The long-awaited TON Teleport BTC testnet is now ready! Announced by Roman Krutovoy, Infrastructure Lead at TON Foundation and Roman Nguyen, CTO of RSquad Blockchain Lab at Gateway 2024, the launch of the testnet marks a step forward in bringing native Bitcoin to the TON ecosystem.

We're now excited to invite the community to join the testnet, offering early access to mint tgBTC and exploring its potential within TON's DeFi ecosystem.

## **Understanding TON Teleport BTC**

TON Teleport BTC is a decentralized bridge allowing for the seamless introduction of BTC to TON. This bridge enables BTC holders to leverage their assets within TON’s DeFi ecosystem, unlocking new possibilities like yield farming and using Bitcoin as collateral. For BTC enthusiasts, it’s an opportunity to transform dormant assets into opportunities for growth. 

## **Join the Testnet: Be the First to Mint tgBTC**

### **How to Mint Your First tgBTC (Testnet)**

▪️ [TON Testnet](https://tgbtc.gitbook.io/docs/getting-started/testnet-in-ton) wallet setup

▪️ [BTC Signet](https://tgbtc.gitbook.io/docs/getting-started/signet-in-btc) wallet setup

▪️ [Mint your first tgBTC](https://tgbtc.gitbook.io/docs/getting-started/how-to-mint-first-tgbtc)

▪️ [Burn tgBTC and receive BTC](https://tgbtc.gitbook.io/docs/getting-started/how-to-mint-first-tgbtc#peg-out-burn-confirm-and-receive-1)

### **Required Wallets**

▪️ [Tonkeeper](https://tonkeeper.com/) (TON Testnet)

▪️ [TON Space](https://t.me/wallet/start?startapp) (TON Testnet)

▪️ [Electrum](http://electrum.org/#download) (BTC Signet: Windows/Mac/Ubuntu)

▪️ [Unisat](https://unisat.io/download) (BTC Signet: Android/iOS)

### **Faucets (Obtaining Test Tokens)**

▪️ [TON Faucet](https://t.me/testgiver_ton_bot)

▪️ [BTC Faucet](https://signetfaucet.bublina.eu.org/)

▪️ [Another BTC Faucet](https://signetfaucet.com/)

### **Frequently Asked Questions**

▪️ [FAQ on TON Teleport](https://tgbtc.gitbook.io/docs/information-desk/faq)

**To keep updated with testnet access activities and announcements, join our community: https://t.me/tgbtc_news**

During the testnet, we'll release new versions and bug fixes every two weeks and run special contests for developers. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and contribute to the evolution of TON's DeFi ecosystem.

## **Looking Ahead**

TON Teleport BTC marks the beginning of BTC’s journey within the TON ecosystem. It offers BTC holders a decentralized, trustless path to engage with TON’s DeFi projects, trading platforms, and yield-generating protocols. We're just scratching the surface of what's possible. Keep an eye on our updates to see how TON continues to build the gateway between chains, creating new utility and value for digital gold on TON.

### **Learn More**

For more background information on TON Teleport BTC, read our introduction here: [Introducing TON Teleport: Bringing Bitcoin to TON](https://blog.ton.org/introducing-ton-teleport-bringing-bitcoin-to-ton)

Testnet is Here: Be the First to Mint tgBTC

In December 2024, TON Foundation, in collaboration with [GMX](https://gmx.io/)—a leading permissionless perp decentralized exchange (DEX) enabling frictionless trading across public blockchains—[launched a competition](https://blog.ton.org/ton-foundation-gmx-defi-competition) to boost the development of perpetual DEXs on TON. The goal was to support projects building high-performance trading platforms that push the boundaries of what’s possible on-chain, taking into account [TON’s unique architecture](https://blog.ton.org/ton-on-chain-data-analysis-dune#ton-blockchain-architectural-features) and constraints.

The competition has successfully concluded, and we're excited to announce the winners.

## **Judging criteria**

The challenge was to create a cutting-edge DEX and innovate the perp DEX trading experience. Submissions were evaluated across several key dimensions:

- Codebase quality, architecture, and security
- Relevance to TON’s user base and the Telegram ecosystem
- Community traction and business development capabilities
- Scalability and high-performance trading
- Go-to-market readiness

To ensure a fair and thorough review, [TonBit](https://www.tonbit.xyz/)—a leading audit firm in the TON ecosystem—was brought in to provide technical input and assess code safety and design integrity.

### **🥇 First place: Storm Trade**

[Storm Trade](https://storm.tg/) stood out for its sophisticated architecture, native integration with TON, and clear understanding of the challenges behind building a decentralized perpetual exchange from scratch. Judges saw strong potential for the product to become a foundational piece of the TON DeFi stack.

### **🥈 Second place: Tradoor and TON Hedge**

Both [Tradoor](https://t.me/tradoor_io_bot) and [TON Hedge](https://tonhedge.com/) showcased creative and technically promising approaches to building perps protocols. While still early in development, their vision and ideas demonstrate strong potential, and TON Foundation is committed to supporting their continued growth.

## **What’s next**

To help these teams take their products to the next level, TON Foundation and GMX will offer:

- **Advisory support from GMX**<br>Strategic guidance from some of the most successful perp DEX builders in DeFi.
    
- **Marketing and visibility**<br>Ecosystem-wide support and spotlight through TON Foundation’s official channels.
    
- **Investor connections**<br>Introductions to early-stage DeFi investors and ecosystem-aligned funds.
    
- **Audit cost coverage**<br>Funding to help ensure code quality and user safety.
    

## **Why this matters**

Perpetual exchange protocols are a core pillar of any mature DeFi ecosystem. With Telegram’s massive reach and TON’s performance, there’s a unique opportunity to bring seamless trading to hundreds of millions of users. These early teams are building toward that future, and TON Foundation is here to help them get there.

We thank all participants for contributing to this important initiative and encourage builders to continue shipping, apply for grants, and take part in upcoming [TON ecosystem support programs](https://eco.ton.org/).

## **What is GMX?**

[GMX](https://gmx.io/) is a non-custodial exchange that enables trading of perpetual and spot assets across multiple public blockchains, including Arbitrum, Avalanche, and Solana.

The permissionless multichain DEX offers deep liquidity, low swap fees, and up to 100x leverage. It features one-click trading, supports various collateral types, and employs sub-second oracle pricing through Chainlink Data Streams.

Trading on GMX is made possible by isolated GM pools and capital-efficient GLV vaults, allowing users to provide liquidity and earn fees. With over 80 ecosystem integrations and composable liquidity infrastructure, GMX functions as a base layer for multichain DeFi.

TON × GMX development competition: meet the winners

Ecosystem support programs delivered strong results in 2024.

But first, what exactly do we mean by *ecosystem support?* These are programs of various types—including technical assistance, education, marketing, networking, fundraising, and listing support—delivered by TON Foundation, its affiliated institutions, partners, and other ecosystem players. They span both 1-to-1 and 1-to-many formats, and are designed to meet the needs of projects at every stage of their lifecycle, from early development to growth and scaling.

**Here are some key milestones from 2024:**

- Growth from **150 to 350+ teams**, including an increase from **fewer than 10 to over 50 DeFi protocols**—a 500%+ jump ([Defillama](https://defillama.com/chain/TON))
- **40 to 140+** incoming monthly grant applications, with over **$1.5M** distributed to grantees
- **2 major hackathons**, each with 1,000+ applications and 60+ finalists combined
- Over **$26M in toncoin** distributed through *The Open League,* our flagship incentive program
- **120+ teams** featured on official TON social media
- **60+ teams** received Telegram Ads marketing grants
- **9 teams** received smart contract audit support (audits by Trail of Bits, Zellic, Quantstamp)

Thanks to close collaboration with project founders and their teams, and the lessons learned throughout 2024, we’ve now established a more structured and targeted approach to supporting teams building on TON.

## Introducing the new approach

Our approach to ecosystem support is evolving. In 2025, we're making it more **structured**, **transparent**, and **tailored to each vertical**.

We’ve identified **5 key verticals** for 2025: **Payments, Simplified DeFi, GameFi, Telegram In-App Economy (Telegram gifts, stickers, usernames), and AI**. These are the categories of apps that, in our view, can drive the most growth and adoption in the TON ecosystem. This means we'll be putting the majority of our efforts into supporting teams building in these areas.

Projects building outside of these verticals are still **fully eligible** for ecosystem support.

To make the application process more streamlined and accessible, we’ve restructured the entire flow:

1. **All projects**—new and existing—will now **register on the TON Builders Portal** ([eco.ton.org](https://eco.ton.org/idea-stage)).
2. Once registered, projects can **submit applications** to request specific types of support directly through the platform. Based on our experience assisting ecosystem teams, we’ve refined the support programs to better match real project needs.
3. The **Ecosystem Support Team** will match applications with the most relevant support and prioritize them based on:
    - a) **Project stage** (e.g. building, growing, scaling)
    - b) **Project tier** (as assessed through our scoring framework)
    
    For example, a project that has launched a full product and gained traction would fall under the **Growth** stage, making it eligible for different forms of **marketing support**.
    
4. Projects assessed as higher-tier will receive **priority processing** and **access to more personalised support**.
5. Teams that previously received grants, marketing assistance, or other forms of support are also encouraged to register on the [TON Builders Portal](https://eco.ton.org/idea-stage) to continue benefiting from ecosystem programs. As a general rule, access to all programs will now be available only to registered projects.

**Note:** The capacity of the Ecosystem Support Team and Vertical Leads to provide frequent 1-on-1 support via Telegram chats is limited. With the new tier-based approach, responses and attention will be distributed more intentionally, based on each project’s assessed tier.

 ![TON Builders portal.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/TON_Builders_portal_aef50b71e8/TON_Builders_portal_aef50b71e8.png) 

## Support at different stages of the project lifecycle

We've identified three core stages in a project’s journey in the ecosystem: **building**, **growing**, and **scaling**. Projects at later stages are always welcome to explore programs designed for earlier phases, depending on their needs.

1. **Building (idea or early MVP)** 
- **TON Nest:** Educational and networking program for early-stage teams
- **Technical & product support:** Docs, guides, chats
- **TON Hubs:** Onboarding support
- **TON Community Calls:** Open online sessions with TON Foundation’s Vertical Leads who will share updates and answer questions from builders

2. **Growing (post-MVP and growing traction)**
- **Marketing:** Official channel exposure, Telegram Apps Center listing and featuring, promotion on Hubs’ social media, KOL campaigns via TON Circle Bot (requires project budget)
- **Networking & partner services:** TON Fam chat, TON partner offers

3. **Scaling (strong traction and PMF)** 
- **Fundraising:** TON Demo Days, TON VC Club
- **Help with listings:** On CEXs, CoinMarketCap, and CoinGecko
- **Telegram-related support:** Official verification, help with Fragment-related issues

 ![2138.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/2138_097534540e/2138_097534540e.png) 

## Scoring system and projects tiers

To increase the effectiveness of ecosystem support and establish a transparent prioritization model, we're introducing an internal **tier-based scoring system**.

### What are tiers? 

Tiers are an internal classification system used to assess projects and prioritize ecosystem support based on a set of parameters. 

Projects are categorized into **two general tiers:** 
- **Champions:** Key drivers of the ecosystem that will receive high-touch, mentorship from Vertical Leads (DeFi, GameFi, Payments, etc) and personalized support from Ecosystem Project Managers. Champions also gain **exclusive access** to programs such as grants, top-level marketing, and custom access to all other ecosystem support programs listed on [builders.ton.org.](https://eco.ton.org/*)
- **Emerging projects:** Teams that have not yet reached “champion” level show strong potential will still have access to a wide range of support programs on [TON Builders Portal](https://eco.ton.org/idea-stage), with varying levels of priority. Due to the limited capacity of the Ecosystem Support Team and Vertical Leads, prioritization is necessary, but our goal remains to guide and support as many teams as possible.
    
    | Tier | Description | Available Support Programs |
    | --- | --- | --- |
    | Champion | High-impact new and existing teams which drive focus verticals | - Mentorship from Vertical Leads (product, GTM, etc) and account management by Ecosystem Support team <br>- Top-level marketing support <br> - Grants (development, audits, traffic, user rewards) <br> - Custom access to all ecosystem support programs |
    | Emerging Project | Wide funnel of teams aiming to achieve product-market fit, with different levels of traction and adoption  | - Support from Vertical Leads is prioritized based on internal advanced scoring and overall team capacity <br> - General access to ecosystem support programs depending on stage and other scoring parameters |

The scoring model follows a methodology similar to those used by VCs and accelerators. Projects are assessed across several key dimensions: **vertical fit**, **ecosystem alignment and impact**, **team experience**, **funding and revenue**, **product quality**, and **traction**.

Tiers are assigned based on this framework and reviewed quarterly to reflect evolving progress and context. **The full, internal tiering system is more granular and advanced, incorporating additional distinctions and levels that are not publicly disclosed.**

A project's tier affectes the **scope, speed, and level of personalization** in the support provided. In some cases, Vertical Leads may choose to inform Champions of their status.

## Evaluation criteria

### General (applies to all verticals)
    
| Criterion | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Strategic Positioning (Market and Ecosystem) | **For new projects:** The project’s overall position within its vertical or region based on user adoption (e.g. whether it ranks among the top 3–5 most used or recognized players). <br><br> **For existing projects:** The project’s importance based on its integration with other TON protocols, and how fundamental it is to the broader ecosystem. <br><br> **Vertical-specific metrics are detailed separately below and complement this criterion.* |
| Ecosystem Fit & Innovation | The project’s alignment with TON’s focus verticals for 2025 and its potential to introduce impactful innovations (e.g. in DeFi: RWAs, yield bridging, simplified DeFi; in Payments: e-commerce, self-custody crypto cards, etc). |
| Team’s Past Experience | The founders’ or team’s relevant track record, including prior success in launching similar products. |
| Funding & Revenue | The project’s financial backing and business viability. Points are awarded based on the presence of reputable investors or meaningful, verifiable revenue streams. Strong revenue or profitability can offset the absence of VC funding, especially for bootstrapped teams. |
| Product  | UI/UX quality, usability, and execution—either for the current product on TON or previous launches. |

### DeFi

| Criterion | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Current TVL / Volume on TON <br><br> **Depending on which metric is key for the protocol* | **Benchmarks:** <br> - >$5M TVL or >$10M monthly volume (past month) <br> - >$1M TVL or >$5M volume <br> - >$500K TVL or >$1M volume |
| Strong Performance in TON DeFi Contests | High-ranking teams from past DeFi competitions (e.g. with Curve, GMX, Jupiter) and their progress post-contest. |

### GameFi

| Criterion | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Traction (Retention, ARPU, K-Factor) | User engagement and growth potential based on the following benchmarks: <br> - R1 ≥ 30% <br> - R7 ≥ 15% <br> - R14 ≥ 5% <br> - ARPU ≥ $2 <br> - K-Factor ≥ 5 |
| Innovativeness of Game Design | The originality and quality of game mechanics, including the creative use of Telegram features and Web3 elements. |

### Payments

| Criterion | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Market Geo Fit | Whether the project is able to serve TON's focus regions.  |
| Users | **Benchmarks:** <br> ≥ 100K users <br> < 100K users <br> < 10K users <br> < 1K users |

## Final word

With this new, more transparent and structured approach, we aim to deliver higher-quality support and help projects achieve tangible, long-term success within the TON ecosystem.

We invite all projects—both new and existing—to register on [eco.ton.org](https://eco.ton.org/idea-stage) and explore the opportunities that best match their current stage and goals.

We also welcome your feedback. Our upcoming quarterly **Ecosystem Support Satisfaction Survey** will be an important part of our commitment to listening, improving, and growing with you.

**Let’s continue putting crypto in every pocket—with renewed clarity, structure, and purpose.**

TON Foundation introduces a new approach to ecosystem support

The Open Network Foundation (TON Foundation), a non-profit organization supporting TON community, today announced the appointment of Mr. Martin Masser as its new Head of Growth, effective immediately.

Masser will spearhead TON Foundation’s global efforts to scale the adoption of TON Blockchain, with a particular focus on Telegram Mini Apps (TMAs), digital asset tokenization—including [stickers](https://blog.ton.org/how-to-buy-sell-and-use-ton-nfts#2-nft-stickers-), [NFTs](https://blog.ton.org/what-are-ton-nfts), and [real-world assets (RWA)](https://blog.ton.org/real-world-assets-rwa-crypto-guide)—and developer ecosystem growth.

Masser brings extensive experience in crypto and TON’s ecosystem. As the former Chief Business Development Officer at [STON.fi](https://ston.fi/), he played a key role in increasing the platform’s total value locked from $8 million to over $350 million. He is also a prominent and recognized voice within TON’s community, delivering keynotes and shaping conversations at major industry events including Web3 Summit, TON Gateway, and Zebu Live.

## **Delivering global adoption through Telegram**

In his new role, Masser will be responsible for user acquisition strategies, building strategic partnerships, and activating grassroots communities to grow TON’s global presence. A key component of this strategy includes onboarding millions of users to TON through Telegram, the world’s sixth most downloaded app, and advancing support for developers and channel owners through tools, rewards, and promotional support.

Masser will oversee global user growth initiatives by designing and executing strategies to increase TON’s adoption among mainstream audiences, with Telegram as the primary distribution channel. His mandate includes strengthening TON’s Mini App ecosystem and supporting channel owners by enabling rewards for [Telegram Stars](https://blog.ton.org/telegram-stars-and-ton-ecosystem), unlocking ad revenue opportunities, and delivering the technical and promotional resources needed to accelerate project success.

## **Driving strategic partnerships and regional growth**

Masser will also lead efforts to expand TON Foundation’s presence in key markets, with a strong focus on the United States and Europe, forging strategic partnerships and ensuring localized growth strategies aligned with regional regulatory frameworks.

“In Martin, TON Foundation gains a proven growth leader with deep roots in TON’s ecosystem and a sharp instinct for community engagement,” said Max Crown, CEO of TON Foundation. “From scaling STON.fi to driving ecosystem adoption across continents, Martin has demonstrated an exceptional ability to turn vision into traction. With his leadership, we are confident that TON’s global momentum will scale new heights.”

“TON holds a special place in my heart. It’s one of the few ecosystems with massive potential and the infrastructure to realize that potential,” said Martin Masser, Head of Growth at TON Foundation. “I’m thrilled to step into this role at such a pivotal moment. I’m committed to helping connect the dots across the community and supporting developers and builders to unlock the next wave of growth and innovation on TON.”

TON Foundation appoints Martin Masser as Head of Growth

April brought the heat. TON *crowned* a new CEO, unlocked a $500M bond fund, and pulled Ethena’s $6B USDe into Telegram’s orbit—all while quietly onboarding 10K new wallets a day.

Trading bots stole the show. Sticker drops sold out in minutes. And with TON Space heading to the U.S. in Q2 and real-world assets going on-chain, the line between Web2 and Web3 just got blurrier, in the best way.

Missed last month’s update? [Catch up on March 2025 here.](https://blog.ton.org/ton-ecosystem-update-march-2025)

## **TL;DR**

- Max Crown steps in as TON Foundation CEO, bringing operational firepower from MoonPay
- Ethena’s USDe is coming to TON, unlocking fresh ways for Telegram’s 1B+ users to save and earn in USD
- Libre and TON Foundation launch a $500M Telegram Bond Fund, crypto’s largest RWA tokenization to date
- TON Space is heading to the U.S. in Q2, just as Apple greenlights external payments (including crypto) and MoonPay unlocks Toncoin buys
- Ecosystem activity holds steady: 170K–190K daily active wallets, with 10K new non-custodial wallets joining each day

## **TON enters a new era: leadership, assets, and U.S. expansion**

[Max Crown, former MoonPay CFO and COO, has stepped in as TON Foundation CEO](https://blog.ton.org/ton-foundation-appoints-maximilian-crown-ceo), signaling a push toward global scale and regulatory alignment. [Ethena’s synthetic dollar USDe, which has surpassed $6B+ in TVL, is also joining TON](https://blog.ton.org/ethena-ton-foundation-usde-on-ton), offering Telegram’s 1B+ users new ways to save and earn in USD.

Meanwhile, TON is leading crypto’s biggest [real-world asset (RWA)](https://blog.ton.org/real-world-assets-rwa-crypto-guide) tokenization to date with the [launch of the $500M Telegram Bond Fund via Libre](https://blog.ton.org/libre-ton-foundation-500m-telegram-bond-fund-tbf). And with TON Space rolling out to U.S. users in Q2, TON’s expansion into mainstream markets is fully underway.

## **TON returns to Hong Kong for Web3 Fest**

[TON Day](https://blog.ton.org/web3-fest-hk-2025-full-agenda-and-speaker) brought together a growing lineup of Asia-based teams, including Televerse, RedotPay, Baza, and more, showcasing new integrations across payments and gaming. A new partnership with Chinese gaming giant KingNet (100M+ users) was also announced.

To wrap it up, TON hosted its first large-scale game dev meetup in Asia, drawing dozens of studios—many of them active in the WeChat ecosystem—now exploring how to build on TON and Telegram.

👉 [Catch the full TON Day livestream](https://www.youtube.com/live/9Qk0c9ZTwgI?feature=shared)

## **Infra and dev roundup**

The [original Toncoin Bridge is being retired](https://blog.ton.org/ton-retires-toncoin-bridge)—mission accomplished after helping move 100M+ $TON across chains. Now, users rely on native assets (USDT, jettons, and soon USDe, tgBTC) and integrations like [LayerZero](https://blog.ton.org/ton-layer-zero) and Axelar.

Broxus launched TON Factory to fast-track TVM scaling, and Tonkeeper added on-chain 2FA and USDT-TRC20 transfers via Tonkeeper Battery.

On the dev side, a $20K Tact smart contract challenge attracted 1,393 participants and 59K+ submissions, driving over 500 new installs of the Tact VS Code extension.

## **TON DeFi continues to expand**

STON.fi launched Omniston to streamline liquidity across the ecosystem, while TONCO kept its title as APY king, pushing 20%+ returns thanks to its concentrated liquidity model.

