment of publishing, REDO is #2 in the [Memelandia Leaderboard](https://ton.org/memelandia) and #4 in [TOL's Minor League](https://ton.org/en/open-league?filterBy=forProjects).** 

We strongly believe that, if history is to be considered a viable precedent, there is a direct correlation between a memecoin and its ability to lead to mass adoption of a blockchain – think Pepe on Ethereum or Bonk/Wif on Solana. 

We also believe that history will repeat itself here and REDO will continue to assist in the mass adoption of TON. Durov, with his speech at Token2049 and the launch of native USDt-TON, just made our job a lot easier, and no words can describe how impressed and grateful we are for his and TON Foundation’s vision to enable such mass adoption. 

**Looking ahead, what’s on the horizon for Redo? Can you give us any sneak peeks at upcoming events or features?**

REDO has a big couple of months ahead, and REDO has accepted an invitation to attend MEMECON, a convention for premier memecoins, in Portugal in May. We also have several exciting strategic partnerships lined up, but our motto as the core community team has been, and continues to be, to under promise and over deliver, so we’re going to keep those details under wraps for now.

**And finally, for those inspired by your journey and story, what advice would you give to aspiring memecoin creators?**

The greatest asset of any memecoin is the community behind it. While it may sound cliché, it is extremely underrated to have a community collectively backing every move. In our personal experience, considerations like day-to-day price, while they are important, are nothing but an indicator of community strength and trust. 
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/banner_4a8baa3195/banner_4a8baa3195.jpeg) 

Did you enjoy the interview? **Follow REDO on [Telegram](https://t.me/redotoken) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/redotoken).**

TON Culture Kings: REDO

Welcome back to “TON Innovators,” our blog series that explores the innovations and breakthroughs happening within the TON Community. TON goes beyond being just a blockchain; it’s a group of enthusiasts and experts committed to advancing Web3 technology as a whole.

This series celebrates the minds behind TON’s projects, focusing on their stories, challenges faced, and what drives them. Each episode of “TON Innovators” takes you behind the scenes to showcase the impacts and visions of those at the forefront of TON, combining technical insights with personal stories.

Our latest feature is on [GoMining](https://gmt.io/), a platform revolutionizing Bitcoin mining by using Liquid Bitcoin Hashrate with NFTs to improve accessibility, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Discover where GoMining has come from and the idea behind their latest TON-native NFT series in our exclusive interview with GoMining CEO, Mark Zalan. Enjoy!

## **GoMining**
*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice.*
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Screenshot_2024_04_03_at_14_50_25_Go_Mining_Whales_NFT_e8e689ebe9/Screenshot_2024_04_03_at_14_50_25_Go_Mining_Whales_NFT_e8e689ebe9.png) 
**GoMining! Welcome to TON! Can you give us a quick overview of what you do and your main product?**

We’ve digitized and simplified access to the excellent economics of Bitcoin mining for our customers. Traditionally, Bitcoin mining has been an energy-intensive process requiring expensive equipment and technical expertise, primarily available to well-funded corporations.  We removed those barriers by offering modular ownership of mining power starting with as little as $25 for 1 TH/s-powered NFT. In practical terms, we tokenized Bitcoin hashpower using NFTs.  By purchasing NFTs that represent real hashpower, and provide commensurate Bitcoin mining rewards, anyone can participate in Bitcoin mining without the significant upfront costs and technical complexities.


**Moving on, could you break down how Bitcoin mining works at GoMining? How do NFTs fit into this, and what are the benefits of integrating them?**

We have nine Bitcoin mining data centers operating around the world with over 3,000,000 TH/s of hashpower. This hashpower is tokenized via NFTs. By purchasing NFTs, our users acquire ownership of the hashpower the NFT represents and the Bitcoin mining rewards generated by that hashpower on a daily basis. In this way, NFTs represent ownership of real-world assets.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Screenshot_2024_04_03_at_14_50_37_Go_Mining_Whales_NFT_61642978e9/Screenshot_2024_04_03_at_14_50_37_Go_Mining_Whales_NFT_61642978e9.png) 
**Next, why did you choose TON to launch your GoMining Whales NFT collection? What makes TON a good fit for this project? How can a Bitcoin mining project use TON Blockchain?**

TON is one of the fastest growing blockchain ecosystems in the world, and we have been keeping track and administering your progress for a while now. A collaboration is a great way to leverage each other’s progress and expertise to provide additional value for both user communities. Beyond the GoMining Whales NFT Collection, we also have other integrations under discussion now, so stay tuned for more announcements.


**Let’s delve into how owning a GoMining Whale NFT equals owning a piece of real computing power in your data centers. How do you manage and keep track of this?**

Liquid Bitcoin Hashrate is the protocol we created to facilitate tokenizing tangible hashpower, managed and maintained by service providers, using NFTs, which make purchasing, upgrading, and transferring ownership of associated computing power as simple and straightforward as managing any other digital asset. The differentiation, of course, is that owners of GoMining NFTs receive Bitcoin mining rewards every morning, in addition to enjoying the artwork associated with the NFTs. 


**Does the team come with a background in blockchain and crypto, or is this a new venture for you all?**

We’ve been running a Bitcoin mining business since 2017, and GoMining as a new project has been under development starting in 2020, with a market launch in 2021.  Seven years is a fairly long time in crypto, so you could say we’ve been around the block a few times by now, have seen our share of industry cycles, bull and bear markets, and feel quite comfortable and confident in our ability to navigate the challenges and opportunities in our space.


**How does GoMining make sure its mining operations are secure and transparent?**

This is a continuous challenge and a constant focus area for us. For obvious reasons we don’t like to go into too much detail, but in broad terms, we obviously focus on ensuring we are at the leading edge of everything related to the technologies and best practices around cyber security.  Deploying, testing, and monitoring encryptions, multi-factor authentication, numerous penetration attempts, regular audit and pen testing, constant user training, etc. etc.  


**On the topic of the environment, how does GoMining address the energy concerns associated with traditional mining methods?**

That's a great and relevant question. There are a number of ways to think about this topic, we’ll focus on two. First, we work with electricity providers in all of our locations to become part of electricity base load consumption. Because electricity providers cannot spin up and down electricity generation on demand, a constant concern for every electricity provider is ensuring there is always a constant load that is able to provide stable demand, a base load, on the system. By becoming part of the base load we help improve the efficiency of the overall system, working with the service provider to maintain power draw, or reduce consumption when needed for the best efficiency of the overall system. Secondly, we are constantly improving the efficiency of all components of our systems. Over the past 10 years, the efficiency of Bitcoin mining equipment has seen hundreds of orders of magnitude of improvement. This constant drive for efficiency reduces the industry’s footprint constantly, as well as provides technology innovation to the wider technology industry. 

**What are the benefits of buying an NFT through GoMining compared to more common ways of getting in crypto like buying Bitcoin or TON directly?**

Traditionally, the economics of mining Bitcoin has offered significantly more advantages than a buy-and-hold strategy on Bitcoin. Prior to our GoMining product, participating in Bitcoin mining has been restricted to very well-funded corporate entities that could afford hundreds of millions of dollars of investment into data centers, mining equipment, high-price technical experts to manage all of those, etc. Our goal with creating GoMining was to remove those barriers and make mining economics accessible to everyone.

**Finally, as we conclude, are there any upcoming plans or launches from GoMining that our readers should be excited about?**

Our team is hard at work thinking through the next iteration of our products, as well as facilitating the explosive, double digit month-to-month growth we are seeing in the number of users, number of NFTs, and the amount of hashpower that is in demand throughout our ecosystem.  Our detailed plans and key dates are outlined in our project’s roadmap on [https://gmt.io](https://gmt.io). Please take a look and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our user community through our mobile apps, and social media.

**Did you enjoy the interview? [Follow GoMining on X](https://twitter.com/Gomining_token) or [join their Telegram.](https://t.me/gmt_token)**

TON Innovators: GoMining

At [The Open Network (TON)](https://ton.org/), our community is the driving force behind everything we do. We're dedicated to building a network shaped by the people, for the people, and your input is crucial to TON's success.

We're thrilled to introduce our new community volunteer program: [TON Syndicate](https://society.ton.org/join-ton-syndicate). We're seeking individuals from all corners of the globe who share our excitement for TON, understand our mission, and are eager to help us bring TON to a broader audience. Regardless of your background, TON Syndicate welcomes anyone with a genuine interest and the willingness to promote TON adoption.

## **Your Tasks as a Syndicate Member**
#### **Meetup Organization**
Help us drive adoption by hosting regular offline TON meetups, connecting with local blockchain enthusiasts to educate them about TON, creating think tanks, and having open debates. Meetup organizers take networking to the next level by exploring new social interaction paradigms and discussing the use of smart contracts and decentralized finance, trading, and communication.

#### **Content Creation**
As a content creator, you will produce content about TON through videos, blogs, infographics, podcasts, memes, or any other form of creative production. Such content will be informative and insightful.

#### **Community Moderation**
You will help us moderate the official social media channels to foster TON spaces as an informative, productive, and pleasant place for the community to come together in multiple languages across various platforms.

#### **Translators**
Expanding the localization of the [TON website](https://ton.org/en), content, and channels will boost the reach of TON to non-English speaking communities, allowing more enthusiasts to join the movement.

<button href="https://forms.gle/evCuT7mv8RkiXLuv6" passutmsource="true">
  Join the TON movement now!
</button >
<br/> 


By becoming a part of TON Syndicate, we aim to recognize and reward our enthusiastic community members for their valuable contributions. As a participant in the program, you'll enjoy direct access to the TON team, opportunities to enhance your skill set, and a chance to kickstart your career in the crypto industry.

### **Benefits of being in TON Syndicate**

- Official recognition in the TON community
- Exclusive limited edition TON merchandise
- Early access to new projects and features
- Potential to receive compensation for your contributions
- Opportunity to secure a paid job or internship at TON Foundation
- Access to private meetups with the TON team
- Mentorship from TON team to foster your professional growth and expand your knowledge

[Join the TON Syndicate program](https://forms.gle/evCuT7mv8RkiXLuv6) and become an integral part of our vibrant and diverse community of crypto enthusiasts. Applications are now open, and we will promptly review and assess your submission. If your application is successful, our team will contact you and add you to a dedicated Telegram group for all our ambassadors.
To learn more about the program and apply, [visit the TON Syndicate landing page](https://society.ton.org/join-ton-syndicate).