Ecosystem interconnectivity also deepened with partnerships (Factorial x Storm, FIVA x EVAA, EVAA x Tonstakers), and Telegram-native trading bots continued their rise, with Blum driving up to 25% of all on-chain activity on TON and $10M+ in weekly trading volume.

On the payments front, Vietnam’s Aliniex mini app crossed $2.4M in processed volume, and MoonPay began supporting Toncoin purchases in the U.S.

## **TON x Telegram**

Telegram [usernames and anonymous numbers](https://blog.ton.org/how-to-buy-sell-and-use-ton-nfts#3-usernames-anonymous-numbers) crossed 100M TON in trading volume, while NFT Gifts and Stickers activity continued to climb—NFT marketplace Tonnel hit 10.1M TON in total volume, while Doodles’ [NFT Sticker](https://blog.ton.org/how-to-buy-sell-and-use-ton-nfts#2-nft-stickers-) packs sold out in under 15 minutes.

SocialFi and GameFi? Also buzzing. Memes Lab became the first TON project to land a feature on Kaito, the Sequoia and Dragonfly-backed Web3 info hub. And SCOR, with licensing deals from MLS and NHL, hit 200K monthly active users with just two mini games. Lastly, Storm Trade launched Upscale, an AI-powered prop trading bot on TON.

## **Wrapping up**

With major strides across DeFi, RWA, payments, and Telegram-native apps, the TON ecosystem is becoming more interconnected and accessible than ever. As momentum builds, the focus sharpens: scalable growth, deeper utility, and onboarding the next wave of users—right inside Telegram.

<button href="https://ton.org/reports/april-2025.pdf" passutmsource="true">
Read the full report
</button >

TON Ecosystem Update: April 2025

*Read our previous update on TON Nest [here](https://blog.ton.org/empowering-builders-with-ton-nest).*

Over the past year, TON Nest has served as a vital gateway for early-stage projects building on The Open Network. We’ve celebrated successes, gathered feedback, and learned alongside our vibrant community of builders. Today, we’re excited to announce the next stage in TON Nest’s evolution. 

## **Our continued commitment to builders**

TON Nest remains dedicated to its core mission: **empowering innovators and builders during the crucial early stages.** We continue to provide access to unique benefits tailored for teams turning ideas into impactful TON-based applications. 

Key support elements like **expert-led workshops** (covering GTM, tokenomics, legal, technical hurdles), **mentorship hours**, **pitch trainings**, and **Roast Sessions** remain central to the program. 

We will also continue running **TON Nest Spotlights** on Fridays as well as monthly **TON Nest Demo Days** to amplify the growing gems within the TON Nest community.

## **What's evolving**

In response to community feedback, TON Nest has introduced several refinements aimed at improving clarity and impact: 

- Graduation from TON Nest is now achieved through active participation and delivering a successful pitch at designated events, such as **Roast Sessions or a dedicated TON Nest Demo Day**. TON Nest levels are deprecated.
- Upon successful graduation, projects will receive the official **'TON Nest Alumni' Soulbound Non-Fungible Token (SBT)**, formally recognizing their completion of the program. Previously issued SBTs stay, and all Level 3 projects and Demo Day participants will additionally receive a new **TON Nest Alumni SBT**.
- We're also centralizing communication into a **single TON Nest Founders chat** for enhanced peer-to-peer support and easier access to mentors and updates. The Level 1 TON Nest chat is rebranded into the TON Nest Founders chat. Everyone within the program is invited to join the **TON Nest Founders chat**.

## **How to join TON Nest**

**Are you an early-stage team ready to build on TON?** Getting started is straightforward:

1. Register your project on the [TON Builder portal](https://eco.ton.org/).
2. Apply to join TON Nest.
3. Once submitted, join the TON Nest community chat and start participating!

### To current TON Nest members

Your journey continues. The existing Level 1 chat will become the new unified 'TON Nest Founders’ chat, and we'll ensure all current members are transitioned there shortly. All existing and new activities are available to you as you progress towards graduation under the refined structure. Stay tuned for detailed updates in the current channels.

We're incredibly excited about this next chapter for TON Nest and its role within the TON Foundation's comprehensive support system. We believe these changes will provide a clearer, more impactful experience for builders. 

**Join us, and let's build the future of the open internet on TON!**

<button href="https://eco.ton.org/opportunities/ton-nest" passutmsource="true">
Join TON Nest
</button >

---

***Disclaimer**: Please note that TON Nest is an educational program. Participation does not constitute investment advice or financial promotion. The program does not endorse any specific project or token, nor does it facilitate token sales or fundraising activities.*

TON Nest evolves for enhanced builder education

Ethena Labs, Ethena Foundation (together, “[Ethena](https://ethena.fi/)”), and TON Foundation today announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the growth of TON’s on-chain economy through the deployment of Ethena’s USDe and sUSDe products across TON’s ecosystem.

## Seamless wallet integration via The Open Platform

As part of this partnership, Ethena will integrate sUSDe natively within TON under the name “tsUSDe,” allowing Telegram’s global user base of over 1 billion users to access dollar-denominated savings directly within Telegram on both mobile and desktop.

This is made possible through two major integrations for Ethena: the first is in the custodial Wallet in Telegram and the second is in the TON Space wallet, the non-custodial wallet integrated in Telegram and developed by TON ecosystem incubator [The Open Platform (TOP)](https://top.co/). These two integrations provide users with two easy entry points to earn and save on dollars on-chain. In addition to the Telegram native wallet, Ethena products will be integrated across other key [TON wallets](https://ton.org/wallets), including Tonkeeper, Tonhub, and MyTonWallet, ensuring broad accessibility and a seamless user experience.

Telegram’s users can access Wallet in Telegram and TON Space directly through both the mobile and desktop apps by simply searching for [@wallet](https://t.me/wallet) in the Telegram search bar or in the Telegram menu.

## USDe and sUSDe go ecosystem-wide

Ethena’s USDe and sUSDe are now officially recognised across the TON ecosystem, available across the network for a variety of DeFi applications. These integrations position USDe and sUSDe as pivotal components within TON’s DeFi network. They will power a wide range of use cases and reinforce Ethena’s role as a catalyst for user growth and financial utility in the world’s most prestigious blockchain ecosystems.

Eligible holders of tsUSDe within major TON wallets will get a 10% APY boost in TON, and will also receive Ethena rewards on balances of up to 10,000 tsUSDe per wallet.

There are also plans to introduce a variety of additional reward programmes moving forwards that leverage the power of Ethena and TON to boost the APY for DeFi protocols on TON, and accelerate the growth of the blockchain’s DeFi ecosystem.

## A foundation for future financial infrastructure on TON

This partnership marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between Ethena and TON Foundation. Future initiatives under consideration include neobanking, peer-to-peer payments, and user-friendly interfaces for DeFi lending and trading, all powered by Ethena.

tsUSDe will soon be live across Wallet in Telegram, major TON wallets, and DeFi platforms. Users holding tsUSDe in wallets such as Telegram Wallet, TON Space, Tonkeeper, Tonhub, and MyTonWallet will be eligible for exclusive reward incentives. 

Further details on the rollout and reward programs will be announced through the official [x.com](http://X.com) channels of [Ethena](https://x.com/ethena_labs) and [TON Foundation](https://x.com/ton_blockchain). The launch date for tsUSDe will follow shortly.

> “Our partnership with TON Foundation marks a significant milestone for Ethena and we’re excited to join forces with one of the largest distribution platforms and fastest-growing blockchain networks in the world,” said Guy Young, Founder of Ethena. “TON being natively accessible within Telegram and its billion plus users represents a perfect venue to distribute Ethena’s core product USDe as a dollar savings vehicle for global users. We’re also excited to bring payments and neobank functionalities to the application following this initial release as we continue to deepen our relationships with TON Foundation and in the TON ecosystem.”
> 

> “Bringing a reward-bearing dollar-adjacent asset natively to TON is a game-changer for unlocking the next phase of DeFi and PayFi on our network,” said Max Crown, CEO of TON Foundation. “With Ethena’s integration, users now have seamless and secure access to yield-generating dollar savings via tsUSDe, right inside Telegram. This is a major step forward in driving real financial utility, expanding user engagement within our ecosystem, and accelerating long-term growth throughout TON.”
>

Ethena partners with TON Foundation to launch USDe on TON and reach Telegram’s 1+ billion users

[Libre](https://www.librecapital.com/), the on-chain infrastructure for regulated Real-World Assets (RWAs), and TON Foundation, the non-profit supporting The Open Network blockchain, today announced plans to tokenize $500 million worth of Telegram Bonds through the launch of a tokenized Telegram Bond Fund ($TBF) on TON Blockchain.

The Telegram Bond Fund will provide compliant, on-chain exposure to the ~$2.35 billion outstanding bonds issued by Telegram, enabling institutional and accredited investors across TON ecosystem to access institutional-grade yield products in a DeFi native format. The $500 million tokenized $TBF issued on TON Blockchain also plans to access future bond issuances by Telegram. $TBF will be available as collateral for on-chain borrowing and a component to develop on-chain yield-bearing products exclusively available on TON. This initiative is one of the largest institutional RWA deployments to date and marks TON’s entry as a leader in the RWA space.

As part of the rollout, Libre will deploy its multi-phase Libre Gateway infrastructure on TON to support compliant subscriptions, redemptions, and transferability of tokenized funds. The integration will enable institutional and accredited investors to subscribe to RWAs using fiat or stablecoins and manage their assets via [TON-native wallets](https://blog.ton.org/how-to-create-and-start-using-wallet), bringing a seamless institutional finance experience directly to TON’s user base.

> *“The launch of the Libre Protocol and the Telegram Bond Fund marks a major step forward in bringing regulated real-world assets to TON ecosystem,” said Max Crown, CEO of TON Foundation. “Libre’s infrastructure bridges the gap between compliance and decentralization, unlocking powerful new opportunities for TON's community to engage with RWAs in a secure and accessible way.”*
> 

Libre has already tokenized over $200 million in assets across funds from leading institutions, including BlackRock, Brevan Howard, Hamilton Lane, and Laser Digital. These existing funds will also be accessible to users in addition to the $TBF. With its fully on-chain issuance stack and [multi-chain](https://blog.ton.org/why-interoperability-is-key-to-unlocking-blockchains-full-potential) presence, Libre enables seamless access, transferability, and composability of regulated financial assets across public blockchains.

> *"TON offers a unique opportunity to bridge TradFi and DeFi and expands the reach of regulated RWAs to a global and digitally native user base,"* *said Dr Jez Mohideen, Chairman of Libre and CEO of Nomura’s crypto arm Laser Digital. "This collaboration brings together omni-chain institutional-grade infrastructure and mass-market blockchain usability, with sought-after TradFi assets that have a strong crypto alignment. We look forward to delivering tokenized financial products that combine compliance with composability, unlocking real utility for both institutions and the TON community.”*
> 

Libre and TON Foundation will continue to develop the regulatory and legally compliant integration of RWAs in the TON ecosystem.

Libre and TON Foundation launch $500M Telegram Bond Fund ($TBF) on TON Blockchain

Following the [successful deprecation of jUSDT](https://t.me/toncoin/1328), we’re officially retiring Toncoin Bridge.

Starting from May 10, 2025, users will no longer be able to bridge Toncoin from TON to Ethereum or BNB Smart Chain. All past transfers to these chains will remain claimable after this date. 

Bridging Toncoin into TON will stay active for now, with a future sunset date to be announced.

## Why we’re retiring the bridge

Toncoin Bridge played a vital role in TON’s early days—before centralized exchange (CEX) listings, decentralized finance (DeFi) on TON, and native USDT.

At the time, users who wanted to trade Toncoin only had one option: send it through TON Bridge to Ethereum or BNB Smart Chain, then use platforms like Uniswap or PancakeSwap to swap it for other tokens.

Even after CEX listings, the bridge remained the primary way to access decentralized exchanges (DEXs) before they launched on TON. Later, it became the gateway for wrapped assets like jUSDT.

But TON has since evolved.

Today, TON is integrated with world-class cross-chain platforms like [LayerZero](https://blog.ton.org/ton-layer-zero), Stargate, Symbiosis, and Rhino.fi. With [USDt-TON](https://blog.ton.org/usdt-ton-use-cases), thriving DEXs, and a growing DeFi ecosystem, users no longer need to exit the network to use their assets.

**Sunsetting the bridge:**

- Improves user safety by retiring older infrastructure
- Encourages adoption of modern, scalable [cross-chain](https://blog.ton.org/why-interoperability-is-key-to-unlocking-blockchains-full-potential) tools
- Reflects TON’s evolution into a more mature, self-sustaining ecosystem

## A look back at what we’ve built together

**Bridge launches**

- Toncoin Ethereum Bridge (v1) – Launched on Aug 20, 2021 by TON Core
- Toncoin BNB Smart Chain Bridge (v2) – Launched on Oct 4, 2021 by TON Core
- Token Ethereum Bridge (v3) – Launched on Apr 18, 2023 by TON Core and RSquad

**Bridge usage**

- 31,893 transfers processed
- 101,228,451 TON bridged

**Security**

- No successful hacks or exploits
- All transfers accounted for and claimable

**Wrapped Toncoin activity**

- [Ethereum](https://etherscan.io/token/0x582d872a1b094fc48f5de31d3b73f2d9be47def1#balances): 35,694 holders, 460K+ transactions
- [BNB Smart Chain](https://bscscan.com/token/0x76A797A59Ba2C17726896976B7B3747BfD1d220f): 113,495 holders, 2.6M+ transactions

## What’s next

Bridge oracles will begin withdrawing their staked TON as the service winds down, though operations will continue securely.

A separate announcement will follow regarding the deprecation of token transfers, as newer cross-chain technologies take over.

**Thank you** to everyone who used the bridge and helped TON grow during its earliest days. The next chapter is here—faster, safer, and more connected than ever.

👉 [Explore TON’s latest cross-chain infrastructure](https://ton.org/bridges)

TON retires legacy Toncoin Bridge after 4 years

The Open Network Foundation ([TON Foundation](https://ton.foundation/en)), a non-profit organization supporting the TON community, today announced the appointment of Mr. Maximilian Crown as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately.

Mr. Crown brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned entrepreneur and one of the co-founders of [MoonPay](https://www.moonpay.com/), a global leader in crypto payments. As CFO and COO, he played a key role in shaping MoonPay’s finance and operations functions, helping scale the company into one of the largest crypto payments platforms worldwide. He also built strong relationships with banks, payments companies, and regulatory bodies, positioning MoonPay as a trusted fintech leader. Crown will maintain his seat on the board of MoonPay.

## **Strengthening leadership amid institutional interest**

The appointment of Mr. Crown follows the [recent naming of Mr. Manuel Stotz as President of the board of the TON Foundation](https://blog.ton.org/ton-foundation-new-president). Mr. Stotz, founder of Kingsway Capital, brings deep expertise in frontier market innovation and reflects growing institutional engagement within the TON ecosystem.

In a major milestone in January, the Foundation also [expanded its strategic partnership with Telegram](https://blog.ton.org/ton-telegram-exclusive-partnership-2025), establishing TON as the exclusive blockchain partner for the Telegram Mini Apps Ecosystem, and underscoring its mission to provide a robust, reliable, and scalable solution for users and developers that can support the growth of Telegram’s global network. This momentum is further reflected by [more than $400 million in Toncoin now held by leading U.S.-based venture capital firms](https://blog.ton.org/ton-foundation-400m-in-toncoin-investment), signaling strong institutional confidence in TON’s ecosystem.

## **Explosive growth and strategic roadmap**

TON Blockchain has seen significant growth over the past year, with total active accounts surging from 4 million to 41 million and number of on-chain addresses surpassing 150 million. During this period, the number of Toncoin holders exceeded the number of wallets holding Bitcoin, and TON apps became some of the most-used crypto applications globally — showcasing the unparalleled distribution potential of Telegram.

Looking ahead, TON Foundation aims to onboard 30 percent of Telegram’s active users to the TON Blockchain by 2028. This initiative will focus on four key verticals: leveraging Telegram’s native IP (such as [stickers, gifts, and on-chain collectibles](https://blog.ton.org/what-are-ton-nfts)), launching multiplayer mini-games, introducing user-friendly DeFi savings solutions, and enabling real-world crypto payments through practical applications.

> “In Max, TON Foundation is gaining an accomplished leader with extensive experience in successfully scaling global fintech operations," said Manuel Stotz, President at TON Foundation. “His deep understanding of the crypto market and blockchain technology, and his proven track record of operating one of the largest payments companies in the crypto space make for a great fit with our goals, and under his leadership, I have every confidence that TON’s ecosystem will go from strength to strength.”
> 

> “TON’s speed, scalability, and exclusive integration with Telegram set it apart in the blockchain space,” said Maximilian Crown. “With access to over 1 billion Telegram users, TON has a unique opportunity to expand its ecosystem globally and redefine how blockchain technology is adopted at scale. I am honored to lead TON Foundation as we take these next bold steps together — building the most accessible and widely adopted blockchain ecosystem in the world.”
>

TON Foundation appoints Maximilian Crown as Chief Executive Officer

March was all about steady progress and resilience. While the broader market took some hits, TON stayed on track, pushing forward with infrastructure upgrades and gaining momentum across DeFi, payments, gaming, and Telegram-native experiences.

Missed last month’s update? [Catch up on what happened in January–February in our last Ecosystem Report.](https://blog.ton.org/ton-ecosystem-update-jan-feb-2025)

## TL;DR

- Pavel Durov’s return sparked confidence in TON’s growth.
- Top VCs now hold $400M+ in Toncoin.
- 90% validator upgrade adoption in under 48 hours.
- DeFi TVL surged, @wallet added new features and currencies, and RedotPay enabled USDt-TON payments at 130M+ merchants.
- Miomi Game drove 5% of TON transactions with its sustainable Play2Win model, while NFT marketplace Tonnel broke daily volume records.
- Elon Musk’s Grok AI joins Telegram.
- TON shared its [2024 Grants recap](https://blog.ton.org/ton-grants-recap-2024).

## Ecosystem confidence deepens: Durov’s return, investor backing

Telegram founder [Pavel Durov’s return](https://t.me/toncoin/1876) signaled long-term alignment between TON and Telegram, centered on freedom, privacy, and ownership.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Durov is FREE! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DigitalResistance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DigitalResistance</a> prevails. <a href="https://t.co/WwBN69GBEm">pic.twitter.com/WwBN69GBEm</a></p>&mdash; TON Society (@ton_society) <a href="https://twitter.com/ton_society/status/1901667360475394417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

At the same time, top VCs now collectively hold [over $400 million in Toncoin](https://blog.ton.org/ton-foundation-400m-in-toncoin-investment), much of it US-based, reinforcing institutional support and positioning TON for broader expansion into America.

## Infrastructure upgrades

TON Core rolled out multiple updates in March:

- The new **Pending API** lets users track blockchain operations pre-finalization.
- [TON Wallet](https://wallet.ton.org/) now supports the full tech stack – Jettons, NFTs, TON DNS, and more.
- [TON Layer 2 Payment Network](https://telegra.ph/TON-Payment-Network-Layer-2-04-05) gained Jetton support and laid out its roadmap, including Atomic Swaps.
- 90% of validators upgraded to the latest version within two days, a clear signal of ecosystem cohesion.

## DeFi picks up steam

Factorial, a lending protocol, nearly doubled its TVL to $29M and is exploring incentive models. TONCO surged to $7.9M TVL and added [ZAP](https://t.me/toncoin/1872), a new feature that lets users add liquidity with just one token. FIVA, TON’s first yield tokenization protocol, launched and reached $1M within days.

On the trading side, bots are becoming a serious force. Blum activated 75,000 on-chain users through its bot and drove [13% of all TON on-chain transactions](https://dune.com/ton_foundation/ton-weekly?current_date_d6595c=2025-01-14+00%3A00%3A00) by early April.

“The next mass adoption from DeFi will come from community-driven copy trading.”

— Steve Yun, TON Foundation Board Member

## Payments stepping up

[@wallet](https://t.me/wallet) [added trading features](https://t.me/wallet_news/454) and support for a broader range of tokens like ETH, DOGE, and XRP, making it a real alternative to centralized exchanges (CEXs). Wallet Earn is now permanent, and USDT rewards will be available soon.

TON Space also introduced [fee payments using Telegram Stars](https://t.me/tonspace_news_en/30), which can be purchased directly in TON Space or transferred from a user's Telegram account.

Meanwhile, [RedotPay integrated USDt-TON](https://t.me/toncoin/1877) for real-world spending through Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Alipay—usable at 130M+ merchants, including Amazon and Starbucks. A Telegram Mini App is next.

## GameFi and NFTs hit new highs

Telegram mini games saw massive adoption in March: [Dropee](https://t.me/DropeeBot) hit 3.2M MAU, [DUCK × MY × DUCK](https://t.me/duckmyduck_bot) reached 1.2M, and [Miomi Game](https://miomi.game/) accounted for [5% of all TON transactions](https://dune.com/ton_foundation/ton-weekly?current_date_d6595c=2025-01-14+00%3A00%3A00) in early March.

Telegram’s asset economy also experienced a successful month: Username @cryptoholder was sold for 250K TON, and [Tonnel](https://t.me/Tonnel_Network_bot) broke volume and trader records with [217K TON in volume and 5,806 unique traders](https://dune.com/ton_foundation/tonnel-tg-gifts).

## Unlocking AI on TON

The groundwork is being laid for [AI apps inside Telegram](https://t.me/toncoin/1894). Elon Musk’s [Grok chatbot](https://t.me/GrokAI) is now live, and [TON x ElizaOS’s AI bounty program](https://t.me/toncoin/1893) is boosting developer contributions.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">grok now available directly on <a href="https://twitter.com/telegram?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@telegram</a></p>&mdash; Grok (@grok) <a href="https://twitter.com/grok/status/1904840863622066629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

## Wrapping up

March was all about building with intent. Institutional trust is rising, Telegram integrations are deepening, and builders are shipping everything from DeFi to NFTs to AI.

More updates are coming next month, including a deeper dive into TON Foundation’s 2025 roadmap.

<button href="https://ton.org/reports/march-2025.pdf" passutmsource="true">
Read the full report
</button >

TON Ecosystem Update: March 2025

In March 2025, TON Foundation and [Jupiter](https://jup.ag/), a leading DEX on Solana, launched a competition to accelerate the development of on-chain swap infrastructure on TON. The goal was to support the creation of high-performance aggregators that minimize price impact, optimize routing, and pave the way for future [cross-chain](https://blog.ton.org/why-interoperability-is-key-to-unlocking-blockchains-full-potential) trading.

## **Judging criteria**

Submissions were assessed based on a combination of technical excellence, usability, and long-term potential:

- Codebase quality, solution implementation, and security
- Practical utility for Toncoin holders and Telegram users
- Community traction, partnerships, and business development capabilities
- Go-to-market strategy and launch readiness

To ensure a fair and thorough evaluation, we worked with [TonBit](https://www.tonbit.xyz/), a leading security and auditing firm in the TON ecosystem. TonBit contributed technical expertise and reviewed submissions for code quality and safety.

### **First place winners**

[DeDust](https://dedust.io/) and [swap.coffee](https://swap.coffee/) stood out for their technical quality, product vision, and ability to deliver real improvements to TON’s on-chain trading experience.

Each will receive:

- Advisory support from Jupiter
- Potential integration into Jupiter’s JupNet, an omnichain network for liquidity aggregation 
- Audit cost coverage from TON Foundation
- Introductions to TON Foundation’s investor network
- Marketing support from TON Foundation

### **Honorable mentions**

Promising teams that continue to build include [Titan](https://titan.tg/), [Rainbow Swap](https://rainbow.ag/), [Bridgers](https://bridgers.xyz/), and [Moki.](https://t.me/mokiswapbot)

## **To every team that participated, thank you**

Your contributions are helping shape TON’s DeFi future. Even if your project wasn’t selected this time, we encourage you to keep building. TON Foundation continues to support open-source infrastructure and actively looks for teams that ship, iterate, and engage with the community.

Stay in touch, apply for future grants, and take part in upcoming ecosystem initiatives. Many of TON’s most impactful projects grew outside of competitions—and yours could be next.

## **Why this matters**

As DeFi grows on TON, especially within Telegram, aggregators will play a key role in delivering smooth, low-cost, and user-friendly swaps. They find the best trade routes across liquidity sources, helping users get better execution with less price impact—a key requirement for competing with centralized exchanges (CEXs).

These improvements are essential for onboarding everyday Telegram users into DeFi. Native aggregators will power seamless swaps directly inside [Telegram Mini Apps](https://blog.ton.org/how-to-create-your-telegram-mini-apps) and [wallets](https://blog.ton.org/how-to-create-and-start-using-wallet), making on-chain trading more intuitive and accessible for mainstream users.

## **Looking ahead**

This initiative builds on past efforts like the [Curve Finance collaboration](https://blog.ton.org/infrastructures-for-stable-assets-with-curve) and reinforces our commitment to open innovation and decentralized infrastructure. TON Foundation is proud to support independent builders shaping the next wave of DeFi, right inside Telegram.

TON x Jupiter Exchange competition results

In 2024, TON’s Grant Program supported 57 projects across GameFi, DeFi, and infrastructure, helping builders explore new use cases and expand the utility of blockchain technology within the TON ecosystem.

Let’s dive into the trends, standout projects, and ecosystem milestones that defined 2024.

## Grants overview

### 1. Total projects funded

TON funded 57 projects in 2024, ranging from early-stage builders to hackathon champions. That includes participants from the Spring Accelerator and the Summer hackathon, each bringing something fresh and plugging into actual user behavior.

### 2. Category distribution

- GameFi: 40%
- DeFi: 25%
- SocialFi: 10%
- Infrastructure: 15%
- Community tools: 5%
- E-commerce: 3%
- Other: 2%

GameFi ran the show this year, scooping up nearly half the grants. DeFi and infrastructure followed, laying firm ground for more complex builds. The rest? Smaller shares, but still key puzzle pieces in the network’s broader expansion.

### 3. Monthly breakdown

- **January–February:** The year kicked off with a batch of high-utility projects focused on scalability and security.
- **August–October:** Grant approvals spiked hard here, making up nearly 40% of the year’s total. GameFi and DeFi builders were on a roll, bringing in users and shipping products fast.
- **Year-end:** SocialFi and DeFi wrapped up with momentum. These projects pointed to what’s next and hinted at a more layered ecosystem in 2025.

## Key categories and insights

### 1. GameFi

GameFi received the most attention this year, accounting for 40% of all grants.

**Lost Dogs**

Part digital pet adventure, part NFT flex. Lost Dogs lets players rescue and care for their pixel companions while building on-chain assets. The community’s no joke either: 15M+ players, 100K+ jetton holders, and three successful side projects already under their belt. The next chapter? NFT smart contracts with token locks and built-in vesting.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?chainId=10&proposalId=65c4bd9f8c846bd4d4d0fbe9&isRenderingProposalBody=true&grantId=0x3d9a26d083419d0d6cb0c5d9aed527698254b3ea&role=admin) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/lost_dogs_bot/lodoapp)

**Fireheadz**

Fireheadz, a gaming studio, started with Geo Mapper and The Trading Game, later creating viral hits like The Pixels Battle, Nuke, Fart beetle bot, Banana meter bot, and Duckygram. Duckygram integrated NFT Gifts into its gameplay, attracting 400K users in a month with over $1M in NFT Gifts used.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?proposalId=0x624&isRenderingProposalBody=true&grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&role=admin) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/duckygram_bot/)

**Hamsterdam**

A blockchain-based adventure where players collect, compete, and earn, while running around in a hamster-themed metaverse. Monthly active users hover at 70,000, and the first NFT sale sold out in under 18 minutes.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&proposalId=66aa064c4a88e5bd2a842928) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/HamsterdamPlayBot/game)

**Cat Gold Miner**

Players mine digital treasure while earning on the side. With 170,000 monthly active users and growing, Cat Gold Miner is striking the right balance between fun and rewards.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?proposalId=66a903924a88e5bd2a6ea116&grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/catgoldminerbot)

**Elympics**

This one’s laying the groundwork for competitive blockchain gaming at scale. It has over 3 million game sessions, 3,000+ community tournaments, 30+ games using its SDK, and a 1,000+ strong dev community. It also helped kick off GameCamp, where standout titles—Melodia, Stretch & Break, and Color Squares—picked up TON Foundation grants.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?proposalId=6731da0190449961f5f74d91&chainId=10&grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279) | [Grant Proposal 2](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&proposalId=6731e1c0902931f05c8fe172) | [Grant Proposal 3](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?chainId=10&proposalId=6731e4ba902931f05c90aa8d&grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/elympics_bot)

### 2. DeFi

25% of TON’s grants went to DeFi, backing teams reshaping how capital moves on-chain, with a few wild experiments along the way.

**Torch Finance**

Torch didn’t just light up the [Curve-TON stableswap contest](https://x.com/TorchTon/status/1851611908748759146)—it scaled to 25,000+ community members across 50+ groups in two months. They're pushing for sustainable yield mechanics with a TVL jump from $30K to $600K, zero burn rate, and no incentives. Torch recently raised [$1.5M from TVM Ventures](https://x.com/TorchTon/status/1893918791521960372).

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&proposalId=66a7c01d4a88e5bd2a577b07) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/torch_finance_bot/app)

**Rainbow Swap**

Built to make swaps smoother and cheaper, Rainbow Swap has already hit [$28M in trading volume](https://t.me/toncoin/1779) and is holding steady in the green.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&proposalId=66ad42eaf2fef64647baad0a) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/rainbow_swap_bot)

**Fiva**

TON’s first yield tokenization protocol. $28M trading volume, plus strong traction from pre-seed investors. It also nabbed second place at the Ethena Hackathon.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&proposalId=66ad42eaf2fef64647baad0a) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/fiva_yield_bot)

### 3. Infrastructure and tools

With 15% of grants dedicated to tools and infrastructure, developers focused on keeping things stable, secure, and easier to build on.

**TON Symbolic Analyser**

No dev wants to ship broken contracts. This tool runs symbolic execution across all code paths to catch vulnerabilities before launch. Its use ensures reliability and robustness in smart contract development within the TON ecosystem.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&proposalId=667ee6b9b59d3e9ae042d6c9) | [Website](https://esprito.com/tsa/)

**AdsGram**

Helping devs monetize their Telegram Mini Apps via ads. With over 650 mini apps already connected and more than 3 million USDT paid out, AdsGram is proving there's real revenue on the table, if you’ve got a decent app and users who click.

[Grant Proposal](https://www.questbook.app/dashboard/?role=builder&proposalId=659c0e4edec2a11c089f0a71&grantId=0xe92b011b2ecb97dbe168c802d582037e28036f9b&chainId=10) | [Website](https://adsgram.ai/)

**CrustBags (Previously TON Bags)**

CrustBagsBot is a lightweight, user-friendly Telegram Mini App that enables seamless Web3 file storage directly within Telegram. Supporting both mobile and desktop, users can upload, view, and download their files using decentralized storage powered by Crust Network or TON Storage. With built-in wallet connection and two flexible storage modes, CrustBags makes decentralized file storage easy and accessible for everyone.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&proposalId=666c569eb59d3e9ae0231720) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/BagsTestBot)

**Symbiosis**

Symbiosis ranks among the largest cross-chain [AMM](https://blog.ton.org/what-is-an-automated-market-maker) DEXs, aggregating liquidity from multiple networks. On TON, it's already recorded over 4,000 transactions across 2,000 active addresses, moving $2.9 million in trading volume.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?chainId=10&proposalId=66193fceccf6446509b87665&grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279) | [Website](https://symbiosis.finance/)

**Bounty Bay**

Bounty Bay is turning heads with 200,000–300,000 daily active users and more than 2 million on-chain addresses. The platform brings an omnichannel market straight to TON wallets, where users can scoop up tokens across chains—no bridges, no headaches. After securing its grant, the project attracted backing from big names like Animoca Ventures, TON Ventures, and Hashkey Global.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&proposalId=65d217f33dc7ecb3213dcc31) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/tbookincentive)

### 4. Community and SocialFi

TON’s support for creator tools and collaborative systems continues through standout projects like:

**TBook**

TBook now runs the top incentive system on TON, attracting over three million users who've minted TBook Passports and generated 390,000 WISE Credit Scores. Their vSBT format isn’t just widely used—it’s helping push $130 million in TVL across DeFi apps. With their AI Incentive Layer in the works, TBook is setting the tone for what’s next in scalable reputation mechanics.

[Grant Proposal](https://questbook.app/dashboard/?grantId=65c7836df27e2e1702d2d279&chainId=10&proposalId=65d217f33dc7ecb3213dcc31) | [Telegram Mini App](https://t.me/tbookincentive)

For more details, you can browse through the [TON Grant Program site](https://www.notion.so/1115274bd2cf80f0b639f84f3914356a?pvs=21).

## A closer look at the grants breakdown

 ![image.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/image_8ed4b4ffb3/image_8ed4b4ffb3.png) 

### Monthly grants approved vs proposals reviewed

There is a clear spike in both proposals reviewed and grants approved around August and October, indicating high activity in those months.

 ![image (2).png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/image_2_fa0875a886/image_2_fa0875a886.png) 

*The chart shows a consistent upward trend, indicating growing developer interest and engagement with TON's grant program.*

 ![image (3).png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/image_3_29e2786321/image_3_29e2786321.png) 


### Evolution of grant categories over time

- GameFi remains dominant but fluctuates, indicating funding waves tied to key project milestones.
- DeFi and infrastructure are growing steadily, reflecting TONʼs focus on financial tools and scalable infrastructure.
- A more balanced ecosystem is emerging, with gradual support for SocialFi, community tools, and e-commerce, signaling long-term sustainability efforts.

 ![image (4).png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/image_4_42fab5f45c/image_4_42fab5f45c.png) 

### Category distribution of TON Grants

- GameFi takes up a majority of the grant distribution, making up nearly half (47.4%) of the total grants, followed by DeFi at 18.9%.
- Infrastructure and SocialFi each hold a smaller share, while e-commerce, community tools, and other categories have relatively minimal allocations.

## Bounties

2024 proved to be a key year for The Open Network (TON) as the ecosystem widened its influence, promoting creativity and increased participation through the TON Bounty program. Crafted to support developers and contributors, the TON Bounty program facilitated the completion of many significant projects that advanced Web3 in areas such as development tools, security improvements, and community engagement.

This year, the grant process received notable improvements, leading to more effective feedback and smoother communication. Participation climbed, with active developers doubling from 23 to over 105. 260 bounty proposals were received, resulting in 83 successfully completed bounties, underscoring TON’s dedication to nurturing a vibrant and robust ecosystem.

## Bounty program overview

### 1. Total bounties approved

[53 bounties approved](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20created%3A2024-01-01..2024-12-31%20label%3AApproved%20label%3A%22Developer%20Tool%22&page=1), driving innovation and ecosystem development.

### 2. Bounties in progress

Developers and contributors are currently working on 26 active bounties.

### 3. Successfully completed bounties

[50 bounties were successfully finished](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20state%3Aclosed%20closed%3A2024-01-01..2024-12-31%20label%3AApproved&page=1), rewarding contributors with a total of **$150,000**.

### 4. Program growth and participation

The program saw remarkable growth, doubling the number of active developers from 23 to over 105 contributors.

**260 bounty proposals** were submitted, reflecting the increasing interest and engagement in TONʼs ecosystem.

### 5. Category breakdown

- **Developer tooling:** 30 bounties completed, enabling seamless development within the TON ecosystem.
- **Education:** 17 bounties focused on fostering knowledge sharing and developer onboarding.
- **Resources:** 3 community-driven initiatives, including TON Wiki, an essential knowledge repository.

## Key categories and insights

### 1. Developer tooling

Developers played a crucial role in enhancing TONʼs technical foundations. Notable contributions include:

- **TON Static Analysis via Symbolic Execution:** An advanced security tool automating smart contract audits, cutting costs while identifying critical vulnerabilities at the TVM bytecode level with high accuracy. ([Issue](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/489) [#489](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/489))
- **Advanced Misti Tact Detectors:** A powerful security solution that enables automatic vulnerability detection, custom rule creation, and continuous code quality enforcement, ensuring robust protection for smart contracts. ([Issue #777](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/777))
- **Dart TonConnect Update**: Improved solutions for Dart projects and Flutter-based Telegram Mini Apps. ([Issue #436](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/436))
- **Tonutils – Python SDK for TON:** Improved developer workflows that simplify development, making it easier for developers to integrate and manage key features in the TON ecosystem. ([Issue #773](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/773))
- **TONAPI library for Python:** Offering comprehensive type descriptions while addressing usability improvements and efficiency. ([Issue #375](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/375))
- **MyTonCtrl Docker Images for TON Nodes**: Simplified deployment of TON blockchain nodes. ([Issue #444](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/444))
- **New SDKs and Tooling Implementations:** Expanding TONʼs developer ecosystem with improved API integrations.

### 2. Documentation and resources

Well-documented resources are key to ecosystem sustainability:

- **Multilingual localization collaboration system for TON Docs** ([Issue #717](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/717))
- **Infrastructure & Documentation Enhancements:** Improving TON developer resources. ([Issue #890](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/890))
- **TMA Documentation Overhaul:** A translation initiative making TMA documents available in multiple languages to reach a broad audience. ([Issue #891](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/891))
- [**TON Wiki**](https://tonwiki.space/wiki/Main_page): A community-driven initiative to consolidate knowledge and foster long-term engagement. ([Issue #431](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/issues/431))

## Looking ahead: TON Bounty focus areas for 2025

Entering 2025, the [TON Bounty Program](https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties) is poised to expand opportunities for developers, researchers, and community members. Priority areas have been identified to drive long-term progress:

- **Security and auditing:** Enhancing smart contract security with new automated analysis tools, supporting thorough security research, and strengthening audit frameworks.
- **AI and blockchain innovation:** Supporting the development of AI-powered blockchain applications, with a special focus on DeFi, serving as a testbed for AI agents and automation in risk assessment, smart contract management, and user experience.
- **Education and knowledge sharing:** Broadening multilingual documentation, offering advanced developer tutorials, and bolstering community resources, with a dedicated emphasis on refining Tact documentation to meet growing needs.

Additionally, the program will focus on improving existing infrastructure—boosting efficiency, scalability, and the overall experience for developers working across key TON tools and services. With an engaged community and a growing lineup of skilled contributors, the TON Bounty Program is gearing up for another round of impactful builds.

2024’s data shows solid momentum, with approvals and proposal activity fluctuations offering useful signals about where interest and priorities are headed. These takeaways are helping shape the 2025 playbook, with an eye on smarter support and even higher-value output.

## Thinking of jumping into a TON Bounty? Now’s your chance

We’re already in 2025, and TON’s grant program isn’t slowing down. It’s keeping the momentum going by backing bold, smart ideas and giving builders what they need to ship. With a growing list of funded projects and an ecosystem that rewards quality and creativity, there’s no better time to dive in, ship something real, and grow along the way.

<button href="https://github.com/ton-society/grants-and-bounties/blob/main/bounties/BOUNTIES_PROGRAM_GUIDELINES.md" passutmsource="true">
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TON's grant impact: a year of funding innovation in 2024


TON is taking the Main Stage at [Web3 Fest HK 2025](https://www.web3festival.org/hongkong2025/?lang=en#/en) as the **Title Sponsor**, with TON Day happening on **April 8, 2025**. Expect keynotes, panels, and big announcements covering DeFi, gaming, AI, meme trading, and more, all designed to showcase TON’s growth and future plans.

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## **April 8, Main Stage**

### **Block 1 – Achievement and plan of TON in APAC**

| **Time** | **Session** | **Speaker(s)** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 11:05–11:20 | Where are we now in TON’s history: from Oriental Experience | John, Head of APAC, TON Foundation |
| 11:20–11:35 | TON Society HK: empowering builders | Yuki, Hong Kong Lead, TON Society |

### **Block 2 – Next killer on TON: game, AI, or social trading?**

| **Time** | **Session** | **Speaker(s)** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 11:35–11:50 | The comparison of WeChat & Telegram mini-game history | Aaron, Founder of Televerse |
| 11:50–12:15 | **Panel:** Mini-games | **Moderator:**  Kenny, Growth in APAC, TON Foundation.                                     **Guests:**  Joey, APAC BD Lead of The Open Platform; Barry, COO of Bombie; Luna, CMO of Cocos Studio; Daniel, Partner of OpenAD Protocol; Stanley, Ecosystem Partner of Debug.pet |
| 12:15–12:30 | Partnership announcement of AI LLM producing tool for TON game developers | Dr. Shen Jun, CEO of KingNet |
| 12:30–12:45 | Play2Win: onboarding 1 billion citizens to crypto made real | Tom Kopera, COO & Co-founder at Elympics |
| 12:45–13:20 | **Panel:** AI & social trading | **Moderator:** John, Head of APAC, TON Foundation. **Guests:** Allen, Founder of Star.AI; Alvin, Founder of China2U; Luis Lu, Co-founder of BitsLab/TonBit; Jason, Marketing Lead of Ave.ai; 0xLeon, Founder of KaBoom |

### **Block 3 – 2025 TON playbook**

| **Time** | **Session** | **Speaker(s)** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 13:20–13:35 | TON 2025: What’s next for developers? | Alena Shmalko, Ecosystem Lead, TON Foundation |
| 13:35–13:50 | TON x Telegram: global Web3 SuperApp | Andrew Rogozov, Founder & CEO, The Open Platform |
| 13:50–14:05 | Turn your TON blockchain idea into a hit | Gleb Vorontsov, Head of Telegram Apps, TON Studio |
| 14:05–14:40 | **Panel:** What do you see in 2025? | **Moderator:** Xiu, Head of Marketing, TON Society. **Guests:** Steve Yun, Board Member, TON Foundation; Anthony Tsivarev, Director of EcoDev, TON Foundation; Jack Booth, Co-Founder, TON Society |

### **Block 4 – DeFi in your pocket**

| **Time** | **Session** | **Speaker(s)** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 15:00–15:15 | Delving into DeFi roadmap | Vlad Degen, DeFi Lead, TON Foundation |
| 15:15–15:30 | Bridge between BTC & TON: tgBTC | Roman Krutovoy, Infrastructure Lead, TON Foundation |
| 15:30–15:55 | **Panel:** DeFi | **Moderator:** Vlad Degen, DeFi Lead, TON Foundation. **Guests:** Vitaliy, CMO of DeDust; Alan, Founder/CEO of Torch Finance; Vladislav Bliznik, CTO of EVAA Protocol |
| 15:55–16:10 | Institutional-grade TON liquid staking protocol | Dr. Awesome Doge, Co-founder of TonX Studio |
| 16:10–16:25 | DeFi to StarFi | Vivi, Head of Growth Asia, Storm Trade |

### **Block 5 – From hype to reality**

| **Time** | **Session** | **Speaker(s)** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 16:25–16:50 | **Panel:** Real-world applications | **Moderator:** Yuki, Hong Kong Lead, TON Society. **Guests:**  Timothy R, Founder of ShareX; Pei Liu, Founder of LinkRoad; Jonathan Chan, Co-founder and Head of Partnerships of RedotPay; Veronica Wong, CEO and Co-founder of SafePal; Jojo, Co-founder of Baza |
| 16:50–17:15 | **Panel:** Investor panel | **Moderator:**  Ian Wittkopp, Partner, TON Ventures. **Guests:** Fiona Ma, Investments and Research Lead of DWF Labs; David Ching, Investment Director of Animoca Brands; Mia Mai, Head of Portfolio at HashKey Capital |

## **Ready to experience TON Day at Web3 Fest HK?**

April 8, Main Stage. This is your front-row seat to the future of usable Web3. From expert talks and panels to exciting announcements from the brightest minds building on TON, TON Day is where the action happens.

Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and build with the TON community. See you there!

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TON at Web3 Fest HK 2025: full agenda and speaker lineup

The Open Network Foundation ([TON Foundation](https://ton.foundation/en)) today disclosed over $400M in Toncoin has been purchased from early investors by some of the world’s most influential and forward-thinking venture capital firms focused on blockchain technology. Prominent investors include Sequoia Capital, Ribbit, Benchmark and Kingsway. Vy Capital, Draper Associates, and Libertus Capital are also key backers, alongside CoinFund, Hypersphere, SkyBridge, and Karatage.