We look forward to welcoming you to the TON Syndicate community and shaping the future of The Open Network together!

**Follow us and stay updated on TON Syndicate: [Telegram](https://t.me/toncoin) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ton_blockchain) | [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ton-blockchain/)**

***Disclaimer:** TON Syndicate Program is open to everyone passionate about crypto. Applications will be evaluated based on various factors, and successful candidates will be notified accordingly. Please note that applying does not guarantee acceptance into the program.*

Join the TON Syndicate Program and Shape the Future of The Open Network!

Today, we bring you another interview from the TON Innovators series, where we look at exciting projects built within the TON Ecosystem. Today’s edition is slightly different, as we’re not interviewing a project but a group of TON contributors based in Asia who are committed to nurturing innovation and shaping the future of the next-gen internet. 

[TonX Studio](https://tonx.studio/) was founded in 2021 as a venture studio, founded by early TON developers and investors. Their portfolio includes products like TonStake, the first public staking validator, and TonKey, a multi-sig TON wallet that sets new security and convenience standards. 

TonX regularly hosts impactful hackathons that cultivate talent and foster a vibrant Asian community. Currently, they’re working on TonFura, a key infrastructure for tApps and TON. 

**TonX Studio: Leading the Charge in Next-Generation TON Blockchain Technology**

## **TonX Studio**
**Can you explain TonX Studio to our readers who might not be familiar with the concept of a venture studio? What do you do?**

TonX Studio, a team dedicated to the research and development of the foundational technology of TON Blockchain, has been deeply involved in exploring key technologies such as TON Validator, [TON DNS](https://dns.ton.org/), [TON Storage](https://ton-storage.org/), and [TON Proxy](https://docs.ton.org/participate/web3/sites-and-proxy) since 2021. In the early stages of TON's relaunch, due to their outstanding research and technical contributions, TonX Studio joined the Newton team, working together to build the next generation of blockchain.

Beyond technical development, TonX Studio is also actively engaged in community building, having organized multiple TON Meetups and hackathon competitions. Through these events, we have successfully incubated numerous TON blockchain development teams, spanning innovative areas like physical payment systems, zero-knowledge proof applications, transaction visualization systems, transaction tracking systems, oracles, decentralized exchanges, and multi-signature wallets.

As an experienced blockchain development team, we have invested our decade-long experience in cryptocurrency into the Web3 era of TON Blockchain. Our scope of work includes in-depth study of TON-related technical literature, analyzing related project codes on GitHub, collaborating with top TON developers worldwide, and working closely with the TON core team to jointly address issues and optimize the blockchain network. We are committed to the foundational infrastructure of the TON blockchain, tirelessly striving to create a more robust and efficient TON ecosystem.

**Who are the founders of TonX Studio?**

I am [Dr. Awesome Doge](https://twitter.com/drawesomedoge), the founder of TonX Studio and a seasoned scholar in the fields of blockchain technology and privacy. Since 2013, I have delved deeply into studying Bitcoin, privacy protection, and the Tor network. My work, which includes numerous research papers on Bitcoin, artificial intelligence, and anonymous networks, has significantly contributed to developing these areas.

Beyond my academic achievements, I have been actively promoting the application of Bitcoin in Asia. I established the largest Bitcoin community in the Chinese-speaking world, which now boasts over 160,000 members. Under the influence of this community, numerous entrepreneurs have emerged, leading to the creation of various innovative projects and exchanges, and I have witnessed their rise and decline.

In March 2021, my deep interest in The Open Network (TON) and its Newton community inspired me to dedicate myself fully to the research and development of the TON blockchain. This includes working on several key technological areas such as TON Validator, TON Storage, TON Proxy, TON Payment, and Multisig.

**Can you briefly describe your mission and vision? Why did you decide to develop the TON Ecosystem?**

*Dr. Awesome Doge: Founder of TonX Studio and Blockchain Technology Pioneer:*

I have participated in numerous leading research projects covering key technologies like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Layer 2, ZCash, and Ethereum. From these studies, we've observed several limitations in the development of Bitcoin. Initially designed for basic transactions, the introduction of Ethereum in 2015, with its virtual machine concept, brought the innovation of smart contracts to the blockchain world. Furthermore, the advent of Ethereum led to the widespread application of Fungible Tokens (FT) and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) since 2017. The launch of various Decentralized Finance (DeFi) applications in 2018 laid the foundation for today's DeFi infrastructure. The mass popularity of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in 2020 marked the beginning of a new era. In recent years, with the rapid development of blockchain applications, decentralized infrastructures have faced a demand exceeding supply. The cost of executing smart contracts once soared to $300 per transaction, highlighting the issues of high fees and long transaction confirmation times. To address these challenges, the industry spent over eight years seeking high-speed blockchain solutions, focusing on Layer 2, Sharding, and Proof of Stake. In 2018, Telegram proposed a solution based on Sharding and PoS and launched the largest ICO in history - Telegram Open Network (TON).

I believe The Open Network will be the ultimate blockchain solution, considering both the technical advantages of TON Blockchain and the importance of messaging software in the evolution of the internet. Previously, messaging apps like WeChat and Line integrated traditional financial payment methods, such as Visa and Mastercard, demonstrating value transfer systems based on messaging platforms. Facebook's Libra and Signal's token launch are also part of this trend. However, these attempts faced strong regulatory opposition or struggled due to low platform usage. In contrast, Telegram, with the world's second-largest user base, has successfully overcome various challenges, including sanctions from Russian and U.S. governments, showcasing its problem-solving capabilities. Compared to WeChat, Telegram is more likely to achieve internationalization and has already integrated a cryptocurrency payment system into its platform, an unprecedented move signaling a historic shift.

I am confident in the future of TON Blockchain. It not only possesses a unique blockchain architecture but also the largest chat software user group in the world, reaching 1.4 billion people. Telegram has been continuously optimizing the user experience over the past two years and may eventually achieve seamless integration of users with the Web3 world. As an early Bitcoin supporter with extensive cryptocurrency experience, I am committed to focusing on [TON Blockchain](https://ton.org/) development for the next decade, following a decade dedicated to Bitcoin technology.

**TonX supports projects building on TON, but you also build your own products. Can you introduce us to your portfolio?**

TonX Studio is centered around two core business areas. Firstly, we are dedicated to in-depth research and development in the underlying technology of the TON blockchain. As pioneers in this field, we have actively invested resources over the past three years to fill the technical documentation gap in the TON ecosystem. Our goal is to remain focused on the foundational technology of the TON blockchain, tackling its most challenging issues. This commitment allows us to concentrate on the technical development of foundational APIs, creating a comfortable and efficient development environment for future developers and entrepreneurs.

Secondly, we are committed to managing and optimizing the development process of this underlying technology. By creating TonFura, a high-performance API service, we have significantly reduced the development time for new partners joining the TON ecosystem. Historically, many startups faced challenges with node issues and a lack of APIs when integrating into the TON blockchain ecosystem. Through a one-time investment and concentrated effort, TonX Studio successfully developed TonFura, eliminating the need for future developers to spend months developing basic infrastructure. This not only saves new companies at least four months of development time and associated costs but also provides an optimal development pathway, accelerating the creation of quality products.

In summary, the business strategy of [TonX Studio](https://tonx.studio/) and the innovation of TonFura play a significant role in accelerating the growth of the TON ecosystem and enhancing development efficiency.

**As a group that’s been working on TON since 2021, you’ve seen the ups and downs of the TON Ecosystem over the years. What do you consider to be the most important developments of the past year?**

To understand the progress of the TON blockchain in 2023, it's crucial to look back at the year 2022. That year, the TON Core team made significant adjustments to the TON ecosystem, including the restructuring and optimization of core components such as TON Proxy, TON Storage, TON Nominator, and TON Payment. These elements are key parts mentioned in the TON whitepaper.
It's important to note that when the TON blockchain was proposed in 2017, tokens like ERC-20 and ERC-721 were not yet widely adopted. At that time, integrating a DNS structure into the blockchain was a foundational and challenging task, lacking modular design. In 2021, when development of the TON blockchain resumed, one of its primary tasks was to design TON token contracts. This led to the release of TEP 74 Fungible Tokens (Jettons) standard and TEP 62 NFT standard. Based on these standards, the 2017 DNS system was redesigned to incorporate the concept of NFTs and a DNS trading market was launched in 2022.

In 2023, building on the foundations of FT, NFT, and DNS infrastructure, the TON ecosystem expanded comprehensively into the realm of application development. The three key developments for 2023, in my view, were:

- **Launch of the Telegram Mini App Concept:** This significantly enhanced SDK and Figma design templates, marking a substantial contribution to the entire ecosystem.
- **Refinement of Wallet Connect:** This development is crucial for a closer integration of the TON blockchain with the Web 3 world, especially considering Wallet Connect's previously limited popularity.
- **Integration of Telegram with Wallet:** Announced at Token 2049, this enabled all Telegram users to have direct access to a TON Wallet, marking the entry into a 1.4 billion-user market for developers and the beginning of leading all Web 2 users into the Web 3 world.

Looking ahead, the TON blockchain has the potential to become a true Super App, which could profoundly impact the entire digital ecosystem.

**What are your plans for 2024? Can you tease any upcoming products or partnerships?**

In 2022, the TON core team successfully established fundamental blockchain infrastructure such as Fungible Tokens (FT) and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT). Entering 2023, this foundation further expanded into the application layer, notably through the development of the Telegram Mini App integrated with TON Wallet's TON Connect feature, achieving a seamless merger of Web 2 and Web 3. Currently, the TON blockchain infrastructure faces the challenge of serving Telegram's 1.4 billion users, and the widespread application of the Telegram Mini App is expected to further boost user growth.

In anticipation of this surge in users, we recognize that the TON blockchain is still in its nascent stage. To this end, TonX Studio has implemented two main strategies:

- **Development of the TonFura API Service:** We are committed to developing TonFura, a highly stable, high-frequency, and scalable API service. This service aims to become the preferred tool for developers and provide solid support to a broad user base. Our goal is to cater to all Telegram users.
- **Focus on Development in the Asian Market:** The Asian market is rich with skilled developers, entrepreneurial spirits, and enthusiastic businesses. Past battles in the DeFi and GameFi sectors have shown that Asia plays an indispensable role in the Web3 world, leading the market forward. Therefore, TonX Studio will focus on converting talent and setting clear development directions in the Asian market, aiming to become the most significant promoter and accelerator of TON in Asia.