TON Blockchain’s decentralized architecture powers one of the fastest, most scalable, and most resilient blockchains within the space. Its robust network capabilities have earned the attention and interest of institutional investors globally. Additionally, TON Foundation’s strategic partnerships provide strong support for the expansion of TON’s ecosystem and have further bolstered its position as an industry leader.

In January, [TON Foundation strengthened its partnership with Telegram](https://blog.ton.org/ton-telegram-exclusive-partnership-2025), which saw TON become the exclusive blockchain for Telegram’s Mini Apps Ecosystem. This partnership enhances support for Telegram’s global user base — which significantly exceeds 1 billion monthly active users — by providing, among other things, the foundational infrastructure for essential financial applications upon which Telegram’s users rely. From seamless payments for goods, services and other applications, TON’s robust blockchain ensures users can access fast, secure, and efficient financial tools within Telegram’s ecosystem.

## **Capitalizing on a year of major milestones**

Over the past year, TON Blockchain has experienced tremendous growth, with active accounts growing from 4 million to 41 million and Toncoin surpassing 121 million unique holders. During this time, the number of Toncoin holders has exceeded the number of wallets holding Bitcoin, and TON apps grew into some of the world’s most-used crypto applications, demonstrating the immense potential of Telegram’s distribution.

Looking ahead, TON Foundation is now setting its sights on onboarding 30 percent of active Telegram users to TON Blockchain by 2028. This will be driven by four key verticals: attracting users through Telegram’s native IP, such as stickers, gifts, and on-chain collectibles; introducing engaging and rewarding multiplayer mini-games; providing DeFi solutions for easy-to-use savings options that offer sustainable returns; and creating practical payment applications that provide real-world utility for crypto holdings.

## **Quotes from industry leaders**

*Shaun Maguire, Partner, at Sequoia Capital*: “The TON team is the best in the world at the intersection of consumer product thinking and crypto infrastructure. When you combine this with the global distribution of Telegram, we’re very excited to see where they go.”

*Micky Malka, Founder, at Ribbit*: “Ribbit partners with exceptional teams tackling and solving the world’s biggest problems. TON and Telegram exemplify this, working together to expand financial access globally by coupling the best technology with a seamless consumer experience.”

*Peter Fenton, Partner at Benchmark*: “Telegram’s user base, which is expected to grow to over 1.5 billion through 2030, creates an unprecedented opportunity in the history of humanity to provide ubiquitous financial flows that have been limited until now to information flows, TON provides the backbone for human-scale democratization of financial activity.”

*Tim Draper, Founder of Draper Associates*: “I’ve been a long-time believer in the potential of blockchain to disrupt traditional industries and systems. TON’s technology is highly impressive, and its integration with Telegram provides it with a distribution that no other blockchain can match.”

*Alex Felix, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at CoinFund*: “The TON ecosystem has huge potential energy and a significant distribution advantage, especially in gaming, stablecoin payments and remittances.  As exemplified through our investment in StonFi, CoinFund continues to be bullish on the growth of the TON ecosystem as a whole and the opportunities ahead for the Foundation.”

TON Foundation discloses leading VCs invest over $400M in Toncoin

The first two months of 2025 have been all about growth, big moves, and setting the stage for what’s next. New leadership, major partnerships, and serious traction across DeFi, GameFi, and payments. If you’ve been watching closely, you already know this ecosystem isn’t slowing down.

Here’s the **TL;DR of what went down in Jan–Feb:**

- **3.1M** new wallets activated
- **170K–590K** daily active wallets
- **3M–5M** monthly active wallets
- **$500M–$700M** monthly trading volume
- **20M–30M** weekly transactions, placing TON in the **top 8 blockchains**
- **790** new developers in January (+15%)
- **906** monthly active developers (+40%)

### **New president, big plans**

Manuel “Manny” Stotz is [TON Foundation's new president](https://blog.ton.org/ton-foundation-new-president). He’s been on TON’s board since 2023 and founded Kingsway Capital, managing **billions in assets** and backing **50+ blockchain projects.** Now, he’s leading **TON’s expansion in the US,** setting up stronger partnerships and getting the right people to pay attention.

### **Telegram + TON = fully locked in**

TON is now the [exclusive blockchain for Telegram Mini Apps](https://blog.ton.org/ton-telegram-exclusive-partnership-2025), a huge milestone in one of the world’s biggest social platforms.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said it himself:

> "TON will be our blockchain infrastructure for tokenization, payouts, mini app integrations, and more. This standardization will be great for Telegram users—giving them a consistent, predictable experience and better protection against scams."

Projects such as [TapSwap](https://x.com/tapswapai/status/1889350549746622813) (5.2M MAU) and [Tomarket](https://t.me/tomarket_ai/383) (2.8M MAU) have already switched to TON, and TON’s [marketing grant program](https://t.me/toncoin/1830) has helped developers transition smoothly to the ecosystem.

### **Unlocking cross-chain liquidity with LayerZero**

No more clunky bridges, no more insane fees.

TON has [integrated with LayerZero](https://blog.ton.org/ton-layer-zero) to enable seamless USDT transfers between Ethereum, TRON, and Arbitrum—with **100+ chains coming soon.**

Also, the upcoming launch of the **OFT (Omnichain Fungible Token) standard** will see Ethena ([top-4 stablecoin by market cap](https://app.rwa.xyz/stablecoins), [$5.6B TVL](https://defillama.com/protocol/ethena), 10–15% APY on stablecoin holdings) as the first adopter.

### **$100M for DeFi and PayFi on TON**

[TVM Ventures](https://www.tvm.ventures/) is betting big on TON—dropping [$100M](https://www.tvm.ventures/news/tvm-ventures-launches-100-million-fund-to-expand-ton-blockchain-as-global-financial-network) to fund the next wave of DeFi, PayFi, and infrastructure projects. Board member Steve Yun is steering the effort, and the team is already teaming up with top security experts to run thorough audits so you can trust your transactions. This fresh cash injection draws in new partners and sparks innovative DeFi projects, which means you'll soon enjoy a broader range of financial services right on TON.

## **Behind the scenes: infrastructure and dev upgrades**

TON’s devs have been grinding behind the scenes to make the network faster, smoother, and more powerful. Here’s what’s new:

TON is getting faster, smoother, and more secure with [TON Core’s upcoming upgrades.](https://t.me/toncoin/1807) A Layer 2 payment network (beta) is enabling instant, low-fee transfers for DeFi and gaming. Tact smart contracts are now [5–10% more gas-efficient](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@tact-lang/compiler/v/1.6.0) than FunC, and a [Trail of Bits audit](https://t.me/toncoin/1822) confirmed zero high-severity vulnerabilities. Lastly, [Nansen](https://t.me/toncoin/1789) and Pyth integrations bring deeper insights and real-time price feeds.

## **Growth across multiple sectors**

TON is seeing major growth across DeFi, GameFi, and social applications.

EVAA’s TVL hit a [record $84M](https://defillama.com/protocol/evaa-protocol), Storm Trade nearly doubled from [$15M to $26M](https://defillama.com/protocol/storm-trade), and memecoins now drive [30–40%](https://dune.com/ton_foundation/ton-memecoin-eco-d/1b24e7d0-9931-4ca6-a922-527b6488a5b0) of trading volume on TON. Telegram’s NFT ecosystem is also thriving, with [Durov Caps](https://t.me/caps/13) reaching 14.4M users and [Duckygram](https://t.me/toncoin/1820) pulling in 580K users and $1M in transactions. Meanwhile, Asian gaming studios are quickly gaining popularity, with popular WeChat IPs like [Cattea](https://blog.ton.org/ton-giants-cattea1) and Bombie hitting 6 MAU and $13.7M in revenue, respectively.

## **Wrapping up**

2025 came in hot—new leadership pushing US expansion, Telegram doubling down, DeFi and GameFi popping off, and major infra upgrades making everything smoother. With more liquidity, deeper integrations, and an expanding ecosystem, TON is shaping up to be one of the most exciting spaces in crypto.

Moving forward, TON remains focused on strengthening infrastructure, empowering developers, and building real-world applications that actually matter.

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TON Ecosystem Update: January – February 2025

The **Late Night DeFi campaign** has come to an end, leaving a lasting mark on TON’s decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape. Traditionally, DeFi has been the **domain of whales,** with everyday users left on the sidelines. TON set out to change that. With Late Night DeFi, our goal was to bring new users into the ecosystem by making DeFi more **engaging, rewarding, and easy to navigate.**

Launched in September 2024, TON Society, TBook, and top DeFi projects, including Tonstakers, bemo, STON.fi, DeDust, [Storm Trade](https://blog.ton.org/ton-innovators-storm-trade), and [EVAA](https://blog.ton.org/ton-innovators-evaa-protocol), collaborated on this initiative, powered by **Soulbound Tokens (SBTs)**. Through livestreams, offline events, and AMAs, the campaign expanded DeFi education and engagement while delivering strong results.

## **Campaign by the numbers**

By the end of 2024, Late Night DeFi generated over **1.9 million TON in total value locked (TVL)**, attracting **94,176 participants** who collectively claimed over **40,000 SBTs**.

- Tonstakers Strategist: 9,042 claims
- Bemo Strategist: 7,815 claims
- Storm Trader: 5,968 claims
- STON Herald: 5,852 claims
- DeDust Herald: 5,649 claims
- EVAA Pawnbroker: 5,706 claims

Notably, 13,594 participants (14.5%) held USDT, while 33,735 (35.98%) held at least one major TON memecoin, such as [NOT](https://blog.ton.org/virality-masterclass-notcoins-rise-to-4m-players), DOGS, [CATI](https://blog.ton.org/ton-innovators-catizen-2), WAT, HMSTR, or [Durev](https://blog.ton.org/ton-culture-kings-durev). This overlap between DeFi players and gamers sets the stage for deeper GameFi-DeFi integration in 2025.

A major highlight: the ongoing airdrops airdrop distribution. Over **$100,000** has been allocated so far in two phases—the first phase in October 2024 rewarded early contributors to Late Night DeFi TVL, while the second phase in early 2025 will honor those with exceptional engagement, further cementing TON DeFi’s growth. Project-specific rewards were also included, with Storm Trade offering 50,000 STORM tokens, bemo distributing $10,000 in stXP, and EVAA providing exclusive XP rewards, each strategically designed to enhance user participation and foster deeper engagement within the ecosystem. More airdrops are coming. You can follow the latest airdrop news on [TON’s social channels.](https://ton.org/)

## **What made Late Night DeFi a success?**

### **1）SBTs: a driving force for community engagement**

The Late Night DeFi campaign proved that [SBTs](https://blog.ton.org/sbt-campaigns-incentives) can be a powerful lever to drive community contribution. Implementing **Compressed SBTs (cSBTs)** helped cut campaign costs by over **50%**, allowing for larger-scale incentivization without the hefty price tag. Bundling minting proofs into a single daily transaction reduced gas fees, enabling projects to mint millions of tokens with minimal cost. Less cost, more reach, bigger impact.

**Verifiable SBTs (vSBTs)** took this a step further. Unlike standard SBTs, vSBTs validated real DeFi contributions, ensuring that genuine participants were rewarded. This approach directly contributed to the **1.9 million TON** in TVL, showcasing how SBTs can drive engagement while building trust.

### **2）Late Night DeFi: bringing the TON community closer together**

Late Night DeFi was a TON-wide collaboration, setting a new benchmark for DeFi initiatives. By pooling resources and expertise from TON Society, TBook, and leading DeFi projects, the campaign made DeFi more accessible, transparent, and rewarding.

## **What’s next for TON DeFi?**

Now, it’s time to carry Late Night DeFi’s momentum into 2025. **More users, more projects, more TVL, and more airdrops.** The best of TON DeFi is yet to come.

As DeFi on TON continues to evolve, expect deeper integrations and expanded use cases that make DeFi even more accessible. Whether you’re a trader, liquidity provider, or just getting started, there’s never been a better time to dive into TON DeFi.

Late Night DeFi campaign wraps up, boosting TON DeFi growth

[TON Foundation](https://ton.foundation/en) has announced the integration of LayerZero, the **leading interoperability protocol for cross-chain asset transfers.** This integration aims to advance [blockchain interoperability](https://blog.ton.org/why-interoperability-is-key-to-unlocking-blockchains-full-potential) by connecting **TON to** **over** **100 other chains**, starting with 12 chains that include **Ethereum, Tron, and Solana,** and combining LayerZero’s industry-leading messaging infrastructure with TON’s high scalability and low transaction fees.

## **What is LayerZero?**

[LayerZero](https://layerzero.network/) is an interoperability protocol that connects **100+ blockchains,** allowing developers to create applications that exist across multiple networks. From **stablecoins to on-chain lending markets to digital identity solutions,** LayerZero powers some of the most prominent blockchain projects, including **[Ethena](https://ethena.fi/), PayPal, and Pudgy Penguins.** The protocol has facilitated over **140 million** cross-chain messages, making it one of the most widely used interoperability solutions in the industry.

## **LayerZero brings major assets to TON**

As a standalone Layer 1 blockchain, TON has demonstrated its excellence in scalability and distribution, but has faced limitations when it comes to liquidity and access to major crypto assets prevalent on other blockchains. By integrating LayerZero, the TON ecosystem now has **access to multi-chain liquidity,** setting the stage for **widespread DeFi innovation** in 2025.

TON is now able to deliver **sustainable liquidity** and **improve accessibility** to its ecosystem, setting the stage for widespread adoption.

Several key partners are leveraging LayerZero’s infrastructure on TON, including:

- **USDT:** LayerZero is being used by the consortium USDT0 to premiere its new product, the Legacy Mesh which connects USDT deployments with USDT0 between TON, Tron, Ethereum, and Arbitrum.
- **Ethena:** A synthetic dollar, yield-bearing stable asset protocol, will be expanded to TON through LayerZero’s OFT Standard, with its flagship $5B asset USDe being its first asset to go live on TON.
- **Stargate:** The largest bridge in crypto, enabling seamless transfers of USDT between Ethereum, Tron, and TON, along with other OFTs like Ethena.

Users can now transfer assets like [USDT](https://blog.ton.org/usdt-comes-to-ton-embrace-the-true-peer-to-peer-experience) and other tokens from Ethereum, Tron, and other supported chains directly to TON Blockchain via [Stargate](https://stargate.finance/bridge). Developers will also be able to deploy tokens to TON from any of LayerZero’s 100+ supported chains using a single contract.

LayerZero’s tools for TON developers include:

- **Message passing:** Enable smart contracts on TON to interact with contracts on other LayerZero-connected chains for seamless interop.
- **Token expansion:** Deploy tokens to TON from any of LayerZero's 100+ supported chains.
- **FunC++:** An enhanced programming language for TON that improves development efficiency and reduces compilation times.

## **LayerZero introduces FunC++ to enhance EVM accessibility**

LayerZero created **FunC++,** a framework for object-oriented development within [FunC](https://blog.ton.org/secure-smart-contract-programming-in-func), dramatically **reducing the complexity of FunC development.** FunC++ abstractions and interfaces are now being internalized into the upcoming release of TON's new programming language, **Tolk,** where LayerZero will continue to develop tooling for the TON ecosystem. LayerZero continues to support TON Core with tooling, feedback, and contributions to help drive seamless cross-chain development.

## **Unrivalled access to a global audience**

Following its [exclusive agreement with Telegram](https://blog.ton.org/ton-telegram-exclusive-partnership-2025), TON offers unprecedented access to Telegram's global audience of over 950 million users. With LayerZero providing interop, TON receives unrivalled connectivity to both sources of liquidity and major blockchains.

> “We believe this integration marks a significant step forward for TON when it comes to uniting ecosystems and bringing greater interoperability to the broader crypto ecosystem," said Max Pertsovskiy, Chief Operating Officer, TON Foundation. "By connecting TON to a wide variety of other chains, developers now have all the tools they need to build decentralized applications for a truly global audience.”

> "TON is undoubtedly one of the most exciting ecosystems today,” said Bryan Pellegrino, CEO of LayerZero. “After its exclusive partnership with Telegram, it now has access to nearly a billion users. This direct integration has the potential to transform how a significant portion of the world interacts with blockchain technology. At LayerZero Labs, that’s exactly what we aim to do. We're excited to announce full support for the TON blockchain, connecting it to over 100 other chains and bringing some of the world’s largest assets into the ecosystem.”.

👉 [Explore LayerZero](https://layerzero.network/) <br>
👉 [Try cross-chain bridges on TON](https://ton.org/bridges)

TON integrates with LayerZero, bringing greater blockchain interoperability

From November 21 to December 16, 2024, TON Memelandia held two memecoin competitions with a large community reward pool.

In the **Cabal Arena**, teams of traders and memecoin creators battled to launch influential memecoins on TON’s pump.fun-style launchpads, competing for $350,000 in prizes.

On **Memecoin Mountain**, TON memecoins competed fiercely to scale the leaderboard. Projects with the best trading volume, market cap, diamond hands, holder growth, and community engagement will receive $150,000 in community airdrops.

## **Competition highlights**

Great narratives take time to unfold. Initially slated for four weeks, the competitions were extended to six weeks, giving participants more time to craft their stories and climb the rankings. The extension allowed more traders and creators to participate in the competition.

Each memecoin embarked on an expedition to carve out its narrative on TON. From hidden messages to community-driven utilities, these projects proved memecoins are more than just tokens; they're stories that bring communities together.

## **Ecosystem impact**

The competitions demonstrated TON memecoin potential by:

- Creating vibrant and competitive communities
- Attracting 20K unique traders and memecoin enthusiasts
- Generating $231M+ in trading volume
- Launching 54 new memecoin projects

## **Memecoin Mountain: the ascent**

32 memecoins participated—14 in the Major league and 18 in the Minor league—achieving impressive milestones.

**Airdrops:**

- Wallets qualified: 518
- Average airdrop reward: $289.57
- Minimum reward: $113.72
- Maximum reward: $980.39

**Major league winners:**

1. Du Rove’s Wall (@wall_jetton): $45,000
2. Ton Cat (@TonCatonTon): $30,000
3. Resistance Cat (@recaOfficialX): $15,000

**Minor League winners:**

1. Dark (@darkcoinmeme): $37,500
2. SadMeow (@SadMeowMP3): $22,500

**Collective metrics (Snapshot taken Dec 16, 2024, 00:06):**

- Total market cap: $476.96M
    - Major league: $461.95M
    - Minor league: $15.01M
- Total trading volume: $111.04M
    - Major league: $82.24M
    - Minor league: $28.8M

Winners will also be eligible for marketing rewards, such as Telegram Ads credits and KOL boosts.

## **Cabal Arena: the battleground**

The Cabal Arena featured strategic planning and notable achievements, with 10 top-performing teams launching seven unique tokens.

**Top launched tokens:**

1. **NIKO** reached a peak of $160M market cap
2. **ALIVE** scaled steadily to a $2.8M market cap
3. **LAMBO** raced up the mountain to a $1.34M market cap

**Key results:**

- Total trading volume: $120.88M
- Memecoins launched: 7 unique tokens
- Prize pool: $350,000 unlocked

**Top Cabal performers:**

1. JETTON Insiders (Score: 25,512)
2. Oxptimus Prime (Score: 2,836)
3. AliveBoard (Score: 2,063)

**Top Cabal performers and prizes:**

1. JETTON Insiders: $92,000 (26.3%)
2. Oxptimus prime: $66,000 (18.9%)
3. AliveBoard: $44,000 (12.6%)
4. Rekt Squad: $33,000 (9.4%)
5. Mandarin Spartans: $29,000 (8.3%)
6. Lazy Bobs with sponge: $26,000 (7.4%)
7. NEWJET: $22,000 (6.3%)
8. Victorious: $19,000 (5.4%)
9. New Ð¡abal: $19,000 (5.4%)

## **Driving the value of community-first memecoins**

Wrapping up TON Memelandia's first season, we gained crucial knowledge to enhance future events. The competition has established a base for more sophisticated community-driven memecoin endeavors.

Our key takeaways will help refine strategies, support more innovative projects, and continue pushing the boundaries of what memecoins can achieve.

To address concerns about the verification process, through our analysis, we identified irregularities in contest participation, hence the exclusion of certain projects. Among our key verification points were conducting anti-sybil and wash-trading analysis to ensure our genuine participants' interests.

While we celebrate the creativity of our community, we cannot ignore systematic attempts to game the system. Our primary commitments remained:

- Thoroughly validate contest participation
- Maintain ecosystem integrity
- Ensure fair prize distribution

Transparency is a top priority, and with new Memelandia activations on the horizon, we aim to continue developing the memecoin ecosystem on TON.

### **The Memecoin games have ended for now, but the memes continue to thrive!**

Thank you to every participant, trader, community member, and supporter who made this possible.

**Links 💎**

- https://ton.org/en/memelandia
- https://cabal-arena.fun/
- [@tonmemelandia202](https://t.me/tonmemelandia2024)
- [memecoinarmoury/form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfK0YjIz3Ymg8zrmW9fGxrXFUA4430QN8dgQGnyHMPa8gpuQ/viewform)

***Disclaimer**: Trading memecoins is highly speculative and involves significant risk. The value of memecoins can fluctuate wildly and may be subject to sudden and unpredictable price swings. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please do your own research (DYOR) before making any investment decisions.*

TON Memelandia competitions: Memecoin Mountain and Cabal Arena battles come to a close

The **TON Ecosystem 2024 Year-End Report** is here, highlighting the incredible milestones we’ve achieved together over the past year.

Here’s a quick peek at what’s inside:

- **Wallet growth:** 36.2 million new wallets, pushing TON into the spotlight.
- **USDt on TON:** $1.4 billion in net circulation and over 26 million transactions logged, showing massive adoption.
- **DeFi development:** A 55x increase in TVL and a range of exciting new projects taking off.

2025 is shaping up to be even bigger. Expect innovations like TON Teleport for Bitcoin integration, Society DAO to strengthen community involvement, and new Telegram tools to enhance collaboration.

Let’s build the future together!

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Read now
</button >

TON Ecosystem 2024 Year-End Report

The Open Network Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting the TON community, announced today an expansion of its partnership with Telegram Messenger, as part of which **TON becomes the exclusive blockchain infrastructure** powering Telegram’s Mini App ecosystem and supporting Telegram’s global user base of over 950 million monthly active users.

Since the Foundation and Telegram announced their [joint initiative](https://blog.ton.org/building-a-web3-ecosystem-in-telegram-with-toncoin) in 2023, the TON ecosystem has experienced unprecedented growth and widespread adoption. Telegram’s updates to its mini app platform, the use of Toncoin for pay-ins and payouts, and its advertising platform played a significant role in the growth of TON’s network. The new exclusivity agreement deepens the technological ties between TON and Telegram.

## **Unifying on-chain user experience through TON Connect**

Central to this collaboration is adopting TON’s wallet connect protocol, [TON Connect](https://blog.ton.org/ton-connect-the-future-without-passwords), as the **exclusive protocol** for linking Telegram Mini Apps to blockchain wallets. This initiative provides a simplified user experience where all Web3 mini apps in Telegram will use TON to connect and authorize blockchain transactions.

All mini apps utilizing blockchain in any capacity, including custodial and non-custodial wallets, user authorization, on-chain signatures, and the sending and receiving of blockchain-based assets, must implement TON Connect as their exclusive wallet connect protocol in the next month.

## **TON Blockchain and Toncoin become exclusive for Telegram platform**

Furthermore, Telegram will continue to accept **Toncoin as the only cryptocurrency** for non-fiat payments made for the assets and services offered by its platform, including [Telegram Stars](https://blog.ton.org/telegram-stars-and-ton-ecosystem), Telegram Premium, Telegram Ads, and Telegram Gateway, a platform alternative to traditional SMS verification. Additionally, Toncoin will be the only currency used to pay Telegram Mini App developers and channel owners for their earned Telegram Stars and advertisement revenue.

## **Tokenization of digital assets from Telegram platform**

Telegram plans to tokenize digital assets exclusively on TON Blockchain within the platform, including emojis and stickers, among other digital assets, while also tokenizing limited edition gifts as NFTs.

“After laying foundational groundwork over the last years, TON is now ready for explosive growth in 2025. The re-energized, deepened, and exclusive partnership with Telegram is an important step in our roadmap”, said Manuel Stotz, President of The Open Network Foundation. “Telegram is the sixth most downloaded app in the world, a beacon for free speech, and the default messaging platform for the global blockchain community. No other blockchain has a comparable distribution vector. As TON continues its global expansion, we reiterate our ambition to empower over 500 million users before the end of the decade.”

## **Promotion of TON-based mini apps on Telegram**

Developers are encouraged to begin the migration process to ensure a seamless transition and avoid user service interruptions. Those who migrate within Telegram’s deadline will receive additional benefits from TON Foundation, including promotional support. As part of this initiative, developers can apply for [**up to $50,000 in Ad Credit grants**](https://questbook.app/proposal_form/?grantId=6785330d80bdbe2661534236&chainId=10&utm_source=questbook&utm_medium=grant_details&utm_campaign=share) to accelerate growth within the TON ecosystem. To ensure a successful migration, TON Foundation also offers **exclusive technical support, community onboarding**, and **marketing opportunities.**

Detailed guidelines and FAQ for developers are available [here](https://core.telegram.org/bots/blockchain-guidelines).

Get your mini app in front of Telegram’s 950M+ users and be part of the TON-powered future today!

Still have questions? Join the discussion:

Blockchain Development chats:

- [TON Dev Chat (EN)](https://t.me/tondev_eng) 
- [TON Dev Chat (РУ)](https://t.me/tondev) 
- [TON Dev Chat (中文)](https://t.me/tondev_zh) 

Telegram Mini Apps Development chats:

- [TMA Devs EN](https://t.me/devs)
- [TMA Devs RU](https://t.me/tmabuild)
- [TMA Devs 中文](https://t.me/devs_zh)

TON Foundation expands partnership with Telegram, making TON the exclusive blockchain for Telegram’s mini apps ecosystem

TON Foundation proudly announces a pivotal leadership transition as Manuel “Manny” Stotz, a highly accomplished investor and advocate for blockchain technology, assumes the role of President. This marks an exciting new chapter in the foundation’s journey to accelerate global blockchain adoption, with a strategic focus on expanding operations in the United States.

Manny succeeds Steve Yun, who has played a critical role in shaping the foundation’s vision and achievements during his tenure as President. Steve will continue to contribute his expertise as a valued member of the Board, ensuring continuity and supporting the foundation’s ambitious mission.

“Steve Yun’s leadership has been instrumental in guiding TON Foundation to the level of unprecedented growth TON community has achieved today,” said Manuel, Incoming President of TON Foundation. “The entire TON Community is deeply grateful for his contributions and look forward to continuing to benefit from his wisdom and experience as we embark on this new phase.”

## **Introducing Manuel Stotz: a visionary leader for TON’s next chapter**

Manny Stotz brings a wealth of experience to TON Foundation, having served on its Board since its official inception in Switzerland. He is the Founder of Kingsway Capital, a London-based investment firm managing several billion USD on behalf of US institutional investors, focusing on frontier and emerging markets.

Through Kingsway, Manny has championed financial inclusion in regions home to over three billion people, many of whom are unbanked or underbanked and exposed to volatile fiat currencies. Recognizing the transformative potential of blockchain technology, Kingsway has backed over 50 blockchain sector leaders, including Animoca Brands, Blockchain.com, CoinDCX, and TON coin. Manny’s deep understanding of blockchain’s role in economic empowerment and investment history has created a network of global investors, institutions, and successful entrepreneurs, uniquely positioning him to expand TON’s adoption in the US market.

“Manny’s extraordinary track record in investment and passion for leveraging blockchain to empower communities make him the ideal leader for this next chapter,” said Steve Yun, outgoing President of TON Foundation. “His vision, commitment, and extensive global network align perfectly with the foundation’s renewed focus on strategic expansions into the US market.”

“I am honored to step into this role and build on the incredible foundation established by Steve and the entire team,” said Manny Stotz. “TON is uniquely positioned to lead the blockchain revolution. I look forward to working with our partners and stakeholders to accelerate this mission—especially in the dynamic and innovative US market.”

## **Continuity and momentum**

As TON Foundation embraces this leadership transition, the organization remains steadfast in its commitment to its mission and values. With Steve Yun’s ongoing guidance as a member of the Board and Manny Stotz’s visionary leadership, the foundation is poised for a future defined by growth, collaboration, and innovation.

The coming months promise significant steps forward for TON in the US, further solidifying its position as a leading player in the global blockchain ecosystem.

TON Foundation welcomes Manuel Stotz as new President to drive US expansion

2024 was **legendary.** From shattering records to dropping game-changing innovations, TON didn’t just show up—**we took over.**

But let’s keep it real: none of this would’ve been possible without **you**—our users, partners, and sponsors. You’re the reason TON went from building quietly to dominating loudly. So, thank you for riding with us.

As we close out this incredible year, we’re here to celebrate the milestones we reached together. Buckle up as we dive into the highlights that set the stage for an even brighter 2025.

## **Big numbers, bigger wins**

This year, we didn’t just grow—we made history:

- **New users:** 36.2M users started using TON Blockchain
- **Monthly active wallets:** 12.4M wallets at their all-time high (ATH), a 110x growth
- **Total value locked (TVL):** From $537K on January 1 to $773M in July, another ATH
- **USDT:** 1B+ in circulation, making TON the fastest chain in Tether’s history to hit this milestone
- **NFTs:** 17M minted
- **SBTs:** 7.1M minted
- **Toncoin:** Now listed on 50+ exchanges, including new listing on Binance, Bithumb, Revolut, and HashKey, with $16B daily trading volume
- **Interoperability:** Integrated with 17+ chains including Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin, leveraging protocols like [Axelar](https://blog.ton.org/ton-axelar-integration) and Rhino.fi
- **Community events:** Hosted 182 global offline events with 35K+ participants and 2 hackathons with 8K+ registered developers
- **The Open League:** 8 seasons, 200+ projects, $26M+ distributed

## **TON’s 2024 playbook**

We went all in: scaling, innovating, and onboarding millions, all while redefining what blockchain can achieve. From cutting-edge tools and programs to real-world partnerships and integrations, we blew open the doors for developers and users to thrive.

You saw it. You felt it. Every stat, every milestone, and every event is proof that TON isn’t just a character in the blockchain story—it’s **writing the next chapter.**

## **USDT on TON: crypto in every pocket**

April 2024 saw the [launch of USDT on TON](https://blog.ton.org/usdt-comes-to-ton-embrace-the-true-peer-to-peer-experience), making the world’s largest stablecoin accessible to over **950 million users** on Telegram. Sending and receiving USDT is now as simple, instant, and feeless as sending a text.

With over 1 billion USDt-TON in circulation and [over 120 integrations](https://blog.ton.org/us-dt-on-ton-is-now-available-on-over-100-platforms-worldwide) across centralized exchanges (CEXs), wallets, payment providers, and more, we’re closer than ever to our goal of putting crypto in every pocket.

To celebrate the launch, 11 million Toncoin was up for grabs for early adopters—a fitting reward for the pioneers of a new era in blockchain.

## **DeFi growth**

TON DeFi skyrocketed with an eye-popping **143,947% growth in TVL at its ATH.** Yes, you read that right. We’re not talking incremental progress; we’re talking **liftoff.** By mid-year, TVL hit an ATH of $773 million before cruising steadily between $300 million and $400 million for the rest of the year.

The highlights? A 5x explosion in DeFi projects, scaling from fewer than 10 in January to over 50 by November. From stable swaps to lending protocols, perpetual trading, interoperability solutions, and oracle integrations, TON became the go-to hub for innovation.

In 2025, TON will see [TON Teleport BTC](https://blog.ton.org/unlocking-the-future-of-bitcoin-with-ton-teleport-btc) as a native trustless bridge connecting the TON and BTC ecosystems. TON Teleport's testnet (launched in November) reduces BTC transfer fees by 10x, opening new possibilities for BTC holders.

The DeFi growth didn’t stop there. Collaborations with powerhouses like [Curve Finance](https://blog.ton.org/ton-foundation-and-curve-finance) and [Jupiter Exchange](https://jup.ag/) brought fresh liquidity and backing from top VCs.

## **Tap-to-earn: a new era in gaming**

TON leveled up [gaming](https://blog.ton.org/the-future-of-game-fi-on-ton-playing-games-on-telegram) in 2024, bringing a fresh wave of innovation with tap-to-earn and a mix of casual and midcore hits, **onboarding millions to TON.** The first viral smash? [Notcoin](https://blog.ton.org/virality-masterclass-notcoins-rise-to-4m-players). With 35 million active users (MAU), it sent shockwaves through the space, even landing as one of the top three most-traded cryptocurrencies globally. But that was just the beginning. Hamster Kombat (204 million MAU), Dogs (52 million MAU), and [Catizen](https://blog.ton.org/ton-innovators-catizen-2) (22 million MAU) turned tap-to-earn into a phenomenon, drawing gamers in droves.

Mass adoption met mass generosity, with 50 million users scoring airdrops totaling over $1.5 billion in value. [Mass minting](https://blog.ton.org/history-of-mass-minting-on-ton) tools like Mass Sender and Mintless Jettons made the distribution seamless, turning gamers into crypto holders overnight. Exchanges couldn’t look away, racing to list TON-based gaming tokens.

## **Memecoin szn**

With DOGS reaching 6.3 million holders (ATH) and Notcoin hitting 2.8 million (ATH), TON now boasts the largest memecoins by holder count in Web3. Trading volumes jumped 358% from July to November, while memecoin launches surged 524%, fueled by 8+ active memepads.

At the center of it all was [TON Memelandia](https://blog.ton.org/memelandia-digest-1), driving the narrative with a $5 million grant program, $1.25 million in trading competition rewards, and appearances at key industry events like [TOKEN2049](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQxxO_0_Vt4&list=PLzF1OAbyoK_lhX0DmfSVy7fmiCx52jM7k), [TON Gateway](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7zA6K8-oWM&list=PLzF1OAbyoK_nNgvww_S2TRScWmzIIM1WB), and DevCon.

## **The TON and Telegram magic**

When you mix nearly a billion Telegram users with TON Blockchain, magic happens. Whether you’re sending tokens to a friend, gaming, or trading crypto, this duo is proving that **decentralization and usability can actually get along.** No tech-induced headaches, no extra downloads—just pure simplicity, making crypto and decentralized apps (dApps) more accessible than ever.

The secret sauce? [Telegram Mini Apps](https://blog.ton.org/how-to-create-your-telegram-mini-apps), lightweight applications that run within Telegram. But that’s not all. Telegram’s ad revenue-sharing program now allows creators to earn 50% of the ad revenue generated from their content. It’s a game-changer that encourages founders, developers, and creators to build more on Telegram and TON—a win-win for everyone.

And let’s not forget [Telegram Stars](https://blog.ton.org/telegram-stars-and-ton-ecosystem), Telegram’s new in-app payment solution. From in-game purchases to services and beyond, it’s designed to lower entry barriers, enabling anyone to dive in—no crypto knowledge required.

## **Real-world use cases, real impact**

It’s not just tech. It’s utility. From payments to ride-hailing, TON is leading the way in proving that **crypto can do more than just sit in a wallet**—it can power real-life solutions for everyday people.

For example, [Tonhub’s Visa debit card](https://x.com/ton_blockchain/status/1854577800407032049). Imagine making payments directly from your TON or USDT balance, whether it’s groceries, coffee, or online shopping. These crypto-powered cards seamlessly integrate with SEPA, SWIFT, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, making crypto spending as easy as swiping or tapping.

## **Ecosystem wins: the backbone of TON**

The numbers speak for themselves—TON has become a magnet for developers, innovators, and builders across Web3.

Both the Open League and Hackers League hackathons crushed expectations. Each season drew over 1,000 applications, with the [Winter edition](https://blog.ton.org/hackers-league-hackathon-winter-2024-winners) closing out with a $3 million prize pool and the sharpest minds in the space. Not to forget [The Open League](https://blog.ton.org/the-open-league-new-year-season-review), which capped off 2024 with eight epic seasons, over 200 participating projects, and over $26 million in distributed rewards.

Behind the scenes, TON’s infrastructure had a major glow-up. Wallets like [Tonkeeper](https://blog.ton.org/tonkeeper-releases-huge-update),[@wallet](https://t.me/wallet) and TON Space made managing crypto effortless, while [institutional-grade custody solutions](https://blog.ton.org/toncoin-holders-may-now-use-bit-go-web3-s-leading-crypto-custodial-service) ensured Toncoin holders slept easy. On the trading front, TON hit the big leagues with listings on 50+ top exchanges, including Binance, Bithumb, and Hashkey, sending daily trading volumes to $16 billion. Meanwhile, analytics platforms like [Dune](https://blog.ton.org/ton-dune-integration) and [TradingView](https://blog.ton.org/stonfi-dedust-tradingview-integration) handed developers and users the tools they need to track, analyze, and thrive.

## **Community on fire**

In 2024, the TON community brought the heat, turning local events into global sensations. From the HK Web3 Festival in APAC, where TON was the title sponsor, to Korean Blockchain Week, TOKEN2049, and record-breaking participation at the TON Gateway event in MENA, the energy was electric.

Local hubs kept the momentum alive, fostering grassroots innovation and education across the globe. TON Society’s 11 hubs hosted an impressive 182 offline events, engaging over 35,000 participants in meetups, bootcamps, hackathons, and more. Meanwhile, millions are connected on Telegram, solidifying TON’s global presence across 30 regional and international channels.

Want to get involved? [Find your local hub or event here](https://society.ton.org/about).

## **Don’t just take our word for it**

Hear it from the industry’s leaders:

- **Animoca Brands:**
    - [TON Part 1: TON + Telegram = Path To 1 Billion Web3 Users?](https://research.animocabrands.com/post/cm1rn374f1dgn07mfiyrcnf2m)
    - [TON Part 2: A Win-Win Outcome From One Year Of Partnership.](https://research.animocabrands.com/post/cm475at4c2jyp07mfpu6v67il)
- **Pantera Capital:**
    - [TON, Our Largest Investment Ever](https://panteracapital.com/blockchain-letter/ton-our-largest-investment-ever/)
- **GSR Markets:**
    - [The Open Network DeFi Opportunity](https://www.gsr.io/reports/the-open-network-defi-opportunity/)

When the titans of Web3 call TON their next big thing, you know we’re doing something right.

 ![image.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/image_76d7032681/image_76d7032681.png) 

## **What’s next in 2025?**

2024 set the stage, but 2025? That’s when the real magic begins. TON isn’t just riding the momentum—it’s rewriting the playbook for blockchain adoption. With a laser focus on **decentralization, utility, and mass adoption,** we’re gearing up for an even bigger year.

Here’s what’s coming: increase on-chain user retention, TON Teleport BTC, Society DAO, and initiatives across GameFi, payments, DeFi and memecoins.

2024 proved that TON can deliver. 2025 will show the world just how far we can go. Let’s keep building. 💎

**Don’t miss out on the alpha:**

**TON:** [Website](https://ton.org/) | [Telegram (Announcements)](https://t.me/toncoin) | [Telegram (Chat)](https://t.me/toncoin_chat) | [X](https://x.com/ton_blockchain)

**TON Society:** [Website](https://society.ton.org/activities/active) | [Telegram (Announcements)](https://t.me/tonsociety) | [Telegram (Chat)](https://t.me/tonsociety_chat) | [X](https://twitter.com/ton_society)

2024 wrapped: TON’s year of unstoppable growth

[The Open Network Foundation](https://ton.foundation/), a non-profit organization accelerating the growth of TON Blockchain, is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with [Jupiter](https://jup.ag/), a leading spot and perps decentralized trading platform anchored by the largest active decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) in crypto. Together, the two companies aim to enhance liquidity aggregation on TON with the best implementation of liquidity aggregator on TON Virtual Machine (TVM), and pave the way for cross-chain swap integrations that will shape the future of decentralized finance (DeFi).

The partnership with Jupiter represents TON’s dedication to developing a scalable DeFi ecosystem, utilizing Jupiter’s expertise and network to unlock new interchain trading opportunities. By enabling users to find the best rates and access liquidity across blockchain networks, TON can further empower developers and traders by providing them with the tools needed to thrive in the DeFi space.

To start this new collaboration, TON Foundation and Jupiter are launching a DeFi competition to foster innovation within the TON ecosystem.

## **Driving DeFi excellence through competition**

The competition welcomes both current and in-development aggregation projects on TON to showcase their solutions and compete for significant rewards. The winning projects will receive:

- **Advisory support from Jupiter**: Gain insights and receive go-to-market strategy advice, route optimization, and liquidity management from one of the leaders in DeFi and aggregation.
- **TON Foundation backing**: Leverage resources and funding to accelerate project growth and adoption within the TON ecosystem.

The competition is **now open** and the winners will be announced on **February 15, 2025.** Following submission, participants are required to present their DeFi solutions, showcase features, and engage with the community.

**Teams can submit their applications to participate in the competition [via this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfs7J3LiMyLWMerLJYErW9JQw-CZwHhl3cs8dgASsd54khLWw/viewform?usp=sf_link).**

> “TON is one of the most exciting and untapped blockchains in the space, with immense potential for growth once the ecosystem is unlocked. This is an awesome initiative by TON Foundation to grow the space, and we are delighted to support and get to know the best talent here.”
<br>— Meow, Co-founder, Jupiter

> “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Jupiter as we continue to expand the TON DeFi ecosystem. Our past collaboration with similar partners in this field earlier this year motivated us to pursue a similar partnership with Jupiter. We believe this collaboration will bring immense value to TON and help establish a thriving cross-chain future.”
<br>— Vlad Degen, DeFi Lead, TON Foundation

TON Foundation joins forces with Jupiter to incubate new liquidity aggregator on TVM

Data enthusiasts, here’s a treat for you: TON is now live on [Dune](https://dune.com/home). The integration offers opportunities in on-chain analytics, allowing developers and blockchain analysts to dig deep into TON’s ecosystem easily.

So, what can you uncover with Dune’s powerful tools?

## Take a deeper dive into TON’s on-chain activity

Dune lets you explore TON through its transaction data. You can monitor wallet activity, track transaction trends, and even analyze cross-chain asset movements.

Data drives decisions. For developers, this means understanding what’s working and what isn’t. Analysts can identify patterns that tell a bigger story about TON’s adoption. For investors, transparency in activity can provide confidence. Whether you're tracking ecosystem growth or spotting cross-chain trends, Dune makes it possible to see the bigger picture.

Users will now access:

- Comprehensive analysis of transaction patterns.
- Detailed insights into wallet activity.
- Metrics on ecosystem growth across decentralized applications, DeFi, and NFTs.
- Monitoring of cross-chain activity and asset movements.

The Dune integration marks a milestone for TON. Access to on-chain analytics empowers TON’s community to understand the ecosystem’s evolution and make data-driven decisions for building and innovating.

Ready to explore? 

Head over to [Dune](https://dune.com/blog/ton-blockchain-is-now-live-on-dune) and start analyzing TON today. Who knows what insights you’ll uncover?

TON Blockchain data now accessible on Dune

[The Open Network Foundation](https://ton.foundation/), a non-profit organization accelerating the growth of the TON blockchain, is thrilled to announce its collaboration with [GMX](https://gmx.io/#/), a leading decentralized perpetual exchange and spot trading platform. This collaboration aims to push the boundaries of decentralized finance (DeFi) by driving innovation in high-frequency trading and transaction fee optimization within the TON ecosystem.

## **Unlocking new trading opportunities on TON**

Through this collaboration, TON Foundation seeks to leverage GMX’s expertise in efficient, low-slippage trading and competitive fee structures to strengthen TON Blockchain’s trading infrastructure. As part of this initiative, TON Foundation and GMX are launching a developer competition, inviting participants to design groundbreaking perpetual decentralized exchanges (DEXs) with two primary goals:

- High-frequency trading that will maximize efficiency and performance
- Optimized trading fees to create a seamless user experience with lower costs

The competition is open to all current and in-development projects within the TON ecosystem. Participants will have the chance to compete for:

- Advisory support from GMX to refine and enhance their projects
- Backing from TON Foundation

Developers, founders, and users can submit their applications [via this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQ7QYTd69WfBW-UcG7mwGNJZt6PABgo26L2CobL4ulKHENWA/viewform?usp=sf_link) within the next two weeks. The competition itself will span two months, providing participants ample time to deliver impactful solutions.