**You have your finger on the pulse of the TON Ecosystem. What do you expect to be the biggest trend on TON in 2024?**

The year 2024 witnessed some of the most significant advancements in the TON ecosystem, particularly in two key areas:

- **Launch of a Native Stable Coin:** Since the end of 2022, the team has been exploring the feasibility of creating a native Stable Coin. Early considerations included designing an entirely new working chain to support the operation of the Stable Coin, an innovative and unique approach. However, in 2023, the focus shifted primarily to developing a smart contract version, concentrating on contract design and Sharding planning. After a year of intensive planning, design, research, and implementation, the development of the native Stable Coin is expected to be completed in 2024. The ability to use a native Stable Coin within Telegram is an eagerly anticipated milestone.
- **Innovation in Cross-Chain Bridges:** Another significant development in 2024 is the major upgrade of the TON Virtual Machine (TVM). The TVM will integrate a variety of new cryptographic algorithms, including several native to Ethereum and Bitcoin. This upgrade means the TON blockchain will be able to handle signatures and verifications from different blockchains more directly, thereby enhancing the functionality of cross-chain bridges between TON and other blockchains. This not only strengthens the design of oracles but also enhances the robust development potential of Layer 2 solutions, although the need for Layer 2 might be minimal due to TON's inherent high speed.



TON Innovators: TonX Studio

In a groundbreaking collaboration, TON, DWF Labs, and AWS recently hosted a DeFi and Data Analytics Hackathon titled [Hack-a-TON](https://www.defi-hackaton.com/). The event kicked off on May 27 and saw its grand finale in Singapore on September 11-12, 2023. 

The hackathon attracted a diverse and passionate community of Web3 developers, builders, and designers who spent months crafting, refining, and presenting their innovative solutions for DeFi and data analytics.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Screenshot_2023_10_04_at_23_04_16_Home_Hack_a_TO_Nx_DW_Fx_AWS_e865508cd6/Screenshot_2023_10_04_at_23_04_16_Home_Hack_a_TO_Nx_DW_Fx_AWS_e865508cd6.png) &nbsp;

Participants had the exclusive opportunity to engage in virtual workshops throughout the event. These workshops were conducted by seasoned mentors in the industry, offering invaluable insights and guidance. The hands-on sessions covered various topics—from blockchain basics and smart contract development to advanced data analytics techniques—ensuring there's everything for each participant.

The offline finals in Singapore were a spectacle of innovation, featuring some of the most creative and impactful projects developed during the Hack-a-TON. The hackathon celebrated technological progress and networking among like-minded Web3 enthusiasts.

By all accounts, Hack-a-TON catalyzed innovation and collaboration in the TON Ecosystem, setting new standards for what can be achieved when brilliant minds come together. With 137 participating teams, this was the biggest TON hackathon to date, and the prizes reflected this. **The winning teams shared over $415,000 in Toncoin and AWS Credits.**

## **Judging Criteria**
Hack-a-TON featured two rounds of judging. In the first round, the judges evaluated projects based on their potential impact, technical prowess, 'wow' factor, and business value, all scored on a 1-5 scale. Finalists proceeded to an offline showcase, where the criteria included the effectiveness of their pitch, quality, originality of the idea, 'wow' factor, problem-solving ability, and business potential.

All projects needed to utilize open-source code, accessible to judges via GitHub after the build phase. Participants could keep their repositories private during development but had to provide access for evaluation.

## **Hack-a-TON Winners & Runner-Ups**

- **🥇1st Prize – [ION Finance](https://ionfi.xyz/):** 70,000 USD in Toncoin sponsored by DWF Labs, 70,000 USD in TON grants, and 10,000 USD in AWS Credits. 

- [ION Finance](https://ionfi.xyz/) is revolutionizing DeFi with its concentrated liquidity AMM Dex on Telegram. Trade with precision, enjoy deep liquidity and stay ahead with real-time alerts. Welcome to the future of DeFi trading.

- **🥈2nd Prize – [Re:doubt](https://redoubt.online/):** 50,000 USD worth of TON sponsored by DWF Labs, 50,000 USD in TON grants, and 10,000 USD in AWS Credits.

- [Re:doubt](https://redoubt.online/) is a platform simplifying accessing complex TON data. Leveraging real-time data streaming and integration with TradingView, the platform offers responsive web-based DeFi solutions that are both user-friendly and quick to market. 

- **🥉3rd Prize – [Optus.fi](https://optus.fi/):** 30,000 USD worth of TON sponsored by DWF Labs, 30,000 USD in TON grants, and 10,000 USD in AWS Credits.
 
- [Optus.fi](https://optus.fi/) is a DEX and DEX aggregator equipped with an analytics dashboard providing valuable insights about trading volume, liquidity, and price trends across the TON Ecosystem.

### **Runner-ups: 5,000 USD in AWS Credits each.**
*Note that the runner-ups are not ordered in a specific order.*


- **TonFlow** – A web wallet for TON users, TonFlow aims to be the most secure and powerful wallet in the blockchain ecosystem. It showcases various features on its official website.
- **[TON Vault](https://blog.hashex.org/)** – A decentralized password manager leveraging TON Storage, providing secure and encrypted password management.
- **[Aqua Protocol](https://twitter.com/aquaprotocolxyz)** – An over-collateralized stablecoin protocol backed by liquid staking derivatives. It aims to offer interest-bearing stable assets.
- **[DYOR.IO (formerly FINDERTON)](https://FCK.Team)** – A platform for viewing token statistics and transaction overviews. It has its own utility token ($FCK) and allows centralized token voting.
- **TAP Landing** – A protocol that lets Telegram Anonymous Phone number owners lend out their assets. It aims to provide low-cost borrowing options through a seamless experience.
- **[EQT Lab](eqtlab.com)** – A personal finance platform based on AI for seamless user interaction. It offers finance assistant and personal analytics for both fiat and digital assets to give whole finance picture to each individual.
- **[Clean.ton](https://t.me/cleanton)** – A private asset swap protocol that eliminates the risk of front-running in crypto trading, aiming to save users from losing millions each month.
- **[Hipo](https://hipo.finance/)** – A decentralized liquid staking platform offering daily rewards and flexibility. Hipo prioritizes security and user protection within the DeFi ecosystem. Now Hipo has successfully launched on Mainnet, achieving $2 million in Total Value Locked (TVL) just in a month after launch.
- **Tonnel Network** – The first ZK-powered project on TON, Tonnel Network offers on-chain private transactions. It has been officially mentioned by the TON website.
- **[Tongochi](https://tongochi.org)** – A liquidity pool optimizer designed to maximize profits from yield farming by facilitating the staking of LP tokens.
- **[Devnull](https://t.me/re_doubt)** – A data provider offering real-time charting and TradingView integration. Devnull makes it easy to add TON market data to any platform.
- **[Anton Tools](https://anton.tools)** – A suite of tools designed to simplify off-chain data management for DeFi projects, featuring a contract parser, SDK for data transformation, and APIs for enhanced data accessibility and analytics.
- **MS Team** – A decentralized options trading protocol based on the AMM model. It offers competitive pricing and reduced risks for liquidity providers.
- **[AgoraAI](https://twitter.com/AgoraAI_)** – A decentralized AI marketplace offering chatbots, DAO governance, and on-chain AI data feeds for Telegram and TON sites.
- **[Nexton](https://X.com/@nextonnode)** – Nexton is based on the liquid staking derivatives platform aiming to optimize staking profits. It provides users with flexible ownership over their stake using NFTs.
- **[Cryfi](https://cryfi.framer.ai/)** – A marketplace where pro traders can monetize their knowledge right from Telegram, and newbies can earn & learn from blockchain-verified traders.
- **Chainbase Labs (Tonexus)** – A social data layer on TON employing open-source, encryption, and AI technologies to create a decentralized identity credit network.


As we wrap up this incredible event, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated and contributed to its success. A special thank you goes to all participating projects whose innovative ideas and hard work set new benchmarks in the world of DeFi and Data Analytics.

Our deep appreciation goes to the experienced mentors whose guidance fostered creativity and technical excellence. Finally, we couldn't have done it without our respected panel of judges, who took the time to evaluate each project.

Your collective efforts have made this event an inspiring and rewarding experience for all involved. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at future events!


Hack-a-TON x DWF Labs x AWS: Meet the Winners and Runner-Ups


Following our previous [TON Innovators interview with Evaa Protocol](https://blog.ton.org/ton-innovators-evaa-protocol), we’re bringing another interview from the series today. However, for this one, we picked a bit lighter subject. 

They have no website, no roadmap, not even a whitepaper. It’s the latest meme coin that took the TON Ecosystem by storm, successfully onboarding over 470,000 players since its launch less than a month ago, thanks to its competitive and gamified experience. We’ve talked to Notcoin, and here’s what they had to say. 

*This interview is for educational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice.*

## **TON Innovators - Notcoin**
**Can you introduce Notcoin to our readers? What is the core concept behind this Telegram-based game?**

Notcoin is probably nothing. 
<br/><br/>
<br/><br/>

**Thank you for the interview.**

TON Innovators: Notcoin

[The Gateway](https://tongateway.org/), The Open Network’s inaugural in-person conference held in Dubai this November, was a key turning point for the TON Community. With over 500 enthusiasts, developers, investors, and thought leaders in attendance, the event demonstrated the community’s dedication to putting crypto in every pocket by building a Telegram Web3 SuperApp.

Over the past year, the TON Ecosystem has made remarkable progress. Highlights include the launch of the self-custodial TON Space within Wallet on Telegram, streamlining tApp onboarding, gaining priority access to Telegram Ads, setting a global TPS record, and maintaining network stability without any outages for two consecutive years. These efforts have translated into more than 20 successful professional audits and a 40-fold increase in accounts since November 2021.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Untitled_design_2_bd597ba45b/Untitled_design_2_bd597ba45b.png) 

This recap updates TON Community members on the latest announcements from The Gateway that showcase our ongoing success and demonstrate how TON is on track to onboard 500 million users within the next 3-5 years.

## **Community Announcements**
TON Community is the foundation of The Open Network, with blockchain development led by a decentralized, open-source team guided by a community-driven philosophy. During The Gateway conference, numerous announcements highlighting the community’s central role were made:

- **The Open League:** [Jack Booth](https://twitter.com/jbfxdotme), Head of Marketing at TON Foundation, has proposed launching [The Open League](http://ton.vote/EQCb8dxevgHhBnsTodJKXaCrafplHzAHf1V2Adj0GVlhA5xI/proposal/EQA5eyWDAAegbL5Ay1CfelGG3yY9Ow7bgpfocTV6KDt9zeIl). This initiative is a gamified incentive program where users earn tokens and experience points that can be exchanged for Toncoin. The program aims to onboard and engage Telegram users using community-led mini-apps and participatory governance.
- **TON Society:** The ecosystem’s new on-chain, decentralized social network, [TON Society](https://society.ton.org/), will be supported by The Open League’s incentive structure. It is integrated with Telegram through Wallet and uses transparent P2P transactions, providing users with digital identity, reputation, and ownership.
- **Community Incentives:** A new community incentives program specifically designed to secure long-term liquidity by offering more recycling options within the ecosystem. It will allocate $25 million in strategic funding to support critical protocols with a focus on emerging verticals, including SocialFi, DeFi, and GameFi.
- **APAC Initiative:** A new strategic direction for TON with a strong focus on the growing Asian market. This approach includes partnering with prominent local entities, including MEXC and Alibaba Cloud. The objective is to empower Asian Web3 developers to engage with global businesses through Telegram Mini Apps and TON Ecosystem solutions.
- **TON Gaming Alliance:** The official launch of the [TON Gaming Alliance](https://ton.org/gamefi), a program designed to revitalize Web3 gaming and make it mainstream using TON-Telegram infrastructure. This initiative will offer developers comprehensive support throughout all stages of game creation, including technical guidance and financial assistance, enabling them to optimize their games by leveraging Telegram.
- **Accelerator Program:** In collaboration with [Hashkey](https://twitter.com/hashkeygroup?lang=en), TON Foundation has unveiled a new Accelerator and Incubation Program aimed at helping entrepreneurs build strong on-chain businesses. This program will offer a range of support services, including mentorship, product and marketing guidance, community-building strategies, security auditing, and funding.
- **Kucoin Grant Program:** In collaboration with TON Foundation, KuCoin has announced the start of a grants program designed to help Web3 developer teams build products for the Telegram Web3 SuperApp.

## **Product Announcements**
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/4_Y5_A8751_53c4efacea/4_Y5_A8751_53c4efacea.jpg) 

A key priority for TON is to ensure that both the blockchain and the SuperApp provide practical use cases for Web2 users. This involves a dedicated focus on creating tangible products that meet user needs. At The Gateway, several important new product launches were unveiled: 

- **Wallet x Telegram:** [The Open Platform (TOP)](https://twitter.com/topdotco) announced the global rollout of Wallet and TON Space within the Telegram settings menu. This update will make Wallet available for all Telegram users, regardless of their previous registration with Wallet, and is set to achieve worldwide coverage by Q2 2024. This rollout positions Wallet as an essential tool for Web3 developers and will be accompanied by significant advancements in Wallet Pay and TON Connect technology.
- **TON Scan:** Gunnar Grimnes, CEO of [Bakken & Bæck](https://twitter.com/bakkenbaeck), officially announced the launch of [TON Scan](https://tonscan.com/), offering a comprehensive index of TON from its inception to the present. This tool allows users to explore transactions, jettons, and NFTs across the network.
- **TON Lending Protocol:** The launch of a new TON-collateralized lending product was announced by Issa Zhang, Investment Manager at [MEXC](https://twitter.com/MEXC_Official), that will allow users to borrow up to 300K USDT using $1M worth of TON as collateral.
- **TON Market Makers:** [Tal Kol](https://twitter.com/koltal) from [Orbs](https://twitter.com/orbs_network) announced a new initiative with [STON.fi](https://twitter.com/ston_fi) aimed at enhancing users' token-buying experience and transaction processes. This program intends to connect Telegram users with various TON projects and attract market makers from EVM platforms to the TON Ecosystem.
- **TON Diamonds:** Building on their record-setting achievements in NFT sales and volumes, [TON Diamonds](https://twitter.com/TonDiamonds) is focused on becoming the premier ecosystem NFT marketplace.

## **Development Announcements**
 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Gh497_f39d7d3db9/Gh497_f39d7d3db9.jpg) 

At The Gateway, speakers highlighted TON Ecosystem’s unique appeal to Web3 developers, offering exclusive access to Telegram’s 800-million-user audience. Currently, the TON developer community on Telegram has over 11,000 members, with 180 active developers on GitHub and a portfolio of more than 230 active projects on the network. Significant announcements related to the development community included:

- **TON Stablecoin Toolkit:** A new suite for developing TON-based stablecoins.
- **Gasless Transactions:** A feature allowing users to execute transactions without incurring gas fees. 
- **Updated FunC & Tact Languages:** Enhanced versions of TON’s programming languages for improved smart contract development and execution.
- **TON Teleport:** A new cross-chain technology that eliminates intermediaries and private keys.
- **TON Bridge:** Upcoming expansions to TON Bridge that will include support for Jettons, Ether, and other new coins and networks.
- **TON Payments:** Instant and zero-fee microtransactions as a Layer 2 payment network.
- **TON Proxy:** A garlic routing technology designed to provide TON users with privacy while browsing the web.
- **TON Storage:** A full-fledged file storage service within the TON Ecosystem.
- **TON Browser:** A complete TON-based web browser scheduled for release in 2024.
- **TonTech Audit Program:** A professional smart contract audit service examining solution codes to ensure their security, functionality, and efficiency.
- **Bug Bounty Program:** An initiative offering rewards of up to $100,000 in Toncoin for identifying critical vulnerabilities in TON Blockchain’s code, main services, and smart contracts.
- **Telegram Ads Program:** A program offering funding to promising projects funding and access to Telegram's advertising services.

The Gateway represented a significant milestone for the TON Community, emphasizing its dedication to promoting crypto mass adoption and ensuring real digital ownership on TON Blockchain. 

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Gh256_e94d8d55ba/Gh256_e94d8d55ba.jpg) 

Looking ahead, our community’s objectives are straightforward: attract developers to the ecosystem with TON’s infrastructure and Telegram’s distribution network and continue building the Telegram Web3 SuperApp.



The Gateway Rewind

In a Web3 realm, The Open Network (TON) emerges as a fertile ground for innovators, developers, and dreamers united by a common quest: to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in the decentralized world. The heartbeat of this thriving ecosystem is our community, a collective force driving projects that reimagine how we interact with technology and each other. As the narrative of innovation unfolds, the spotlight often shines on the end products, leaving the remarkable journeys and the minds behind them in the shadows.

But no more.

Welcome to "TON Innovators," a fresh new content series dedicated to celebrating the human essence and ingenious minds driving the evolution of the TON Ecosystem. Through interviews with project visionaries, developers, and other members of the TON community, we delve into the stories, challenges, and motivations that fuel the continuous cycle of creation and growth within the TON Ecosystem. 

Each episode of "TON Innovators" offers a unique lens through which we explore the impact and vision of those building on TON. Our conversations aim to bridge the space between the technical and the personal, providing a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human element at the heart of TON's technological progress.

Let's get to the premiere interview of TON Innovators without any further ado. Today, we're exploring the [EVAA Protocol](https://evaa.finance/), the first decentralized lending protocol on TON that lets users lend or borrow assets without going to a centralized intermediary.

# **TON Innovators - EVAA Protocol**
*This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, approval, or recommendation of the project. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TON Foundation. This is not an investment advice.*

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Firefox_Screenshot_2023_11_13_T15_25_07_890_Z_f04184fc6d/Firefox_Screenshot_2023_11_13_T15_25_07_890_Z_f04184fc6d.png) 

**Can you briefly explain EVAA protocol to us? What is your core product?**

The EVAA protocol is a pioneering decentralized lending platform on the TON blockchain. Our core product is a lending protocol that allows users to lend and borrow digital assets without the need for a central intermediary. It harnesses the power of smart contracts to offer secure, transparent, and accessible transactions.

The protocol is designed to work seamlessly within the TON ecosystem and offers an intuitive user experience through integration with Telegram Messenger.


**Please explain the idea behind decentralized lending. What does it mean, and what are the benefits?**

Decentralized lending is a concept where borrowing and lending of assets occur directly between parties without the involvement of traditional institutions. This approach leverages blockchain technology to create a trustless environment where smart contracts replace intermediaries.

The benefits are manifold: it ensures greater transparency, lower fees, faster transactions, and accessibility to a broader range of participants. This approach also expands the availability of various services to communities lacking traditional economic support, while diminishing the likelihood of censorship or domination by any single organization.

 ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Screenshot_2023_11_13_at_16_25_15_Evaa_The_first_decentralized_lending_protocol_on_TON_856d17b61d/Screenshot_2023_11_13_at_16_25_15_Evaa_The_first_decentralized_lending_protocol_on_TON_856d17b61d.png) 

**Let’s talk about your team. Who are the founders, and what led you to create EVAA?**

The team behind [EVAA](https://evaa.finance/), comprising innovators and developers, recognized the need for a more flexible and transparent lending system in the DeFi space. Inspired by the capabilities of the TON blockchain, they set out to develop tools for more effective decentralized economic governance.

**Does your team have previous blockchain experience, or is this your first project?**

We have a solid foundation in blockchain technology and DeFi. The development of such a platform typically requires experience and a deep understanding of blockchain mechanics, security, and smart contract development.

**Out of curiosity, why the name EVAA?**

We like to say that we bring the opposite experience of AAVE. We bring the simplest and fastest experience in DeFi to Telegram. 

**Why should I choose EVAA and not one of its competitors?**

Choosing EVAA over competitors comes down to several key differentiators. First, our integration with the TON blockchain, known for its high-speed and eco-friendly transactions, allows for a more efficient and scalable DeFi experience.

Additionally, EVAA's user-centric design, which prioritizes simplicity and security, makes it accessible to both seasoned DeFi enthusiasts and newcomers. Moreover, our upcoming features, such as the release of our SDK, will enable even more innovative and flexible tools, keeping us at the cutting edge of DeFi.