> “GMX is dedicated to creating an accessible, high-performance decentralized finance ecosystem. Today, the GMX DEX is trusted by thousands of traders every day, facilitates billions in weekly trading volume, and serves as a key pillar of the DeFi infrastructure on Arbitrum and Avalanche. We're excited to bring this expertise to TON Blockchain by partnering with TON Foundation to launch this developer competition. And we look forward to the innovative design solutions that the participating builders will create.”
<br>— Jone Zee, Communications Coordinator, GMX

> “We’re thrilled to collaborate with GMX as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in DeFi. This competition is an opportunity for developers to showcase their creativity and technical expertise. Inspired by the success of our earlier collaboration with Curve, we believe this initiative will unlock groundbreaking innovations on TON.”
<br>— Vlad Degen, DeFi Lead, TON Foundation

TON Foundation collaborates with GMX to drive high-performance DeFi

**Winter 2024 may have been chilly, but Hackers League brought the heat.**

Hackers League turned this season’s frost into a blazing cauldron of creativity, innovation, and fierce competition. With incredible participation, jaw-dropping ideas, and a community that refused to sleep until they cracked the code, this hackathon was one for the books.

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the winners of **Hackers League Winter 2024**. Let’s dive in and meet the masterminds who brought their A-game, defied the odds, and left us all speechless.

## **Key highlights**

- 20 real-life bootcamps, 19 cities, 2,900 attendees
- 1,200+ projects, 5,000 hackers
- 3 months of relentless building and judging
- $3 million+ prize pool
- $2 million+ committed capital

## **Hackers League Winter 2024 winners**

Out of 1,200+ projects, [157 made it to the semis](https://blog.ton.org/hackers-league-semi-finalists-revealed), and only [47 faced the final spotlight](https://blog.ton.org/hackers-league-hackathon-winter-2024-finalists). Here are the legends who crushed the competition and earned their place in Hackers League Winter 2024 history.

| **Track** | **🥇First** | **🥈Second** | **🥉Third** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DeFi | Orbiton | Beetroot Finance | Juster |
| Social | Olivia Network AI | Referendum | The PHOTON |
| Interoperability | Pluton Finance | ReBank | JAMTON |
| Gaming | BeWhale | Pixiland: Age of Heroes | Anycraft |
| Analytics | t-TON: The Trustworthy and Open Network | TONScore | OnChains AI |

**Additional winners, DeFi track:** TheOpenLayer (4th), TerminalX (5th), DeFi Canvas (6th), PhaseSwap (7th)

## **Special category: title sponsors’ winners**

| **Track** | **🥇First** | **🥈Second** | **🥉Third** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Gate Ventures | Televerse | Biosphere3 | Husky AI |
| TON API | tondexer | MemeGuard | FractioNFT |
| DeDust | syde.fi | PhaseSwap | Orbiton |

**Additional winners, TON API track:** DTrade (4th), Shops Builder (5th)

Once again, AEON’s GameOn hackathon winners will be assessed and announced independently during the GameOn hackathon. For the latest updates, follow AEON’s official pages: [Website](https://aeon.xyz/gameon), [X](https://x.com/AEON_Community), [Telegram](https://t.me/GameOn_TON_Hackathon), [DoraHacks](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/game-on-ton-hackathon/buidl).

To learn more about the incredible projects by our winners and finalists, read our [finalists blog here](https://blog.ton.org/hackers-league-hackathon-winter-2024-finalists).

**Disclaimer:** Please note that the list of title sponsors’ winners was determined independently by the sponsors. The selection criteria for these winners may vary, reflecting the sponsors’ market beliefs, priorities, and goals. Hackers League and TON had no influence over their decisions.

## **Special shoutout to our hubs**

 ![tg_image_964820839.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/tg_image_964820839_815c349940/tg_image_964820839_815c349940.png) 
<div style="text-align: center; color: #666666;">
  Brilliant minds from all over the world
</div><br>

A special congratulations to our global network of hubs, which not only supported our local communities but also nurtured some of our top winners.

**Winning hubs:**

- **Amsterdam:** DTrade
- **Astana:** Beetroot Finance
- **Bangkok:** JAMTON
- **Belgrade:** The PHOTON
- **Berlin:** syde.fi, PhaseSwap
- **Hong Kong:** Televerse, t-TON: The Trustworthy and Open Network, Biosphere3
- **Ho Chi Minh:** Orbiton, OnChains AI
- **Istanbul:** TheOpenLayer, DeFi Canvas
- **Kyiv:** Referendum, TerminalX
- **London:** Olivia Network AI, Shops Builder
- **Tbilisi:** Juster
- **Warsaw:** ReBank, Husky AI

Interested in connecting with your local community or need support? [Join your hub's Telegram community here.](https://eco.ton.org/en/opportunities/local-hubs-support-and-activities)

## **A winter to remember**

As we reflect on the amazing journey of Hackers League Winter 2024, here’s a glimpse into some unforgettable moments throughout the season.

From Bangalore to Berlin, participants came together, bouncing off ideas and forming new friendships.

 ![Hackers League Bangalore Bootcamp.JPG](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Hackers_League_Bangalore_Bootcamp_32eca96977/Hackers_League_Bangalore_Bootcamp_32eca96977.jpg)
<div style="text-align: center; color: #666666;">
  Hackers League Bangalore Bootcamp
</div><br>

 ![Hackers League Belgrade Bootcamp.JPG](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Hackers_League_Belgrade_Bootcamp_89b4b88fa6/Hackers_League_Belgrade_Bootcamp_89b4b88fa6.jpg) 
<div style="text-align: center; color: #666666;">
  Hackers League Belgrade Bootcamp
</div><br>

 ![Hackers League Berlin Bootcamp.JPG](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Hackers_League_Berlin_Bootcamp_2ba32bbec1/Hackers_League_Berlin_Bootcamp_2ba32bbec1.jpg) 
<div style="text-align: center; color: #666666;">
  Hackers League Berlin Bootcamp
</div><br>

But it wasn’t all just code and caffeine—there was plenty of fun mixed in too.

 ![Hackers League Amsterdam Bootcamp.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Hackers_League_Amsterdam_Bootcamp_8c3c47f07a/Hackers_League_Amsterdam_Bootcamp_8c3c47f07a.jpg) 
<div style="text-align: center; color: #666666;">
  Hackers League Amsterdam Bootcamp
</div><br>

 ![Hackers League Gurugram Bootcamp.JPG](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Hackers_League_Gurugram_Bootcamp_aefab88e29/Hackers_League_Gurugram_Bootcamp_aefab88e29.jpg) 
<div style="text-align: center; color: #666666;">
  Hackers League Gurugram Bootcamp: Afterparty
</div><br>

After the bootcamps, it was go-time. Participants jumped into the Hackers League hackathon—days of non-stop coding, intense reviews, and last-minute tweaks—building up to the finalists’ live pitching.

 ![TheOpenLayer in action during the finalists’ live pitching.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/The_Open_Layer_in_action_during_the_finalists_live_pitching_56cb7edc93/The_Open_Layer_in_action_during_the_finalists_live_pitching_56cb7edc93.png) 
<div style="text-align: center; color: #666666;">
  TheOpenLayer in action during the finalists’ live pitching
</div><br>

 ![Tonalytics at the finalists’ live pitching, judged by title sponsor TON API.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Tonalytics_at_the_finalists_live_pitching_judged_by_title_sponsor_TON_API_8f4951c114/Tonalytics_at_the_finalists_live_pitching_judged_by_title_sponsor_TON_API_8f4951c114.png) 
<div style="text-align: center; color: #666666;">
  Tonalytics at the finalists’ live pitching, judged by title sponsor TON API
</div><br>

Finally, it was time to announce the winners—a moment filled with nerves, excitement, and anticipation.

 ![Hackers League Winter 2024 Winners.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Hackers_League_Winter_2024_Winners_d6246c25fc/Hackers_League_Winter_2024_Winners_d6246c25fc.png) 
<div style="text-align: center; color: #666666;">
  Celebrating the Hackers League Winter 2024 winners
</div><br>

Missed the live show? Don’t worry—you can catch all the action in our [YouTube playlist here](https://www.youtube.com/@the_open_network/streams).

## **Hackers League Summer 2025 awaits**

Feeling inspired? Get ready, because Hackers League Summer 2025 is coming. Sharpen your skills, gather your squad, and start brainstorming. The next challenge is around the corner, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll create.

## **The real MVPs**

To every participant, judge, mentor, and sponsor: you made this happen. Hackers League isn’t just about winning—it’s about a community moving tech forward, one line of code at a time.

The ideas and passion you brought to Hackers League Winter 2024 have left a mark on the ecosystem. Keep building, keep innovating, and keep pushing—we see you, and so does the world.

**Now, who’s ready to set the summer on fire?**

Follow us on our official channels for all the latest updates and everything Hackers League:

**TON Society:** [Website](https://society.ton.org/activities/active) | [Telegram (Announcements)](https://t.me/tonsociety) | [Telegram (Chat)](https://t.me/tonsociety_chat) | [X](https://twitter.com/ton_society)

**Hackers League:** [Telegram](https://t.me/hackatonx)

**TON Ecosystem:** [Website](https://eco.ton.org/en)

Hackers League Hackathon, Winter 2024: meet the winners 

Crypto traders, analysts, and enthusiasts—this is your moment. Swap pairs from leading TON decentralized exchanges (DEXs), STON.fi and DeDust, just landed on TradingView. This isn’t just another data feed—it’s a game-changer for anyone looking to tap into the TON ecosystem.

If spotting trends, hunting opportunities, and refining trading strategies are what you’re after, the tools you need are now at your fingertips.

## **Why this matters**

[TON](https://blog.ton.org/what-is-ton-a-beginners-guide-to-the-open-network) is growing, and so are the opportunities.

With the addition of STON.fi and DeDust’s data, **over 90 million traders on TradingView** can now seamlessly explore key data from TON’s [decentralized finance (DeFi)](https://blog.ton.org/scalable-defi-in-ton) ecosystem. Here’s what it means:

- **TON’s DeFi ecosystem goes global.** Traders worldwide can now explore TON’s key DEX markets with ease.
- **Real-time insights, sharper strategies.** Track swap pairs as they move and seize opportunities as they happen.
- **See TON’s growth in action.** Gain clear visibility into liquidity, trends, and market activity.
- **Smarter decisions, better trades.** TON-based assets just became more transparent and accessible for every analyst and trader out there.

## **STON.fi and DeDust: powering TON’s DeFi growth**

### **What is STON.fi?**

STON.fi is a decentralized automated market maker (AMM) built on TON Blockchain. Using liquidity pools and advanced algorithms, it delivers efficient and transparent token trading.

### **What is DeDust?**

[DeDust](https://blog.ton.org/hackers-league-sponsor-series-dedust), running on its innovative DeDust Protocol 2.0, prioritizes scalability, gas efficiency, and a silky-smooth user experience.

Together, these two DEX powerhouses are driving TON’s DeFi ecosystem to new heights, fueling its rise as one of the most vibrant blockchain networks in the game.

> “This integration reflects TON Foundation’s commitment to empowering users with innovative tools and seamless access to key market data. By bringing STON.fi and DeDust to TradingView, we’re enabling traders to unlock the full potential of the TON ecosystem and make data-driven decisions in decentralized finance.”
<br>— Omur Cataltepe, Global BD Lead, TON Foundation

> “We’re excited about this global cooperation with TON Foundation, which brings STON.fi and DeDust data to TradingView’s 90 million users. The integration provides real-time access to key swap pair data, enabling technical and fundamental analysis for TON-based assets. This marks the start of our collaboration—stay tuned for what’s ahead.”
<br>— [Maksim Shymanovich](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mshymanovich), Senior Manager, TradingView

## **How to access STON.fi and DeDust data on TradingView**

1. Go to [TradingView](https://www.tradingview.com/data-coverage/) and click the **Search** bar.
2. Type **“STONFI:”** or **“DEDUST:”** to view their swap pairs.
3. Hover over your chosen swap pair.
4. Click **Launch chart** to view the trading chart.
5. Click **See overview** for key information and news about the trading pair.

<TradingViewWidget></TradingViewWidget>

---

## **Chart your next move**

Don’t just watch the market. Take control. With over **2 million instruments** from hundreds of data feeds, TradingView remains the go-to platform for everything from global equities to emerging DeFi opportunities—making tracking [Bitcoin prices](https://www.tradingview.com/symbols/BTCUSD/) as easy as analyzing companies' financials.

Now, with TON-based data from STON.fi and DeDust, crypto traders can explore decentralized markets with the same precision and tools used for traditional assets.

This isn’t just another update—it’s part of a bigger, long-term movement on TON. **Are you ready?**

STON.fi and DeDust data now live on TradingView

[TON Foundation](https://www.ton.foundation/) and [EVAA Protocol](https://evaa.finance/) are teaming up to launch an exciting incentive program for decentralized finance (DeFi) users. Combining the strengths of TON Blockchain and EVAA’s lending platform, the program is designed to expand opportunities in DeFi, enhancing user engagement and driving the growth of DeFi on TON.

To kick off the program, **100,000 TON** has been set aside as rewards for users.

> "As the first DeFi protocol on TON, apart from DEXs, to receive these liquidity incentives, we are proud to lead the charge in showcasing how such support can accelerate the adoption of DeFi within the Telegram community.”
<br>— Vlad, CEO of EVAA

**Want to know how to start earning TON rewards? Let’s take a look below.**

## **A two-step incentive program**

The program unfolds in two phases:

1. **Borrow rewards:** Participants can borrow USDT from EVAA’s main pool and earn rewards based on activity levels. EVAA’s latest initiative offers **subsidized USDT loans** against TON, tsTON, and stTON.
2. **Supply rewards:** Once borrowing incentives gain traction, the focus may shift to supply rewards. Users who provide liquidity to EVAA’s pools will receive more rewards for their contributions.

This phased approach ensures a balanced and sustainable structure that benefits all participants while fostering ecosystem growth.

## **What is EVAA Protocol?**

EVAA Protocol is a decentralized lending platform built on TON Blockchain. It offers advanced features like lending and borrowing, leveraged liquidity provision, hedged liquidity provision. These features are supported by locked liquidity across top TON platforms like Tonstakers, Storm Trade, DeDust, StonFi, and Bemo, creating a strong and interconnected ecosystem.

Additionally, EVAA’s achievements include a successful QuantStamp audit, multiple wins in [The Open League](https://ton.org/open-league), and active contributions to developer education through lectures and boot camps. The protocol’s initiatives, such as the TON DeFi Academy, continue to empower the next generation of blockchain enthusiasts and builders.

> “This New Year initiative will pave the way for shaping a comprehensive and impactful 2025 incentive program. Stay tuned!"
<br>— [@Vlad Degen](https://x.com/VladDegen), TON DeFi Lead

## **Why join the incentive program?**

Here are a few reasons why you should get involved:

- A share of 100,000 TON in rewards up for grabs
- Earn rewards while exploring EVAA’s lending and borrowing features
- Experiment with new DeFi strategies with confidence
- Be part of a growing DeFi ecosystem built on transparency and collaboration

## **How to get involved?**

Ready to dive in? Here’s how to start earning rewards:

### **Lending on EVAA**

When you supply tokens to the EVAA Protocol, they enter the EVAA liquidity pool. Interest rates accumulate automatically based on the borrow utilization rate.

1. Connect your crypto wallet to [EVAA Protocol](https://app.evaa.finance/) by clicking **Connect Wallet**.

 ![EVAA Lending_1.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/EVAA_Lending_1_6d3c96f04e/EVAA_Lending_1_6d3c96f04e.png) 

2. Click **+**.

 ![EVAA Lending_2.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/EVAA_Lending_2_87f114eaac/EVAA_Lending_2_87f114eaac.png) 

3. Choose the asset you wish to supply, such as TON.

 ![EVAA Lending_3.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/EVAA_Lending_3_447a32340d/EVAA_Lending_3_447a32340d.png) 

4. Select the amount of TON you want to supply and click **Supply** to confirm the transaction. Your supplied TON will start earning interest based on the Supply APY.

### **Borrowing on EVAA**

Borrowing on EVAA Protocol lets you access liquidity using your supplied collateral. To avoid liquidation, make sure you maintain enough collateral to cover your loans. Interest rates for borrowed tokens are dynamic and based on the utilization rate.

1. Connect your crypto wallet to [EVAA Protocol](https://app.evaa.finance/) by clicking **Connect Wallet**.

 ![EVAA Borrowing_1.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/EVAA_Borrowing_1_3257800b84/EVAA_Borrowing_1_3257800b84.png) 

2. Click **Borrow**. For borrowing any amount you need to lend the collateral first. Check the first guide.

 ![EVAA Borrowing_2.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/EVAA_Borrowing_2_0fa3ed0f81/EVAA_Borrowing_2_0fa3ed0f81.png) 

3. Choose **USDT** from the list of available assets.

 ![EVAA Borrowing_3.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/EVAA_Borrowing_3_a4544586f2/EVAA_Borrowing_3_a4544586f2.png) 

4. Select the amount of USDT you want to borrow and click **Borrow** to confirm the transaction. Your borrowed USDT will be transferred to your wallet.

## **Be part of the DeFi movement on TON**

The collaboration between TON Foundation and EVAA Protocol introduces new possibilities for DeFi on TON. Whether you’re borrowing USDT with subsidised loan initiatives or supplying liquidity to earn interest, this program offers options for users at all levels.

Now’s the time to take the next step in DeFi, experiment, and grow alongside the TON and EVAA communities.

The program launches this week—stay tuned for the official announcement on EVAA Protocol’s official pages:

[Website](https://evaa.finance/) | [X](https://twitter.com/evaaprotocol) | [Telegram](https://t.me/evaaprotocol)

TON Foundation and EVAA Protocol introduce new DeFi incentive program

Hackers League Hackathon, Winter 2024: finalists announced

[Storm Trade](https://blog.ton.org/ton-innovators-storm-trade), a decentralized trading platform built on TON Blockchain, is unveiling a **100,000 TON** incentive program in collaboration with TON Foundation. The program welcomes users of all levels—whether you’re just getting started or are a seasoned trader, there are rewards for everyone.

> "Mass adoption of Web3 is not about technology; it’s about user experience. An incentive program should not only help users enter a new environment, but also allow them to experience all its advantages. We ensure that every new step delivers real value, not just one-time rewards. Bonuses don’t replace the product; they enhance it."
<br>— Denis, CEO of Storm Trade

**So, what’s the program all about and how can you start earning rewards? Let’s find out!**

## **Rewards for every trade**

Storm Trade’s incentive program offers rewards for various user activities, ensuring everyone has a chance to participate and benefit. It’s designed to make trading approachable while offering meaningful rewards for active engagement. Here’s how you can earn:

- **First-time traders:** New users who execute their first trade on Storm Trade will receive TON tokens as a reward. Users can earn bonus points by completing tutorials or quizzes, which you can exchange for STORM tokens.
- **Power users:** If you’re a high-volume trader, this one’s for you. Storm Trade provides fee rebates based on trading volume, with more significant rewards for larger trades or long-term positions. Additionally, weekly and monthly leaderboard competitions offer prizes such as tokens or exclusive perks like VIP support.
- **Referral rewards:** Love introducing others to great platforms? Storm Trade’s referral program gives you a percentage of the fees generated by your referees. Hit certain referral milestones and unlock extra rewards like NFTs or boosted referral percentages.

## **What is Storm Trade?**

Storm Trade is a decentralized trading platform built on TON, offering fast transactions and low fees. Its user-focused design ensures that even beginners can easily participate. By leveraging TON Blockchain, Storm Trade provides a seamless connection to a broader ecosystem.

Participating in this program gives you a head start in decentralized trading. Whether you’re exploring the platform for the first time or aiming to make the most of your trading skills, the rewards are tailored to encourage learning and active participation. Plus, with referrals, you can bring others along on your journey and grow together.

> “This New Year initiative will pave the way for shaping a comprehensive and impactful 2025 incentive program. Stay tuned!"
<br>— [@Vlad Degen](https://x.com/VladDegen), TON DeFi Lead

## **How to start trading and earning on Storm Trade?**

You can trade on Storm Trade using two options: directly on Telegram or via the web app. Here’s how:

### **Trading in Telegram**

1. Visit [Storm Trade](https://storm.tg/) and click **Trade in Telegram**.

 ![Storm Trade_Telegram_1.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Storm_Trade_Telegram_1_e4b8306c5e/Storm_Trade_Telegram_1_e4b8306c5e.png) 

2. Click **Start**.

 ![Storm Trade_Telegram_2.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Storm_Trade_Telegram_2_21eb8c55af/Storm_Trade_Telegram_2_21eb8c55af.png) 

3. Choose **Trade**.

 ![Storm Trade_Telegram_3.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Storm_Trade_Telegram_3_5ad24e6d3c/Storm_Trade_Telegram_3_5ad24e6d3c.png) 

4. Select your desired trading asset.

 ![Storm Trade_Telegram_4.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Storm_Trade_Telegram_4_41785078b3/Storm_Trade_Telegram_4_41785078b3.png) 

5. Connect your wallet.

 ![Storm Trade_Telegram_5.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Storm_Trade_Telegram_5_c0f961763f/Storm_Trade_Telegram_5_c0f961763f.png) 

6. Start trading on Storm Trade. Adjust your trading parameters, such as leverage and stop loss, to optimize your trading strategy. Take into account the liquidation risks while you trade with leverage.