**Now, let’s talk about TON. What led you to build on TON?**

TON's advanced blockchain technology offers unparalleled scalability and a user-friendly environment, which align perfectly with EVAA's mission to democratize economic empowerment for everyone. The network's capability to handle high transaction throughput means our users can enjoy a fast and smooth experience.

TON's commitment to sustainability and widespread adoption through Telegram also provide a solid foundation for reaching a broad and diverse user base.

**These days, it’s all about Telegram-integrated apps. Do you plan to integrate EVAA into Telegram?**

Absolutely, integration with Telegram is not just a plan—it's a cornerstone of our strategy. EVAA is designed to work hand in hand with Telegram through mini apps, which positions us at the forefront of user experience in the DeFi lending and borrowing sector. This integration allows users to manage their assets within the familiar interface of Telegram, simplifying the process and ensuring that the experience is smooth, accessible, and efficient.

We believe that by embedding EVAA within Telegram, we're not just following a trend; we're setting a new standard for convenience and user engagement in the DeFi world.


**Thank you for the interview. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? Any major plans, new products, or events?**

We're thrilled to share that EVAA is continually evolving. Our roadmap includes expanding multi-asset collateral options and enhancing our risk assessment algorithms to provide even safer lending options. Keep an eye out for our community events and upcoming platform updates.

We're dedicated to empowering our users with the most advanced tools in DeFi and are excited about what the future holds with EVAA and the TON.


TON Innovators: EVAA Protocol

Welcome to the TON Smart Challenge #4, a one-week contest open to both beginners and experienced FunC developers, featuring a total prize fund of 30,000 TON.  


<button href="https://t.me/toncontests_bot" passutmsource="true">
  Join the contest
</button >
<br/>


## **About the Contest**

The TON Smart Challenge #4 continues our tradition of offering tasks that showcase the fundamental aspects of how smart contracts function in TON. Participants will have the opportunity to master complex cell manipulations, smart contract storage organization, comment handling, basic cryptography, and the logic of governance smart contracts through problem-solving.

### Registration, Submission, and Duration
Registrations are now open. The tasks will go live on August 8, and the submission deadline is August 18 at 23:59:59 (UTC+4).

To enter the challenge, register via the [@toncontests_bot](https://t.me/toncontests_bot) on Telegram. The bot will assist you throughout the registration process and send you notifications with the latest updates, such as the contest start or the tasks. The bot will also guide you on submitting your entry as a legitimate participant.

**All entries must be submitted via GitHub, and your account must be at least a month old.**

For comprehensive instructions on submitting your entries, you can also refer to the official GitHub repository with the challenge tasks, which the bot will provide you on the first day of the contest.

### **Scoring System & Prize Distribution**

Winners of the contest will receive prizes denominated in Toncoin, the native cryptocurrency of the TON blockchain, which is also used as a resource for contract execution.

The scoring system is simple. **For each solved problem, the participant can earn a maximum of 6 points:** 

- Successful solution of the problem = 5 points
- If the solution is solved with no gas spent = 1 extra point

#### Prizes: 
1. 10,000 TON - The top 15% of participants
2. 10,000 TON - The middle 30% of participants
3. 10,000 TON - The bottom 55% of participants 

The pool of 10,000 TON will be split equally between all participants in the corresponding cohorts. In total, we will award 30,000 TON.*

*Please note that the total prize may vary depending on the number of participants.

<button href="https://t.me/toncontests_bot" passutmsource="true">
  Register Now!
</button >

TON Smart Challenge #4: Join to Win a share of 30,000 TON! 

As we delve into the digital age, Southeast Asia (SEA) is making a compelling case for itself as a hotbed for blockchain. With its rich blend of rapid economic growth, tech-savvy demographics, and burgeoning developer activity, countries like Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are shaping the future of blockchain and its applications. 

TON recognizes and aims to harness this potential, laying the groundwork for SEA's decentralized and interconnected future.

## Singapore: The Blockchain Hub of SEA
A hub for technological innovation, Singapore stands as a global powerhouse in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector. This city-state houses a vibrant ecosystem of over 400 blockchain-related startups, mainly due to its well-defined regulatory framework.

Investments in these Singapore-based companies surged in 2021, with nearly a 15-fold increase reaching a staggering $1.48 billion. The city-state led the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in blockchain research publications in 2020 and was ranked as the top crypto economy globally by the end of 2021. 

This thriving landscape has been cultivated through governmental initiatives and foreign direct investment. Notably, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has actively collaborated with private blockchain companies on projects such as Project Guardian, Project Ubin, and Dunbar. MAS has also introduced a sandbox regulatory program to facilitate further growth in the sector, providing a conducive environment for Web3 businesses.

With a firm grip on the digital future, Singapore has embraced the concept of the Metaverse, promoting the idea of legal transactions and even marriages within it. Additionally, Singapore shares a 6% registration rate among all crypto funds with Hong Kong and Switzerland.

## Thailand: An Emerging Powerhouse
Not far behind is Thailand, swiftly becoming a significant player in the blockchain arena. Its digital assets market has grown significantly, as evidenced by its population's increased interest and involvement. In 2022, 920,000 to 1.2% of the total population visited the CoinMarketCap website every month, trailing only slightly behind the United States regarding visits relative to the population.

Notably, Thailand's leading digital asset exchanges, such as Bitkub, Bitazza, Zipmex, and Satang Pro, had a total trading volume of around USD 37.94 billion in 2022. Bitkub led the way, holding a substantial 75.4% market share.

Moreover, the crypto industry's rapid expansion in Thailand is evident in the over 2.91 million user accounts on Thai Digital Asset Exchanges, which account for 4.14% of the total population. The growth in crypto accounts is on par with the 47-year-old Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), which has approximately 3.4 million accounts.

However, it's not all smooth sailing. As the crypto market entered a bearish phase in Q2 2022, the number of active users declined by 60%. Similarly, the usage rate of PancakeSwap DEX dropped significantly, while Uniswap saw a gradual increase despite the market downturn.
In terms of regulation, digital assets, and related businesses in Thailand operate under the Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses, B.E. 2561. The Decree aims to encourage technological innovation, offer a variety of fundraising instruments, protect investors, and ensure fairness in the digital assets market. A revision to this Decree is anticipated in 2023 to better align with the rapid development of digital assets.

The SEC is revising the Decree to adapt to the changing risk landscape amid growing global regulatory awareness. Following Singapore's model, the amendment also aims to foster the adoption of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in businesses, signaling potentially more favorable regulations for business operations and technology development.

## Vietnam: A Beacon for Software Engineers
The landscape of Vietnam, traditionally a powerhouse in manufacturing and agriculture, is transforming as the country emerges as a key player in software engineering and blockchain development. Capitalizing on its young, tech-savvy, and well-educated population, Vietnam is witnessing a surge in blockchain specialists.

Projections indicate a robust double-digit growth in the country's blockchain market between 2023-2027. This upswing is attributed to an increased understanding of cryptocurrency benefits, digital transformation across diverse sectors, and a surge in venture capital funding. Blockchain's potential to enhance financial transaction transparency, underpinning secure online transactions and smart contracts, and bolstering advanced cybersecurity measures in the banking sector is widely recognized.

Vietnam's push for smart cities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Binh Duong, and Nha Trang is fueling blockchain adoption, a crucial technology in these ambitious urban development projects. With the merging of technologies such as 5G, facial recognition, and blockchain, the country's blockchain market is seeing significant growth. The intensifying demand for 5G from key sectors—healthcare, energy, transportation, and manufacturing—is especially notable as these industries form the backbone of smart city development.

The Vietnamese government is championing cashless technology as part of its initiative to diminish the volume of cash transactions, enhancing transaction record transparency and efficiency. Collaborating with Alliex, a South Korean payment service provider, the State Bank of Vietnam has forged a network that facilitates cashless transactions. This is a stepping stone towards wider adoption of fintech technology in Vietnam, with Blockchain expected to be a critical part of future technological upgrades. To guide this process, state agencies are formulating a roadmap for the effective use and application of Blockchain technology.

## Indonesia: Embracing Blockchain Innovation
Lastly, Indonesia, SEA's largest economy, is not one to miss out on the blockchain revolution. The country is experiencing a surge in developer activity and market volume in the blockchain sector. Indonesia's tech-savvy population is quickly adopting digital assets, as reflected in the surge of local blockchain startups.

According to recent studies, in the past half-decade, the number of cryptocurrency traders in the country has surpassed stock market investors, revealing the fast-paced growth of this sector.

Given that over sixty-six percent of Indonesians remain unbanked, the potential for expansion is substantial as blockchain businesses proliferate across the country. With an estimated 4 million of Indonesia's residents being holders of BTC or other cryptocurrencies by 2020, there has since been an influx of 2.5 million new investors, marking an increase of 62%.

Regulatory clarity from the government has been a significant driver of this expansion. The Indonesian government is actively encouraging a conducive environment for the burgeoning cryptocurrency industry, focusing on counteracting fraudulent transactions. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin are legally recognized assets and commodities, though they cannot be used as a payment method yet.

The country's demographics also present an appealing opportunity for cryptocurrency growth. The age statistics reveal a promising future, with the majority of the estimated 7.7 million active cryptocurrency traders or investors falling between the ages of 18 and 34, including many college students. This young demographic of digital asset investors suggests the potential for massive growth in the sector.

ICN, a leading cryptocurrency multimedia company, has significantly influenced the recent surge in Indonesia's cryptocurrency sphere. The company, having collaborated with numerous key figures in the local and international scene, specializes in user acquisitions and intelligent campaigns. Other important entities include the cryptocurrency exchange Indodax and the trading platform Pintu, both of which have contributed substantially to the burgeoning cryptocurrency landscape in Indonesia.

Recognizing the potential, the Indonesian government has taken steps to regulate the use of digital assets, creating a safer environment for blockchain projects. As such, the country holds enormous potential for user growth within the web3 landscape, presenting exciting opportunities for blockchain enterprises. 

## Conclusion
SEA is quickly emerging as a dynamic and critical region in the global blockchain landscape. With the high activity of software developers, progressive regulatory frameworks, and vast potential for user growth, the region presents a promising frontier for blockchain projects like TON. 

By tapping into SEA's robust blockchain ecosystem, we are excited to contribute and help shape the future of decentralized technologies in this vibrant region. In the spirit of transparency and collaboration that defines blockchain technology, we encourage and invite all stakeholders - developers, governments, and users - to join us on this exciting journey. Together, we can unlock the transformative potential of blockchain and craft a new digital future for SEA.