 ![Storm Trade_Telegram_6.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Storm_Trade_Telegram_6_f9f16a57e5/Storm_Trade_Telegram_6_f9f16a57e5.png) 

### **Trading on the web app**

1. Visit [Storm Trade](https://storm.tg/) and click **Trade in Web App**.

 ![Storm Trade_Telegram_1.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Storm_Trade_Telegram_1_e4b8306c5e/Storm_Trade_Telegram_1_e4b8306c5e.png) 

2. Click **Connect Wallet** to link your TON wallet

 ![Storm Trade_Web_2.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Storm_Trade_Web_2_c523774ecb/Storm_Trade_Web_2_c523774ecb.png) 

3. Once connected, customize your trading parameters and start trading. Take into account the liquidation risks while you trade with leverage.

 ![Storm Trade_Web_3.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Storm_Trade_Web_3_a56c58419e/Storm_Trade_Web_3_a56c58419e.png) 

## **Your next trade starts here**

The Storm Trade and TON Foundation collaboration aims to build a thriving community of traders. This incentive program goes beyond just rewards—it’s about creating value, encouraging participation, and growing the TON ecosystem.

So why wait? Step into the eye of the storm with Storm Trade and start exploring the future of decentralized trading on TON Blockchain.

The program launches next week—stay tuned for the official announcement on Storm Trade’s official pages:

[Website](https://storm.tg/) | [X](https://x.com/storm_trade_ton) | [Telegram](https://t.me/storm_trade_fam)

Introducing Storm Trade’s incentive program with TON Foundation: 100,000 TON rewards available

As the holiday season approaches, TON Memelandia is turning up the heat in the world of memecoins, bringing a sleigh full of excitement and opportunity to the TON and Telegram communities.

Let’s gear up for the final week—the competition’s extension ends on December 15. Where is your favorite TON memecoin ranked on the [leaderboard?](https://ton.org/en/memelandia)

## **Unpacking the latest developments that are adding magic to the memecoin momentum on TON**

**Highlights**:

- Integrations with Dropee, Boinkers, Moki, WONTON, Clayton, and Cosmic Factions make them the initial Knights of Memelandia—who will join them?
- Memecoin Mountain welcomes Dark, TVM, SuperWonton, and Bald to the Minor League, adding a combination of hidden utilities and onboarding tactics. The Major League sees two new memecoins racing and popping their way to the finish line: Lambo and PUMPCORN.

### **Knights of Memelandia: forging the future with memecoins**

Including leveraging Telegram's massive ecosystem, TON Memelandia is creating a playground for memecoins to transform passive trading into an active, engaging experience that connects creators, traders, and communities. The Knights of Memelandia represent the architects of this initiative, designed to unify the creativity of Telegram Mini Apps with the energy and utility of TON Memecoins. Yes, you read correctly—utility.

- With Moki, the swap aggregator for TON, trading memecoins is now easier and often with competitive rates. Moki has implemented tasks with Reward Points for the community on their mini app.
- CosmicFactions aims to empower individuals to become Game Developers by providing no-code tools and support for crafting high-quality 2D, 3D, and VR games.
- Dropee, a Telegram rewards app, connects memecoins with millions of users for increased engagement. From daily challenges to exclusive rewards, Dropee is a highlight for TON memecoins and the Telegram ecosystem.
- Boinkers by ACID Games has proven to be a hit in the Telegram gaming world. With a vibrant community and millions of daily active users, Boinkers brings TON memecoins to life with fun and some moonshot dreams.
- WONTON is introducing a new twist on tap-to-earn with a sustainable on-chain ownership strategy. Complete tasks, play games and refer friends to earn WONTON Skins, each holding real TON value. The mini app allows you to choose your path: sell for instant rewards or hold for future NFT minting events.


## **New Major and Minor League contenders**

### **Dark: the key to kingdoms**

Dark isn't just a memecoin. It's a passport to hidden digital realms. Imagine accessing exclusive Telegram channels with premium content, private expert chats, and closed communities—unlocked by your Dark tokens.

### **SuperWonton: a tale of community and creativity**

Born from a gaming adventure and inspired by animated spirit, SuperWonton (SW) celebrates imagination, community, and magic when creativity meets blockchain.

### **TVM: a torchbearer of innovation**

TVM represents the forward-thinking spirit of our ecosystem—always pushing boundaries and innovating. The concept behind TVM is to onboard newcomers to understand TON's technology and retain them.

### **Lambo: racing up the leaderboard**

The hamster in a whale’s costume is carving its own path. Unveiled through Memelandia’s Cabal Arena results, Lambo has catapulted out of the Arena onto Memecoin Mountain.

This is just the beginning. More exciting meme projects in PUMPCORN, Bald, and YupLand will be listed soon, with many more to follow.

## **Numbers at a glance**

**Major League highlights:**

- **Total market cap**: $537 million+
- **Total volume**: $71.15 million+
- **Participants**: 14 tokens

**Top performers:**

1. **Volume**: REDO ($671,900)
2. **Market cap leader**: Dogs ($362.2 million)
3. **Most buyers**: TryTON (2,720 users, 36% retention)

**Minor League momentum:**

- **Total market cap**: $16.26 million
- **Total volume**: $23.21 million
- **Participants**: 16 tokens

**Breakouts:**

1. **Volume leader**: Dark ($60,970)
2. **Market cap standout**: Utya ($1.80 million)
3. **Social buzz:** Duck (241.67 social score)

**Note:** Please note that these metrics are subject to fluctuations and may vary depending on when they are viewed.

There is a growing vibrancy and potential for memecoins in the TON ecosystem. Teams are not just creating memecoins; there’s a cultural phenomenon unfolding, where creativity, technology, and community are colliding.

As highlighted in [last month’s blog](https://blog.ton.org/memecoin-mountain-just-got-bigger), Memecoin Mountain was set to get bigger, and we now have the numbers to prove it. The previous total market cap of $432.5 million has since surged over $100 million to $537 million, representing a 23% growth. Trading volumes have exploded too, with over $19 million in volume added, increasing from around $60 million to $79.2 million.

Memecoin Mountain’s landscape has also expanded from 12 to 16 tokens in the Minor League and 12 to 14 in the Major League. This signals a growing interest in memecoins on TON.

[Join the momentum today](https://ton.org/en/memelandia).

## **Our commitment to the competition's integrity**

As we approach the December 15 finale, we want to be crystal clear about our winner selection process. The TON Memelandia team will comprehensively review both on-chain and off-chain data. We’re committed to ensuring a fair, transparent competition—rooting out any potential malicious activity and celebrating genuine community achievement. The final winners will be revealed shortly after December 15, following the verification process.

## **Claim LP rewards from locked liquidity**

We also have some additional news to share with the community.

For memecoin projects, locking liquidity is often a key step in building trust within the community. However, this approach has historically come with a tradeoff: it cuts off an important source of income—LP rewards—creating a conflicting motivation for founders. Without access to these rewards, the only way to generate revenue is by selling your own tokens, which increases sell pressure and raises concerns among your supporters.

DeDust, a leading decentralized automated market maker (AMM) on TON has addressed this issue.

With their new locker contract, founders can now claim LP rewards credited to permanently locked LP tokens. Thanks to DeDust’s partners at GasPump, this update is live, and all new tokens successfully deployed on DeDust will include claimable rewards on locked liquidity. This breakthrough offers long-term incentives for memecoin founders, aligning financial rewards with sustainable project growth.

Stay tuned for further updates, including the final TON Memelandia AMA for Season 1. Join the conversation on [Telegram](https://t.me/ton_memelandia).

*DISCLAIMER: Trading memecoins is highly speculative and involves significant risk. The value of memecoins can fluctuate wildly and may be subject to sudden and unpredictable price swings. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please do your own research (DYOR) before making any investment decisions.*

New horizons and hidden realms for Memelanders: news from TON Memelandia

Big news for TON: OKX Ventures has committed **$5 million** to [TON Ventures](https://tonventures.io/), our investment arm dedicated to supporting innovative TON projects. This follows OKX’s recent launch of a **$10 million Telegram Growth Hub**, in partnership with [The Open Platform (TOP)](https://top.co/) and Folius Ventures, designed to further accelerate growth within the TON ecosystem.

If you’re a developer looking to build the next big thing in the decentralized space, this is your chance.

## **Why this investment matters**

OKX’s commitment to TON is more than just a financial boost. It’s a vote of confidence in the TON ecosystem and what we’re building. With **950 million active Telegram users**, TON offers developers something no other platform can: the chance to create and scale decentralized applications (dApps) on a platform where the audience is already engaged and curious.

But it’s not just about the massive numbers—it’s the tools that make building here so seamless. [Telegram Mini Apps](https://blog.ton.org/how-to-create-your-telegram-mini-apps) strip away the usual barriers to blockchain adoption. No need for extra downloads or convincing users to join your ecosystem. Your dApp is integrated into one of the world’s most popular messaging apps, instantly reaching millions.

With OKX’s support, the TON ecosystem is only going to get bigger, faster, and more connected.

## **Successful Telegram Mini Apps powered by TON**

Don’t just take our word for it. TON is already home to several fantastic projects that have benefited from early-stage support, and with OKX’s backing, even more are set to thrive. Here are a few examples of what’s been achieved so far:

- [**Catizen**](https://blog.ton.org/ton-innovators-catizen-2): One of the most popular play-to-earn games on Telegram, where players manage a virtual cat city.
- [**Gamee**](https://blog.ton.org/future-giants-gamee): A mobile gaming ecosystem on Telegram, with over 100 million registered users.
- **STON.fi:** An automated market maker (AMM) decentralized exchange (DEX) built on TON Blockchain, available on Telegram.

## **Why developers should build on TON?**

Here’s why TON is the place to start building your dApp:

- **Access to a massive audience:** With 950 million active Telegram users, your dApp has the potential to scale immediately.
- **Funding and support:** We’re here to help you get your project off the ground. Beyond funding, we offer a [12-week incubation program](https://tonventures.io/) that gives you hands-on, 1:1 support from our team of experts—from technical assistance to strategic advice.
- **Technical resources:** From [documentation](https://docs.ton.org/) to [APIs and SDKs](https://ton.org/en/dev), we provide you with everything you need to build faster and smarter.
- **Built for decentralization:** TON is built to be decentralized. Whether it’s decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, or social apps, TON Blockchain is scalable and built with the future in mind.

## **How to get started**

Ready to take the next step?

1. **Already have a project?** Submit your project to [TON Ventures](https://tonventures.io/) and get the support you need to scale.
2. **Working on an idea?** Check out [TON Nest](https://blog.ton.org/empowering-builders-with-ton-nest), where early-stage projects get the resources and guidance to take off.
3. **Connect with the community.** Join our [developer Telegram chats](https://t.me/addlist/1r5Vcb8eljk5Yzcy) to share ideas, ask questions, and collaborate.
4. **Start building.** Dive into our technical documentation and start bringing your vision to life on TON.

## **Looking ahead: mini apps, major impact**

OKX’s investment signals the growing momentum behind TON and its expanding ecosystem. For developers, this means more resources, support, and opportunities. For users, it’s the promise of a future filled with dApps that are as easy to use as your favorite messaging app.

This is just the beginning—if you’re a developer looking to get in early and make a real impact in the blockchain space, TON is the place to build.

[Submit your project](https://tonventures.io/) to TON Ventures today.

OKX Ventures invests $5m in TON Ventures: powering the next wave of dApp innovation

The Hackers League Hackathon has hit a major milestone—our semi-finalists are ready!

Following a tough competition, our brilliant teams have pushed the boundaries of blockchain gaming to earn their spot in this fierce competition. Now, they prepare for the next stage, where their ideas will be brought to life in the live judging rounds.

If you’ve been following the journey, now’s the perfect time to jump in and cheer for your favorites. For newcomers, get ready for a fantastic display of blockchain gaming's talent and innovation.

Let’s take a look at the complete list of semi-finalists and instructions for the upcoming weeks.

## **Meet our Hackathon semi-finalists competing for the $3.5 million prize pool**

Here’s the complete list of teams that have made it to the semi-finals:

<table>
  <tr>
    <td>1DBGYM</td>
    <td>4Arts</td>
    <td>5D BAZAAR</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>5D BRIDGE</td>
    <td>5D STARQ</td>
    <td>Aerena</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Aigram</td>
    <td>AKEDO Games</td>
    <td>Anycraft</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>apiTON</td>
    <td>AppInCoin</td>
    <td>Aurea</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Bastion Battle</td>
    <td>BeWhale</td>
    <td>Beetroot Finance</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Bidask Protocol</td>
    <td>Biosphere3</td>
    <td>BitPlay</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Bitverse Dollar</td>
    <td>BlinkGameAI</td>
    <td>Bored Dragon</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>BOSS GO</td>
    <td>Bridge23</td>
    <td>Catton</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>CenturionFi</td>
    <td>Ceres Finance</td>
    <td>CoinFish</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>CoinIdols</td>
    <td>CyberCharge</td>
    <td>DeepTrace</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>DeFi Canvas</td>
    <td>DePIN Alliance</td>
    <td>DePinSim</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>DeTask</td>
    <td>Doomsday Tyranny (DDT)</td>
    <td>Dungeons of KITSU</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Durovs Protocol</td>
    <td>DustFi</td>
    <td>Dywe</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Embed Wallet</td>
    <td>Enian Combat</td>
    <td>Esprito protocol</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Eventify</td>
    <td>Fair Fight</td>
    <td>FansLover</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Farmix</td>
    <td>FinKeeper</td>
    <td>Fitton</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Flip Out</td>
    <td>Flowly</td>
    <td>FractionFT</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Game Depot</td>
    <td>GLOBULA</td>
    <td>Go-Defeners</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>GoldenBlock</td>
    <td>Governors Game</td>
    <td>HangarX</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Happy Farmer: Crop and Rob</td>
    <td>Happy Farming</td>
    <td>HeyWave</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Husky AI</td>
    <td>Ikigai HyFi</td>
    <td>Impulse Finance</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Infinity Ground</td>
    <td>JAMTON</td>
    <td>Juster</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>KaBoom</td>
    <td>Krypton</td>
    <td>Leap of Legends</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>LIGMAR</td>
    <td>Lucky Gems (tellerx)</td>
    <td>memeguard</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>MemeTv</td>
    <td>MetaStation</td>
    <td>Meworld</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>MiniTon</td>
    <td>Moki</td>
    <td>MOON Giveaways</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Move</td>
    <td>Multiple Network</td>
    <td>NexaBit</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Nifty Nerds Network</td>
    <td>Nomas Wallet</td>
    <td>NotCampus</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Notiad: Notification and Advertising System</td>
    <td>NutritionTime: Crypto-cooking App in Telegram</td>
    <td>Olivia Network AI</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>OnChains AI</td>
    <td>Orbiton</td>
    <td>OURO</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Outmine</td>
    <td>P00LS Games</td>
    <td>Payxn</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>PeckS</td>
    <td>PhaseSwap</td>
    <td>Pina Mafia</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Pina Mania</td>
    <td>Pixiland: Age of Heroes</td>
    <td>PLAYS Hub</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Pluton Finance</td>
    <td>ReBank</td>
    <td>Referendum</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Reign Alter World</td>
    <td>RiverLand</td>
    <td>RPine</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>RuleOS</td>
    <td>Sanctum AI</td>
    <td>Saprolings Telegram Mini App</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>SatoriPlay</td>
    <td>Scalr</td>
    <td>Settlers of Cydonia</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Shops Builder</td>
    <td>Silly Match</td>
    <td>SnakeLite</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Social Clicker</td>
    <td>Socialrise</td>
    <td>Soulkeep Tower Defense</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Spark</td>
    <td>Spectrum S</td>
    <td>Spica</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>StarAI</td>
    <td>SudoCat</td>
    <td>syde.fi</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>t-TON: the Trustworthy and Open Network</td>
    <td>Telegram Mafia</td>
    <td>Televerse</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>TerminalX</td>
    <td>TGpoker</td>
    <td>The Path</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>The PHOTON</td>
    <td>Titan</td>
    <td>Token Tails</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>TON Chimp</td>
    <td>TON Merch</td>
    <td>TON Score</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>tondexer</td>
    <td>Tonmons</td>
    <td>TonPrison</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>TONQuests</td>
    <td>TonStable Finance</td>
    <td>TonTopia</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>TownStory Galaxy</td>
    <td>TractionEye</td>
    <td>TTV: TON TokenVigil Analytics</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>TONIFY</td>
    <td>TheOpenLayer</td>
    <td>U2SEC Web3 Guardian</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Unilink</td>
    <td>Uquid</td>
    <td>USDt Gift Shop by Fizen.io</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>UStars 💫</td>
    <td>Valor Quest</td>
    <td>WEATHER INSURANCE</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>WIzzwoods</td>
    <td>Xpinnetwork</td>
    <td>XSTAR Fleet</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>YuliGO</td>
    <td>Zona</td>
  </tr>
</table>


These teams represent a wealth of talent and creativity, promising to deliver projects that redefine gaming.

*The full list of teams that applied can be viewed below:*

[https://eco.ton.org/en/opportunities/hackers-league-winter-2024](https://eco.ton.org/en/opportunities/hackers-league-winter-2024)

 ![1.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/1_c5e0726eb3/1_c5e0726eb3.png) 

**GameON Hackathon**

This list also highlights the semi-finalists of the GameON hackathon. TON Society has partnered with AEON to attract more game developers and showcase the potential and power of TON’s ecosystem. The GameON hackathon is a fantastic opportunity for gaming developers to make their mark and garner support from the biggest names in the industry.

### **A big thanks to the sponsors who made it all possible**

Since launching in October 2024, Hackers League has attracted the brightest minds in Web3 gaming. The Hackers League Hackathon would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, who have played a critical role in nurturing innovation and empowering developers to bring their ideas to life.

 ![2.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/2_e3d96bfba5/2_e3d96bfba5.png) 

To all our sponsors, thank you. Your contributions directly result in the creativity of these talented teams.

## **Next steps: the live judging sessions begin**

With the semi-finalists announced, here’s what’s next on the road to crowning the Hackers League champion:

### **Live judging sessions (December 16–17)**

Semi-finalists will pitch their projects during live-streamed judging sessions. Teams will present their concepts and demonstrate their working prototypes. Witness the brilliance of these gaming innovators and a glimpse into the future.

### **Closing ceremony (December 20)**

The hackathon culminates in a live-streamed closing ceremony, during which winners will be announced and the top teams will be celebrated.

## **What to look forward to**

As the hackathon progresses, the excitement continues to build. The semi-finalists highlight the incredible talent and creativity within the TON ecosystem, and we can’t wait to see how their projects evolve.

With only a few days remaining, here’s a checklist for you:

- Watch the live judging sessions from **December 16–17**
- Don’t miss the live-streamed closing ceremony on **December 20**

Get ready to celebrate innovation, creativity, and the limitless possibilities of blockchain gaming.

Hackers League semi-finalists revealed: live judging rounds to begin next

We’re excited to announce /cohort_0.2—a **$5M initiative** to bring the **Mantle and TON ecosystems** together, fostering cross-chain synergy with the backing of the **Mantle Ecosystem Fund,** **GSR**, **TON Ventures**, and execution by **TON Accelerator**. This program is all about creating new opportunities for Web3 builders, offering the tools, resources, and liquidity needed to build impactful projects at scale.

Applications are already rolling in, with incredible submissions for **cross-chain product applications**, but we know there’s even more creativity out there waiting to shine. This is an **open call for builders**—whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting your journey, the conditions for creating something extraordinary in crypto have never been better.

**What’s in it for you?**

For the first time, you can build for millions of users while accessing immense liquidity opportunities across Mantle and the broader EVM ecosystem. The possibilities are endless, and we’re here to help you explore them.

To spark your creativity, we’ve outlined some of the most exciting ideas we’d love to see in this cohort. If one resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you! If you have a different vision altogether, even better—this program is here to support transformative ideas, no matter where they come from.

The time to build is now. [Apply to /cohort_0.2 today](https://www.tonacc.org/programs/cohort_0.2) and get the resources you need to turn your idea into reality. Applications are open until December 31, 2024.

Here are some ideas we think are especially cool and worth building:

## 1. Unified identity and wallet solutions

**Opportunity:** Build a seamless wallet solution that allows users to interact with both TON and EVM dApps using a single identity. By simplifying onboarding and access, you can enable more users to dive into Web3 without friction. Focus on creating a user-friendly experience with a clean, intuitive design.

**Why it matters:** A smooth, unified experience can remove barriers and drive mass adoption.

**Inspiration:** Phantom.

## 2. Cross-chain yield aggregation and complexity abstraction

**Opportunity:** Develop a cross-chain yield aggregator that operates seamlessly across Mantle and TON, allowing users to maximize returns by tapping into opportunities on multiple networks. Design a retail-oriented front end with a sleek, CEX-like experience, leveraging Telegram as a key distribution channel.

**Why it matters:** Allows users to optimize their returns by accessing yield opportunities across multiple VMs and blockchain networks.

**Inspiration:** Infinex.

## 3. Composable decentralized credit protocols

**Opportunity:** Establish decentralized credit systems that assess on-chain creditworthiness via decentralized identity (DID) and cross-chain data aggregation.

**Why it matters:** Building credit protocols fosters financial inclusion for the unbanked and underbanked globally, unlocking new opportunities for many users within the TON Ecosystem.

**Inspiration:** OnChain Loans backed by Reputation via SBTs or NFTs.

## 4. Cross-chain micro-payment system

**Opportunity:** Create decentralized infrastructure for recurring payments across Mantle, TON, and EVM networks, supporting subscription services and SaaS platforms.

**Why it matters:** Small payments like subscriptions and donations are a huge part of the global economy. By leveraging blockchain technology, we can make them decentralized, scalable, and more accessible than ever.

**Inspiration:** PayPal Micropayments, Dropp, Flattr.

## 5. Cross-chain staking and collateralization aggregator

**Opportunity:** Enable users to collateralize assets across Mantle, TON, and other EVM chains for staking rewards or accessing decentralized loans.

**Why it matters:** Capital efficiency is key to unlocking DeFi’s full potential.

**Inspiration:** Sanctum.

## 6. Payments and remittance

**Opportunity:** Partner with local governments or institutions to issue stablecoins and facilitate remittance via Telegram, settled on TON, with seamless interoperability across Mantle and other EVM networks. Focus on underbanked regions or those reliant on remittance. Telegram’s intuitive interface provides a massive opportunity for TON to become the leading chain for remittances.