Exploring Blockchain Activity in the SEA Region from TON’s Perspective

Interview with TON’s Technical Lead Anatoliy Makosov

The story of Tact language: from idea to release

The Open Network (TON) represents a “blue ocean” where amazing projects can be built, according to [Tal Kol](https://twitter.com/koltal), TON Ambassador and founder of Orbs, a layer 3 blockchain. In Kol’s opinion, TON is quite simply a network that was built for mass adoption. Speaking at the opening ceremony to a packed room of young developers and entrepreneurs present for *Hack in London*, a two-day hackathon in the UK capital, Kol explained what excites him about TON. Kol has devoted many hours to building on TON while Orbs is at the forefront of new development in the TON ecosystem.

The London hackathon took place at [DLT HUB](https://twitter.com/dlt_hub?lang=en), a collaborative workspace for small teams and start ups in the blockchain space overlooking the waterside at Canada Water in London’s East End. The event gave participants a valuable opportunity to learn and build on TON.

Kol explianed how Ethereum has become a crowded space where only the most niche ideas are likely to succeed. While the second biggest blockchain’s 5,000 or so professional developers have seemingly made fields such as decentralized finance (DeFi) their own, TON, which also has its own burgeoning DeFi ecosystem, has the potential to provide a bedrock for consumer-facing Apps that could herald the next stage of Web3 development. Projects building on TON have the potential to leverage Telegram’s 700 million-plus user base and reach a consumer base that is far more voluminous than that of other blockchains. User-friendly apps in fields such as payments, non-custodial wallets and gaming that tap into the user base of social networks such as Telegram could well prove essential if mass adoption of Web3 is to be achieved.

To start the two-day event, Kol oversaw a series of tutorials with attendees introducing TON and explaining the basics of how to code on the network. Some attendees were novice coders and as many of the developers at the event came from a Web2 background, his tutelage on the basics of decentralized applications was keenly sought. Meanwhile, some teams came to the hackathon with a clear idea of what they wanted to build and began in earnest. One team made a start on developing a peer-to-peer gambling service while another set out to build a jobs board. One team came to event with an impressive idea that worked using VR glasses.

Project plans were already starting to take shape by lunch time as pizzas arrived to satisfy the hunger of the 50 or so coders gathered in the various spaces at DLT Hub. As is usually the case with a hackathon, the early stages of the event had been devoted to brainstorming ideas, research and deciding on the best approach to take.

During lunch time a news editor from The Block, arrived to speak with Kol and hear more about the TON blockchain. Kol explained to him how TON excels. Originally introduced by the Telegram team inheriting its freedom and openness ethos, TON has been run as an open-source community project since 2020. With a layer-1 architecture — designed to scale up to 2 to the power of 32 workchains, each of which can be subdivided into up to 2 to the power of 60 shardchains — TON can support millions of transactions per second near-instantly. Tal made a quick demo to The Block with @Wallet Bot, which enables Telegram users to make payments and purchase cryptocurrencies with a credit or debit card, to show how instantaneous payments can be made. Performing his role as the ‘roaming Jedi’, Kol also shared his expertise with all attendees, providing guidance on matters such as the writing of smart contracts for TON’s revolutionary async VM.

Sally Shen, the founder of RabbitGo, a start-up providing growth solutions via ‘learn to earn’ for web3 businesses, content creators and individuals, drew inspiration from the two-day event and plans to build further projects on TON. “We were impressed by the supportive supervisors at the TON hackathon who provided valuable advice to the developers and stayed with the teams for the entire two days,” says Shen. “We also appreciated the cozy venue at DLT, with separate rooms for different groups and good food. Additionally, we enjoyed connecting with people in the Web3 space and seeing short demos at the end of the day.”

Teams huddled over laptops and continued to build into the early hours of Sunday morning. By the second day the arrival of assorted afternoon snacks from a nearby supermarket provided the necessary sustenance for teams to carry on to the finishing line. When the two-day event concluded on Sunday evening it had proven to be valuable opportunity for all attendees to learn and build on TON. Participants can now enter *Hack-a-TONx DoraHacks*, a 2-month long virtual hackathon, and be in with a shot of winning a cool $250,000 in Toncoin (TON).


First London Hackathon a building ground for emerging developer talent on TON

There's a lot of discussion going on in the TON community about the [proposal](https://t.me/tonblockchain/178) for "Tokenomics Optimization". The proposal is to freeze inactive genesis mining wallets for 48 months. To be more specific, 194 wallets holding 1,081,425,847 Toncoin. The list of addresses is available here: https://tontech.io/stats/early-miners

Like many members of the community, I formed my own opinion on the matter. I even changed my mind a couple of times when I understood a few things that weren't initially clear. To help educate the community on the subject, I decided to put my personal opinion in writing. We may even have a community vote on this proposal, which makes educated decision-making even more important.

If you don't know me, I've been an active contributor to the TON ecosystem for a while now. I'm the co-founder of [Orbs](https://orbs.com) and I [submit pieces](https://blog.ton.org/six-unique-aspects-of-ton-blockchain-that-will-surprise-solidity-developers) to this blog from time to time. I [speak about TON](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqoqt1b4h2k) in conferences and do (uncompensated) ambassadorial work for our ecosystem. I believe that TON is a game changer and I love our community. It's important to note that I'm not part of the TON Foundation and, in any case, the opinions written here are my own.

## Freezing accounts - wtf?

This was my knee-jerk reaction to this proposal when I first saw it. The TON community has some members that come from web2 backgrounds and members that come from web3. If you know me, you already know that I come from web3 and [deeply believe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n6PLEW4Pmk) in decentralization. I'm the author of the [DeFi belief system](https://defi.org/defi-belief-system) and known to be a maximalist in my views.

Now, for a decentralization maximalist to hear about freezing accounts - indeed wtf? A fundamental principle of web3 is true ownership. What gives us the right to freeze anyone's tokens?

The source of not wanting to freeze others' tokens stems from the fear that one day in the future, somebody may want to freeze my own. My tokens belong to me and no community vote should be able to touch them.

It took a closer reading to understand that this proposal does not violate this principle. The proposal discusses the genesis mining program of TON. As you know, as part of the genesis, TON coins were distributed by a [2 year PoW mining program](https://ton.org/mining) that ended in June 2022. The proposal brings to discussion some parameters of this mining program and its tokenomics. The tokens up for a freeze are only tokens that were mined directly from the genesis PoW Giver contracts and were not fully claimed until today. **Nobody in TON will ever dream of freezing a regular token in somebody's wallet.**

## The market cap of TON

Market cap is probably the most important metric in any token-based ecosystem. This is the primary metric by which the industry ranks projects. Entire websites are dedicated for this metric like https://coinmarketcap.com. It is well known that Bitcoin is currently number 1 and Ethereum is number 2. Number 1 in what exactly? In market cap.

It turns out that projects throughout the years often attempt to manipulate and inflate their market cap artificially in order to climb up in the rankings. Everybody wants to be a top 10 coin. One of the ways to do this is to mint a large amount of tokens that aren't actually traded (they can be locked somewhere). Since they're not actually traded, minting them will not create sell pressure and bring the token price down. But when calculating market cap naively, they will take part of the calculation and inflate the numbers. Easy win.

To combat such manipulations, websites like [coinmarketcap.com](https://coinmarketcap.com) have algorithms that only take *circulating supply* into account. Meaning only tokens that touch the market and can actually be traded are counted towards the market cap.

Now we all know that TON is a top 30 project and we all expect it to even climb to the top 5. But, if you were looking in [coinmarketcap.com](https://coinmarketcap.com) just a few months ago, you would see TON ranked in market cap somewhere around place 250. Many legitimate TON coins were not taken into account and the market cap was incorrectly low.

## Fixing the circulating supply

It is in the community's best interest to identify and signal the **true circulating supply** of TON. Take an artificial number that is too low - then TON drops in the rankings since the market cap drops. Take an artificial number that is too high - then you signal to investors that many tokens can hit the market and the token price drops.

To help find the true number, the community has been actively telling holders for a while, mainly genesis holders, to move their tokens. This is particularly important if these tokens have never been moved since they were mined. It's enough just to send them to another wallet that you control. What this action does is signal that these tokens are part of the circulating supply.

The issue we have is that a significant number of tokens, that all came from genesis mining, have not been moved. Even worse, these tokens are in wallets that were never even deployed. As you know, unlike Ethereum, TON wallets are smart contracts. When you use a wallet, you must first deploy the smart contract code that operates it to the chain. Until you do so, the wallet is uninitialized. It turns out that the tokens that never moved are in wallets that are not even initialized.

The project needs to give certainty to the market as to how many tokens were mined during the genesis program. This is what this proposal is all about.

## A gentle solution

First, the proposal is only applicable to miners that have lost access to their coins. If a genesis miner has access, they are free to move the coins once and thus take them out of the list of uninitialized wallets. We know from other ecosystems like Bitcoin that a large percentage of mined coins are lost forever to wallets that don't have properly functioning private keys.

Second, the proposal is very light and doesn't freeze uninitialized coins forever. It asks to freeze them only for 48 months. What this does is gives certainty to the market for the next 4 years about the number of coins distributed in the genesis mining program.

This is why the proposal is described as dealing with "Tokenomics". A big part of TON tokenomics is the number of coins generated by genesis mining. This number could have been chosen to be somewhat arbitrary. The market prices TON coin accordingly.

## Bottom line decisions

My personal opinion is that this proposal should pass. I'm not concerned that somebody will ever take or freeze my tokens. I think that parameters like how many tokens were actually mined are important to set accurately. I think the market is waiting to see if the community makes a responsible decision and if the proposal passes, investor confidence in the project will rise.

---

*Tal is a founder of [Orbs Network](https://orbs.com). He's a passionate blockchain developer, open source advocate and a contributor to the TON ecosystem. Follow Tal on [GitHub](https://github.com/talkol) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/koltal).*


Opinion about 'the freeze' — adding vesting to unclaimed mining rewards

# Opinion - Against freezing inactive accounts of the first miners

TON users and investors are awaiting the vote on whether to freeze wallets belonging to the first miners of the network for 48 months. These wallets contain a total of 1,081,425,847 TON coins. I first became aware of this from the [testnet code](https://t.me/investkingyru/851) of the official TON Blockchain repository, before it was later announced by the TON Core Dev team as a proposal that requires a vote.

## What is the freeze for?

Investors who look into TON are immediately faced with the question – where is 96% of the TON coin supply? Who has it? There are no answers as of yet. When TON first appeared on [CoinMarketCap](https://coinmarketcap.com), it only occupied the +250th place in market cap because this missing TON was not circulating. This ranking was based upon the actively circulating TON in the network which, at that time, was a small fraction of the total.

Today, TON is in the top 30 on CoinMarketCap on the understanding that 1,221,401,181 TON out of the total 5,047,558,528 TON issued are circulating amongst active wallets.

## What does the freeze risk?

If the vote supports making changes to the TON mainnet, the introduction of these norms would create a bad precedent, particularly with respect to decentralization, the empowerment of the people, and the Web3 vision. Contrary to these tenets, a select group of people would be able to block any user.

Recently, Pavel Durov, in his address regarding the launch of the [Fragment](https://fragment.com) platform said that we should strive for decentralization and the transfer of power to the people through blockchain technology. But now we are planning to suspend some of the first miners, and it is unclear why. Huge Bitcoin wallets have been holding their reserves for 10 years now and no one is regulating them. How does simply putting the issue to a vote distinguish a decentralized blockchain from a centralized bank, especially given that voting will be done by major TON owners who also happen to be among the first miners?

The current group of active first miners could, with the amount of TON coin at their disposal, build a network of validators in 48 months and earn even more TON.

## Voting is meaningless.

For a long time, voting has not been a decentralized solution in the TON network because of the large number of controlled validators.

Take, for example, the vote regarding DNS domains and the integration of .t.me domains. After the initial announcement, a ‘vote’ was confidently held among validators and the configuration of these domains was changed.

Based on this, it is highly likely that a validator vote will result in a decision to freeze the wallets, without any influence from the wider community, because it is beneficial for TON Foundation and large holders.

## The freeze would set a precedent.

If we consider the consequences of the freeze, then the reduction in liquidity may attract new investors but, on the other hand, the centralized control of frozen addresses may scare off other investors because of the perception that their address could be frozen at any time.

This is a precedent that would undermine any future guarantees. If a mechanism for blocking addresses is added, it would make it much easier to use again in the future and no one would be immune from being blocked. Amongst the early miners, there may well be a real person who forgot about TON, will find his seed phrase in a year or two, and then find out that he has been blocked on the blockchain.

---

*Vudi is the author of a channel about TON [@investkingyru_en](https://t.me/investkingyru_en) and an active participant in the TON ecosystem. He is also the founder of the blockchain collection kingyTON, based on the historical events of the TON project [ton.org.in](https://ton.org.in). If you find errors in this post, please let Vudi know on Telegram [@kingyru](https://t.me/kingyru).*


Freezing inactive accounts of the first miners

While you were enjoying eating salad with your family, I decided to prepare a great post for you in the morning so you can start the new year with something healthy while sipping your mineral water.

[Tal Kol](https://twitter.com/koltal), the founder at [Orbs](https://www.orbs.com/), is a very smart man with a lot of experience with apps, users and development. He has been an entrepreneur all his life.

Kol is interested in infrastructure projects for users and has always thought about mass adoption of blockchain applications, which is how Orbs came to be. All of his early years at Orbs were centered around Ethereum. In interviews, he keeps referring to Ethereum as a technologically complex tool that will never be embraced by people. “Ethereum is not a blockchain for mass adoption. My mom will never use it,” he says.

When Telegram posted a White Paper in 2018 he saw that Nikolai Durov's concept was very similar to what he was promoting. TON shines new colors in his eyes, and in 2021, when he saw that Telegram had staked on it, he began to participate in the ecosystem.

It came as a surprise to me when he said that the Ethereum code is centralized, and that its code is run by a corporation (I didn't know). “Ethereum, Google or Uber won't let you do a fork of their services, their code is closed, but TON, on the contrary, is as open as possible and makes an honest platform with a concern for users' interests. Not because it makes more money, but because people need it. After all, if TON becomes a bad blockchain or users see that the project is developing the wrong way, people will just do a fork and be a better version," says Kol.

A little earlier [Tolya Yanot](https://github.com/tolya-yanot) wrote that TON will overtake Ethereum in the number of active users, Kol says similarly: “Ethereum or Solana. None of them have a chance to compete with TON in terms of mass adoption. We’ll catch up to them in terms of the number of users. I'm not worried, it won't take long.”

He goes on to give an example in which blockchain trumps centralization. “The big problem with all centralized systems, without blockchain, is that I build, say, a product or application system, and you are my user. I build a Google search, and you want to search on my platform. I build an Uber, you want a ride on my platform. When they tell you how the platform works, they make you certain promises, like I will send a car to you very quickly and write how long it will take. You don't know how it works, but you have to trust them. And they have an incentive to deceive you. Why? Because they’re making money off you. But you’re not part of the ecosystem. You are the product, you are the customer. You’re not a stakeholder, nobody cares about you. And what web3 and blockchain allow us to do is create products that give assurances to users. So, for example, if I want to create a search and I can demonstrate that the search results are not manipulated. So, on blockchain, we can create products that give guarantees to end users about certain aspects of those products. And it keeps the integrity of the system, kind of bypassing governance,” says Kol.

He also mentions people coming out of VK and Telegram. “These people understand what mass affinity is. They know how to reach a billion users, unlike Ethereum.”

And lastly, he has some very wise words. “You know, there’s more to what we do than just writing code. We’re trying to create a movement, and in order to create a movement, the best way to have the biggest impact is to inspire other people to go in the same direction. I want you to be a part of TON and not because I’m going to make money from TON, but because we want to build something bigger than ourselves. Ultimately, TON will become a better ecosystem for users.”

Thank you to the TON&Co team for the interview. It was helpful and interesting.

For the full video interview see [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkMk6IUm6Cg&list=PL8nfJTMR2BSAFA4hG8GOqlYeqW0lX-NNd).  

Vudi is the author of a channel about TON [@investkingyru_en](https://t.me/investkingyru_en) and an active participant in the TON ecosystem. He is also the founder of the blockchain collection kingyTON, based on the historical events of the TON project [ton.org.in](https://ton.org.in/). If you find errors in this post, please let Vudi know on Telegram [@kingyru](https://t.me/kingyru).


Understanding what mass affinity is and how to reach a billion users

Hello guys, it's been more than a month since I've gotten involved in the Wrapped TON initiative and I'm sharing with you some overview as well as my thoughts on it.

If you are familiar with FunC programming or aim to start on this path - this will be very interesting for you from both technical and community perspective. To follow up with the latest news on Universal WTON, please have a look at this TEP: [ton-blockchain/TEPs#102](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/TEPs/pull/102)

I would like to address this article to newcomers in TON as well as experienced developers, so here is the agenda:

1. What is WTON and why bother to even have it?
2. How do community initiatives work in TON?
3. Current suggested Universal WTON standard
4. Fresh new input from TON core team on the WTON
5. Call to action to take part in the discussion

Are you ready? Let's jump in!

# 1. What is WTON and why bother to even have it?

Interaction with different kinds of assets require additional conditional logic. To avoid that and unify interaction between TON and jettons of TEP-74 and TEP-89 standards, we introduce a concept of **WTON - a jetton that is locking TON 1-to-1 on mint and releases TON on burn.**

Implementation of a wrapped TON contract doesn't require a lot of effort. As a matter of fact, several implementations already exist. The problem is that numerous different wrapped TONs (wTON, jTON etc) created by different developers bare lots of risks:

- **Financial risks:** there is no guarantee that a particular WTON doesn't hold security vulnerabilities left deliberately or by mistake. Getting security audits and certifications of the same quality for all the many WTONs is unrealistic.
- **Ecosystem fragmentation and no single API:** this is a real problem for developers who are building products that will have to use a variety of WTONs. Imagine a wallet developer who wants to correctly display the total amount of WTON, including regular and all kinds of wrapped ones.
- **No parity of features:** each WTON will have its own unique set of features, which will lead to additional issues with support.

# 2. How do such initiatives work in TON?

While working with Universal WTON I got familiar with a number of great tools, that enable any builder to make impact. Let me explain.

**TEPs (TON Enhancement Proposals).**

The main goal of TON Enhancement Proposals is to provide a convenient and formal way to propose changes to TON Blockchain and standardize ways of interaction between different parts of ecosystem. Proposal management is done using GitHub pull requests, the process is described formally in [TEP-1](https://github.com/markokhman/universal-wrapped-ton-article-1/blob/main/text/0001-tep-lifecycle.md).

Here is a simple list of steps to use the TEP instrument:

1. Discuss your proposal with community first, for example in TON Dev chat ([en](https://t.me/tondev_eng)/[ru](https://t.me/tondev)).
2. Read [TEP-1](https://github.com/markokhman/universal-wrapped-ton-article-1/blob/main/text/0001-tep-lifecycle.md) to understand proposal management process and follow the guideline.
3. Submit a pull request.

**The TON Footsteps**

TON Footsteps is another cool instrument that can help you to fund your initiative. It's run similarly to TEPs. You can go the official [TON Footsteps repository](https://github.com/ton-society/ton-footsteps), propose your initiative according to guidlines and let the community support you on this path.

Based on the analysis of your initiative and the level of support from the community, the TON Footsteps committee will decide whether to accept and fund it. I find it very cool, that such initiative allows anybody to take part in shaping TON and improving it.

So, to sum up - The Universal WTON initiative was funded by **TON Footsteps** and is run through official **TON Enhancement Proposals** repository.

# 3. Current suggested Universal WTON standard

As the first step of TEPs usages states, we've discussed the WTON proposal with the community. With help of guys from [TON Foundation](https://ton.org/) and [FS Labs](https://fslabs.io/) we've gathered representatives from all major existing DEXs (Decentralized Exchange) developers and started a solid discussion on how to implement WTON in the most effecient way. Following is what we came up with.

> You should definitely consider looking into [the actual TEP Pull Request](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/TEPs/pull/102), as it has much more detailed explanation along with specifications, solution drawbacks and alternatives.

As mentioned above, the universal WTON has a single source of origin, a deployed minter contract that has no owner/admin functinalities.

Two core functionalities of WTON are **wrapping** and **unwrapping** TON.

### Wrapping

In order to wrap WTON, send a `mint` operation code with a message. WTON minter will reserve `amount + minimal_balance()` TON on the minter contract and will send the rest to a WTON wallet of `recipient` within `internal_transfer` message.

One of the most important things is the ability to attach `forward_amount` and `forward_payload` to build a pipeline of transactions.

The message should be rejected if:

- `msg_value` is less than `amount + forward_amount + gas_fee`
- `recipient` is in different workchain than the minter

### Unwrapping

In order to unwrap WTON jettons back to TON, `burn` operation code should be used.

Our deployed implementation relies on existing operation `burn` (including `custom_payload`) but uses a new operation `burn_notification_ext` instead of `burn_notification`. The only reason for replacing `burn_notification` by a new `burn_notification_ext` is inability to attach a `custom_payload`.

After burning, a jetton wallet sends `burn_notification_ext` to a minter. As soon as WTON minter receives `burn_notification_ext` message, it decreases `total_supply` by `amount`, reserves `total_supply + minimal_balance()` and sends a message with `release` operation code to `response_destination` attaching the rest of TON and optional `custom_payload`.

The message with `burn` operation should be rejected if:

- `response_destination` is not specified
- `amount` is less than jetton balance of jetton wallet
- `msg_sender` is not an owner of jetton wallet
- `msg_value` is not enough for handling both messages `burn` and `burn_notification_ext`

# 4. Fresh new input from TON core team on the WTON

Here we expereince the power of the TEP tool, as all the proposals there are regularly reviewed by the core team and so was our proposal.

After some waiting time, we've received a fresh new idea from Ston.fi developer [Dario](https://github.com/dariotarantini) and [EmelyanenkoK](https://github.com/EmelyanenkoK) - this one of the core team developers as we can see on the commits to the main TON monorepo. [EmelyanenkoK](https://github.com/EmelyanenkoK) also [implemented a draft solution](https://github.com/EmelyanenkoK/wTON), that can help one better understand the overall idea.

> I will briefly explain the new inputs here, but you should definitely go into the [the actual TEP Pull Request](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/TEPs/pull/102) and follow along with the discussion.

To sum up the idea, i will quote the [EmelyanenkoK's message on the PR](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/TEPs/pull/102#issuecomment-1378829623):

> I want to emphasize some aspects of @dariotarantini proposal: 1.each wTON wallet works as minter/burner itself - no need for additional interaction with minter which means one or even two transaction shorter paths 2.we can reformulate this scheme in the following terms: in original proposal when we want to send TONs we actually send IOU jettons which is redeemable as TON, but in scheme proposed by Dario we send TON themselves but disguised as jetton transfer for compatibility.

This example shows that some great ideas can be derived as a result of collaboration.

# 5. Please take part in the discussion

So now, after getting such solid input from both the core team and community members, we are going to proceed with discussions on the details of how this should be applied on Universal WTON.

I want to invite you to participate in this discussion. In my opinion, this is the best way to better understand TON, as it is community driven and holds the potential for the best working solution.

Follow the [link](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/TEPs/pull/102) and let us know what you think!

------

Written by [Mark Okhman](https://github.com/markokhman) To stay in touch, please follow my [Telegram](https://t.me/markokhmandev) and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@markokhman?sub_confirmation=1) channels.


Universal WTON initiative and how we make TON better together

In August 2022, there was an interview with one of the developers of the TON DNS smart contract, Anatoly Makosov (tolya
yanot), which is still relevant today. However, a lot has changed since then, including the launch of the Telegram
username auctions — [Fragment](https://fragment.com).

### What are TON DNS and Telegram Username now?

TON DNS turned out great: it's well thought-through, well-designed and implemented. It's also the most multifaceted
component of those launched previously, as it covers usernames for wallets, domains and subdomains for TON sites, NFT
and partial burning of Toncoin emission.

In late October, the Telegram team released a username auction based on the TON blockchain. It is based on the same TON
DNS contract.

### Why was it decided to burn TONs paid for domains, and not to increase staking percentage?

The percentage of staking is directly related to the reward of the network validators. Validators are rewarded for
keeping the network running. The more users and transactions, the more work the validators get, the greater reward they
receive. This is what the tokenomics of the network is built on, and introducing new rules and relationships (such as
validators receiving undeserved revenue from DNS auctions as well) is not a good idea. If there’s a need to increase
validators' reward, it would be better to do so by putting forward the proposal to increase network rewards, and having
the community decide by vote.

The DNS auction is made as decentralized and open as possible.

Coins from the initial sale of domains, to be precise, are not burned, but remain forever on the auction's smart
contracts and are permanently removed from circulation. However, it’s easier to use the words “burn” and “burning” here.

If the funds from the initial sale of the domains had not been burned, several problems would arise:

- Who would control the proceeds? You would have to create some sort of TON DNS DAO, identify the people who would be a
  part of it, the format of their work, etc.
- These people would be able to take any domains, just by making huge bids on them, because at the end of the auction
  funds will fall into their own hands anyway.

Therefore, this option was set aside. Now the conditions for obtaining domains are equal for all: core-team participates
in auctions on the same terms as other users.

Coins go out of circulation, and that always has a positive effect on tokenomics. You may argue that at the moment ~600k
TON worth of domains have been sold, and that is insignificant in the context of all available coins out there, but this
auction will stay forever, and a very significant amount of coins may be burned during the whole time.

Some argue that it would be better to spend the proceeds from the domain sale on registering the .ton zone with ICANN.
This way, the sites would become available both at ton://dubai.ton and at [http://dubai.ton](http://dubai.ton). They are
already working in this direction and I hope they can do it. It's worth noting that the ICANN registration fee is paid
in U.S. dollars, not Toncoin.

### Why did Telegram take a different approach?

Pavel Durov often says that he does not have enough money to support Telegram, and until recently, he supported
everything with his own funds. Then came the paid Telegram Premium subscription, and now anyone can auction off their
username.

I believe that Telegram deserves to use the Toncoins it receives for selling Telegram usernames.

### There is a lot of controversy in the community about domains being too expensive, why is it so?

Domains like "life" or "casino" in the usual centralized DNS registries are not cheap either. In fact, they will cost
much more than $1000 there.

If there wasn’t a minimum price for a domain, cybersquatters would quickly register all the domains with the help of
automatic bots at little cost. That is why the starting minimum price depends on the number of letters — without the
minimum price, you could, for example, register absolutely all 4-letter domains (26^4 = ~457 thousand) for only a few
tens of thousands of TON.

The TON community is constantly growing. Setting a minimum price is fair to people who will come to TON later and learn
about domains later.

It is worth noting that the minimum price decreases over time and in the end, even 4-letter domains will start at 100
TON.

The reputation of the Telegram messenger also suggests that 4-letter usernames can cost $10,000, and even 1.5M TON as
time shows.

### Who developed the TON DNS contracts?

Kirill Emelianenko and Anatoly Makosov are the ones who make the important Roadmap smart contracts.

They are quite paranoid about reviewing contracts and testing them. Almost all system contracts have a very high cost of
failure, so it's a lot of work.

All the contracts are open source, there's a Bug Bounty program, which means that the community does the audit as well.

This year, a number of well-known companies that specialize in finding bugs and vulnerabilities in smart contracts tuned
in.

### How can I make sure that the DNS and Usernames smart contracts are good?

The smart contracts code is open and available on GitHub, and anyone can view it. For non-technical people, probably the
main criterion is that everything works.

Telegram published a smart contract hack contest on Oct. 22 with a $100,000 prize. No one has cracked it.

### How would you comment on the words of Nikolay Durov "In most cases, the persistent data of a TON DNS Resolver smart contract contains a prefix dictionary with keys equal to the defined subdomain names (with terminating zero byte) and values equal to a (HashmapE 16 ^DNSRecord)...". Why didn't you follow this scenario?

The records are stored that way, but the key size was increased from 16-bit to 256-bit to comply with
the [Token Data Standard](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/TIPs/issues/64) and to allow different projects to simply
take arbitrary strings as a key instead of coordinating the keys with each other.

For example, the Disintar Marketplace could store some of its information in user domains with the key "disintar_info"
and it would definitely not overlap with other projects.

### Have you thought that when there will be a full-fledged implementation of TON Sites, TON Proxy, ADNL, a lot can change? And we already have DNS contracts written. Also, in the case of any vulnerability in the child DNS contracts, the fix is likely to be impossible on the existing domains (also with NFT, tokens, etc).

Of course, everything is calculated several steps ahead.

A lot of attention is paid to revision and testing of the underlying code. The network is stable and applications don't
send [private keys to the backend like](https://twitter.com/Blokchainaholic/status/1555010999383883777) in Solana. To
date, there have been no real hacks in TON, neither in the kernel nor in the core applications and services.
The [Bug Bounty](https://github.com/ton-blockchain/bug-bounty) program plays an important role.

For over a year and a half now, the team has been actively producing systematic releases, and has maintained a pace of
several global (such as TON DNS and TON Payments) releases per quarter, on top of all other work. In fact, the pace is
even faster. For example, this quarter (Q3) they also plan to [launch the NFT bridge](https://t.me/tonblockchain/146)
and token bridge, which were not included in the original roadmap. These are complex and non-trivial tasks, 90 days is a
very short time to implement them. However, the team produces stable, well working solutions. If we consider not only
the system releases, but the entire ecosystem, then news, updates or launches happen almost every day.

TON Foundation and independent development teams in TON work extremely efficiently and professionally.

### The smart contract allows validators to remove or take away domains. What will happen to domains like “coinbase” or “binance”? What if the TON Foundation needs it for important tasks or purposes?

TON Foundation members buy domains on the same terms as all other users. Various exchanges, too.

In exceptional cases it’s possible to change the owner or delete a specific domain by voting. Technically, the majority
of votes on the network can change not only the DNS, but any configuration of the blockchain.

DNS will run forever, so it was important to include this possibility in the smart contract, but there is no specific
case where it can be applied. There must be some good reason for everyone to vote.

---

Thanks to the TON Foundation for open communication and answering questions.

Vudi is the author of a channel about TON [@investkingyru_en](https://t.me/investkingyru_en) and an active participant
in the TON ecosystem. He is also the founder of the blockchain collection kingyTON, based on the historical events of
the TON project [ton.org.in](https://ton.org.in). If you find errors in this post, please let Vudi know on
Telegram [@kingyru](https://t.me/kingyru).