**Why it matters:** Region-specific stablecoins can drive financial inclusion and resilience.

**Inspiration:** TransferWise, Venmo, TerraPay.

## 7. Cross-chain DEXs and AMMs

**Opportunity:** Develop a decentralized trading platform that uses solver networks to enable seamless cross-chain asset swaps. This would aggregate liquidity across multiple blockchain networks—such as Ethereum, TON, and Mantle—while protecting users from MEV exploitation and reducing transaction complexity. ****

**Why it matters:** Cross-chain functionality simplifies user experience by eliminating manual bridging and fragmentation, aggregating liquidity for better trade execution, and extending MEV resistance to multi-chain transactions.

**Inspiration:** CoWSwap.

## 8. Games and gaming infrastructure

**Opportunity:** Create standards and infrastructure for on-chain gaming, including but not limited to random number generation, on-chain achievements, and on-chain matching. Build lasting games that utilize the mini app framework, Telegram’s social graph, TON’s scalability, and EVM liquidity.

**Why it matters:** Cross-chain environments open the floodgates for user acquisition and offer diverse liquidity and capital for underlying game assets.

**Inspiration:** Citizen.

## 9. Social finance

**Opportunity:** Telegram’s massive, naturally social user base is ripe for activation, yet the application layer has untapped potential. We are seeking solutions that simplify blockchain complexities, allowing users to trade and interact with on-chain assets, all while fostering connections through social cooperation games.

**Why it matters:** Solver networks and MPC wallets provide a significant improvement to user experience, enabling seamless interaction with a diversified blockchain stack without added complexity.

**Inspiration:** Fantasy, Friendtech.

## 10. AI and AI Agents deployed in Telegram

**Opportunity**: Build AI agents integrated with Telegram to automate tasks, enhance community interactions, and deliver personalized experiences. Leverage TON’s scalability and distribution mechanism, Mantle’s infrastructure and EVM liquidity, and Telegram’s versatile platform for the deployment of mini apps.

**Why it matters**: AI agents are the future of community interaction, community building, and social media engagement. Telegram has yet to tap into this potential, making it a prime opportunity for innovation.

**Inspiration**: Truth Terminal (backed by GOAT and ai16z).

Ready to build something big? [Submit your application today](https://www.tonacc.org/programs/cohort_0.2) and let’s make it happen together! 

The best time to build: a call for builders in cross-chain synergy

**TON Memelandia** was conceived as a cultural hub for memecoins and community tokens. It celebrates the fun spirit that drives Web3. Communities compete in [Memecoin Mountain](https://ton.org/en/memelandia) and [Cabal Arena](https://cabal-arena.fun/) for TON's top memecoin title and airdrop rewards.

TON Foundation believes fair launches and dedicated teams are key to building strong meme coin communities. Projects like these often go unnoticed, so we're making Memecoin Mountain more accessible to give them a better chance.

Welcome newcomers! Let’s catch up on the latest.

### **Extension**

First things first, this week's major news was the extension of [Memecoin Mountain](https://ton.org/en/memelandia) and [Cabal Arena](https://cabal-arena.fun/) until **DECEMBER 15th.** This came to fruition as we believe epic stories take time to unfold, and we're giving every memecoin a wider window to climb to the top. It also provides a second opportunity for traders to participate in the competitions and receive a portion of the reward pool of $1,250,000!

*More on the prize composition below.*

### **Eligibility criteria softened**

We’re making it easier for new and promising memecoins to join the fun! The mandatory CoinGecko listing is no longer required, and the Minor League market cap has been reduced to $100,000 (down from $250,000). The rules for fair token distribution, token holder count, and daily trading volume stay the same to keep the competition fair and transparent.

### **Introducing Wildcard!**

Your memecoin can now join the competition **ANY TIME - no application needed!** (Just make sure you meet the eligibility rules)! Wildcard is a way to support memecoin growth and foster open competition for projects and traders to engage in these fair, exciting battles!

### **Prize composition (community airdrop)**

The prize composition has also been restructured to pure community airdrop as the final prize, and continues to be milestone-based, dependent on the total volume generated from trading of all participating memecoins.

**Why**? Because **airdrops = direct rewards for the community!** The perfect synergy with memes. Degen traders and normies can actively trade and promote TON memecoins to receive an airdrop after the season's end - now December 15th!

### **Knights of Memelandia initiative**

At **TON Memelandia**, we're thrilled to announce the launch of the **Knights of Memelandia**, an initiative designed to unify the power of **Telegram Mini-Apps** with the creativity and energy of **TON Memecoins**.

**The mission:**

- 🤝 **Collaborate** with Telegram Mini-Apps to promote memecoins and grow the TON ecosystem.
- 🌍 **Connect** memecoins with the global Telegram family, showing they’re part of one big, innovative community.
- 🚀 **Increase users**: Drive new users to TON memecoins through interactive and engaging UX.
- 📈 **Boost engagement**: Amplify on-chain and off-chain activities for memecoins, creating vibrant communities.
- 👀 **Enhance visibility**: Elevate awareness of Memelandia initiatives like **Meme Mountain** and **Cabal Arena**.
- 📣 **Present Mini-Apps**: Introduce Telegram Mini-Apps to the thriving memecoin audience, opening doors for collaborations and growth.

**Why this matters:**

Telegram Mini-Apps are at the forefront of digital interaction, and memecoins represent the cultural pulse of blockchain. Together, they create a unique synergy that:

- Attracts new users to Telegram and TON ecosystems.
- Encourages deeper community engagement and creative storytelling.
- Showcases the seamless integration of blockchain and social platforms.

Memecoins are driving this crypto trend, and TON ecosystem, with its access to nearly 1 billion Telegram users, has much to offer memecoin creators, traders, and communities. Curious about the data? Let’s take a look:

### **The numbers at a glance**

### **Major league**

- **Participating tokens**: 12
- **Combined market cap**: $425 million
- **Total trading volume**: $51 million

**Top daily trading volumes**

1. **TryTON**: over $470,000
2. **DOGS**: over $373,000
3. **REDO**: over $333,000

**Top communities**

1. **DOGS**
2. **FISH**
3. **POVEL DUREV**

### **Cabal Arena**

Below are the leading teams, tokens, and snipers in the Cabal Arena:

**Best Cabals**

1. the most lazy bobs with sponge
2. Rekt Squad
3. Oxptimus prime

**Best tokens***

1. NIKO
2. LAMBO
3. NEW

**Best snipers**

- Kuryanix
- Nikita Andreevich
- Skvoc
- Wild North

*One of the major metrics worth noting is the diamond hands score, also known as Retention; despite fluctuations, collective retention among top buyers is currently >30%! That's definitely something.

**Minor league overview**

- **Total tokens:** 12
- **Total market Cap:** $7.5M
- **Total volume:** $8.5M

**Top daily volumes:**

1. **DUCK:** >$137K
2. **UTYA:** >$97K
3. **SADMEOW:** >$25K

**Top communities:**

1. **DUCK**
2. **MITTENS**
3. **UTYA**

Memecoin Mountain has a total market cap of **$432.5 million,** up by $27.5 million (a 6.7% increase) since mid-November. In terms of combined volumes, over $19.5 million in trading volume has been added in the same period, a juicy >48%! Want to join the fun?

Whether you're a degen trader, a memecoin creator, or simply curious, Memelandia is your playground. December 15th isn't just an end date—it's the beginning of a new era for TON memecoins.💎

Stay tuned for more updates, including a weekly TON Memelandia AMA!

*Please note that these numbers are subject to significant fluctuations, and the data may differ depending on the reading time.*

Memecoin Mountain just got BIGGER (but easier to climb!) ️

Bitcoin, widely known as **digital gold**, is a powerful growth driver in the cryptocurrency industry, acting as both a store of value and a liquidity engine for decentralized finance (DeFi).

TON Teleport BTC builds on Bitcoin’s foundational principles to integrate its liquidity with TON's ecosystem and Telegram audience, uniting enhanced yield opportunities, accessible distribution capabilities, and next-generation security standards.

This document examines how TON Teleport BTC combines Bitcoin’s strong security with TON’s scalability and potential.

## **What is TON Teleport BTC?**

TON Teleport BTC brings Bitcoin directly into Telegram through TON as a tgBTC, allowing you to carry it in your pocket—inside the Web3 mini apps you use daily. (EVAA, STON Fi, DeDust, StormTrade, etc)

Through tgBTC, a tokenized Bitcoin, you can *securely* send and receive Bitcoin within not only @wallet but also the TON ecosystem. And all of that without relying on exchanges or third parties like custodians—just you, TON, and Telegram.

### **How tgBTC drives an era of Bitcoin on TON?**

TON Teleport BTC positions TON as the **ultimate gateway** between Bitcoin ecosystem and real-world applications ([Telegram Mini Apps](https://ton.org/mini-apps)), offering an unseen level of distribution to users engaged with Bitcoin.

Let’s explore how TON Teleport BTC will shape the Bitcoin Finance (BTCFi) on TON:

- **BTC’s Liquidity + TON’s DeFi = Yield:** With tgBTC’s in TON’s DeFi ecosystem, Bitcoin evolves from a store of value to a tool for financial growth. Earn more through lending, staking, and trading, leveraging Bitcoin’s liquidity for efficient collateralization and yield farming.
- **Trustless + transparent BTC = tgBTC:** Bitcoin meets trustless infrastructure with TON Teleport BTC. Decentralized control ensures security, with validators safeguarding transactions and tgBTC transparently backed 1:1 by Bitcoin.
- **Low-cost tgBTC transactions = Distribution:** Send Bitcoin like a message—no exchanges, no third parties. Thanks to TON's extra currency feature, tgBTC transactions will be 10x cheaper than standard Jetton tokens, making Bitcoin integration on TON fast, practical, and accessible.

Below we describe how exactly TON Teleport BTC is secured.

## **Technology behind TON Teleport BTC**

Transferring BTC into and out of the TON network involves several automated steps:

### **tgBTC deposit: Peg-in process**

 ![Peg-in.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Peg_in_d413584e05/Peg_in_d413584e05.png) 
1. **Transaction initiation**: Users send BTC to a specified Bitcoin address, triggering a smart contract that mints tgBTC on TON after six block confirmations.
2. **Bitcoin Light Client validation on TVM**: The peg-in process is fully automated and relies on Bitcoin Light Client developed as a TON smart contact, fully on TVM. The Light Client verifies Bitcoin blocks autonomously, ensuring trustless operations without external reliance.
3. **Minting process**: Once BTC is validated, it’s minted as a tgBTC on TON. Thanks to TON's extra currency feature, transactions are processed as fast as Toncoin.

 ![Peg-in (tgBTC Deposit).png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Peg_in_tg_BTC_Deposit_008ed80280/Peg_in_tg_BTC_Deposit_008ed80280.png) 

While the peg-in process may be slower due to Bitcoin’s confirmation requirements, once on TON, transactions return to standard network speeds.

### **tgBTC withdrawal: Peg-out process**

 ![Peg-out.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Peg_out_4c5ec2e33f/Peg_out_4c5ec2e33f.png) 

tgBTC withdrawal involves two crucial aspects:

1. **Sign a transaction**: To withdraw BTC, users burn their tgBTC on TON, initiating a transaction that securely releases BTC to the specified address.
2. **Get Validators consensus**: Masterchain validators on TON oversee the Peg-Out process, ensuring that Bitcoin unlocking adheres to all pre-verified parameters.

This process eliminates double-spending by confirming the user’s intention through the burn and then securely transferring BTC. Peg-out, like peg-in, is fully automated and requires *no human intervention.*

 ![Peg-out (tgBTC Withdraw).png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Peg_out_tg_BTC_Withdraw_c02860eede/Peg_out_tg_BTC_Withdraw_c02860eede.png) 

## **How TON Teleport becomes as secure as TON**

TON Teleport BTC goes beyond basic peg-in and peg-out with next-generation security mechanisms to protect users and assets. *By relying on its consensus*, TON Teleport BTC aims to be as secure as TON Blockchain.

1. **TON Validators consensus:** As we mentioned, to peg-out, you require the signatures of master chain validators (top 100 by stake) to approve a transaction.
2. **Validator rotations:** Validators on TON rotate *every 18 hours*, distributing transaction verification among a changing group of participants. Each rotation updates public keys and transfers Bitcoin control to the current validator group.
3. **Consensus-based upgrades:** In case validators reach consensus to update system components, it allows flexible enhancements like contract upgrades or added security features without compromising system integrity.
4. **Refunds for expired deposits:** A refund mechanism lets users reclaim funds if a Bitcoin deposit fails to complete before a validator rotation, which makes your money secure. Users set up a Check-Sequence Verify (CSV) script (with password) that refunds BTC if the transaction remains incomplete within a specified period (typically two weeks).
5. **Inspectors Layer:** They monitor transactions, temporarily pausing the system if it detects irregular activity. Inspectors cannot alter transactions but add a safeguard against potential risks.

### **Cryptographic super power**

TON Teleport BTC employs modern cryptographic technologies, including:

- **[Distributed Key Generation](https://www.hypr.com/security-encyclopedia/distributed-key) (DKG)**: It ensures no single validator can act unilaterally, maintaining decentralization.
- **[FROST](https://crysp.uwaterloo.ca/software/frost/) (Flexible Round-Optimized Schnorr Threshold Signatures)**: Aggregates validator signatures, significantly reducing Bitcoin transaction fees.

## **Truly affordable minting process**

Aggregated signature technology in TON Teleport BTC controls transaction costs by replacing the traditional multi-signature method with a single group signature, which typically requires multiple individual signatures.

### **Here's how it works**:

TON Teleport BTC uses group signatures to combine multiple validator signatures into one, decreasing transaction size and fees on the Bitcoin network. With the Bitcoin Taproot upgrade, TON Teleport BTC now benefits from aggregated signatures, thanks to the efficiency of [Schnorr signatures](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/schnorr-digital-signature/).

Through Bitcoin's Taproot upgrade, we're also cutting costs while improving security and decentralization to optimize BTC transactions. By reducing the transaction size, TON Teleport BTC ensures you can move your assets with lower fees.

## **BTCFi: Next generation DeFi on TON**

With TON Teleport BTC and tgBTC you will see more DeFi and yield generation opportunities within the TON ecosystem by activating Bitcoin's liquidity.

tgBTC introduces arbitrage potential across platforms to leverage liquidity imbalances and promote active trading. TON Teleport BTC also aims to enhance Bitcoin’s scalability and cross-chain interoperability, contributing to a trustless, DeFi environment where Bitcoin’s liquidity and utility evolve.

Below is a summary of Bitcoin’s potential in TON’s DeFi ecosystem:

- tgBTC can serve as collateral for borrowing stablecoins, supporting liquidity pools, and leveraged trading in lending protocols (EVAA and others coming)
- tgBTC-backed assets power collateralized debt positions (CDPs), similar to MakerDAO’s model DAI.
- Through partnerships like [GoMining](https://gomining.com/), users can rent GPUs, pay for energy, and mine Bitcoin, withdrawing earnings directly in TON,

Thanks to trustless tgBTC, TON Teleport BTC technology enhances yield generation on TON with BTCFi, paving a brand new way for Bitcoin’s seamless integration into decentralized finance—a major step forward in Bitcoin’s evolution toward real-world applications and mass adoption.

*To read the full TON Teleport BTC Whitepaper please click [**here.**](https://tgbtc.gitbook.io/docs/whitepaper/abstract)*

Unlocking the future of Bitcoin with TON Teleport BTC: A new era of trustless interoperability


- 20 days
- $1,500,000 airdrop for users
- DeFi League for projects
- 20+ teams participating

Are you eager to learn more? Let’s go!

## **Foreword**

The Open League's beta season launched in March 2024. The original goals were to strongly boost the core ecosystem projects and their assets and spur the emergence of new applications, DeFi protocols, Games, NFT collections, SocialFi and Utility apps, and more.

**How have TON Apps been doing?**

We’ve seen the number of Apps participating in the App League skyrocket from some 20 teams to 83 projects! Those 83 talented teams attracted almost 4M unique on-chain users in the last season - wow!

**What about DeFi? In brief, it’s growing at an immense pace!** If, in early 2024, we only had several protocols like [DeDust](https://dedust.io/), [Storm Trade](https://storm.tg/), [Evaa](https://evaa.finance/), [STON.fi](http://ston.fi/), [Tonstakers](https://tonstakers.com/), and [bemo](https://bemo.fi/), we can now boast more than 30 mainnet DeFi projects on [Defillama.](https://defillama.com/chain/TON)

Eight (8) teams: STON.fi, DeDust, Evaa, Storm, [Tradoor](https://t.me/tradoor_io_bot), [Hipo](https://hipo.finance/), Tonstakers, and bemo have shown impressive results in The Open League, winning more than $2M in prizes, being honored as DeFi League Graduates, and embarking on a special incentive track. These teams do not compete in the DeFi League anymore.

Since Season 6, the DeFi League has focused on smaller, early-stage teams with high potential. Some of them, like [Parraton](http://t.me/parraton_bot?startapp), [TON Hedge](https://t.me/ton_hedge_bot?startapp), or [SettleTON](https://t.me/settleton_bot?startapp), have already demonstrated 3 - or even 4-digit growth numbers recently - and this is just the beginning. We expect 10+ new protocols to join Season 7 and engage in a fair fight for prizes and users!

**How about TON users?** Users have been extremely engaged throughout the seasons, farming The Open League airdrops and rewards for liquidity providers on DEXs. In Season 6, 2 million airdrop participation badges were minted, showing great interest in ecosystem products.

We saw many new people onboarded into TON DeFi: Roughly 2,000 users received the [Degen airdrop](https://society.ton.org/degen-airdrop), and 20,000 wallets actively participated in DeFi within the [Normie airdrop](https://society.ton.org/normie-airdrop).

But we should aim higher! TON DeFi protocols deserve more attention, more prizes, and more usage!

As 2024 comes to an end, we need to set plans and narratives for the next year. DeFi will be one of them, [as announced at TON Gateway](https://youtu.be/Y7zA6K8-oWM?list=PLzF1OAbyoK_nNgvww_S2TRScWmzIIM1WB&t=17541).

So why don’t we go FULL DeFi in Season 7? A large airdrop for DeFi users and a fierce but healthy and friendly competition for young DeFi projects. We love the App and NFT Leagues, too - but let’s put them on break this time.

New Year’s Eve is a good time to explore new and exciting DeFi protocols and earn decent rewards for real on-chain contributions.

## **The $1,500,000 New Year Airdrop for users**

So, in Season 7, TON users are welcome to fully direct their efforts into providing liquidity and trading in 20+ DeFi projects and farm The Open League New Year airdrop.

To participate in the airdrop, they must obtain their DeFi badge on the TON Society website (just as in Season 6, no changes) and start growing their DeFi Score by interacting with TON DeFi protocols from the catalog.

Every target action in these projects for the indicated minimum amount will add a particular number of points to their Score. These target actions usually include providing liquidity or trading for the indicated minimum amount. Points given for the interaction with each project may differ.

Once the campaign starts, the entire catalog of DeFi protocols, with the number of points assigned for each target interaction with them, will be found on the airdrop page on the TON Society website.

Users can check their DeFi score in the user leaderboard throughout the season. At the end of the season, the minimum eligibility score will be announced, and the reward size for each eligible wallet will appear on the user leaderboard. Based on their final score, wallets that meet the requirements will receive rewards.

## **DeFi League: TVL Squad & Volume Squad for TON DeFi protocols**

From Season to Season, the DeFi League is designed to create a fruitful environment for early-stage TON DeFi protocols that contribute to growing the TVL and Volume on the TON blockchain. For the DeFi League contestants, Season 7 will be somewhat similar to Season 6.

Projects that comply with the eligibility criteria can participate in up to two squads, depending on the core metric of their protocol: **TVL Squad** and **Volume Squad.** Projects of the Squads will be ranked in the leaderboard based on their **contribution to the total TVL/Volume** generated during the season. The exact methodology for tracking the metrics of each protocol can be found [on this GitHub page.](https://github.com/ton-society/the-open-league/tree/main)

Active on-chain users of participating contestants will be eligible for The Open League New Year airdrop, which will help boost TVL and trading volume.

Top-performing teams will share a $100,000 reward pool in [Adsgram](https://adsgram.ai/) credits. Plus, teams that successfully graduate from the DeFi League will receive coverage for their audit costs at the end of the season!

**How to apply?**

Teams that took part in the previous seasons of the DeFi League and that do not have a status of a “DeFi League graduate” (applies to STON.fi, DeDust, Evaa, Storm, Tradoor, Hipo, Tonstakers, bemo - the teams that already won The Open League previously) are whitelisted to join the next season and do not need to re-apply. That said, they need to check the eligibility criteria to stay on the leaderboard.

New teams that have yet to participate in the DeFi League are welcome to join, submitting their application on [TONResearch](https://tonresear.ch/t/about-the-defi-league-category/20071).

✅ Learn more about the eligibility criteria for all participants [here](https://www.notion.so/DeFi-League-New-Year-Edition-S7-Rules-for-Teams-13e5274bd2cf8059961df3d4b9ee2b65?pvs=21).

❓ [🙇🏻‍♂️How to submit your application on TONResearch](https://www.notion.so/How-to-submit-your-application-on-TONResearch-c9827f6f60fc4f64b6e8701a96643044?pvs=21)

## **Ready steady go!**

Essentially, The Open League New Year Season is about users farming the airdrop by exploring and utilising TON DeFi protocols and DeFi protocols, competing for the highest TVL/Volume to win prizes.

If you are ready to take up the challenge, let’s go!

**The DeFi League**

- New teams eager to join - [apply here](https://www.notion.so/How-to-submit-your-application-on-TONResearch-c9827f6f60fc4f64b6e8701a96643044?pvs=21)
- Teams that participated previously - no need to re-apply, but check the eligibility criteria [here](https://www.notion.so/DeFi-League-New-Year-Edition-S7-Rules-for-Teams-13e5274bd2cf8059961df3d4b9ee2b65?pvs=21)

**The New Year Airdrop**

- Get readyyyy to provide liquidity and make volume!

Applications for projects to join the DeFi League are now open and will close on November 22nd.

The Open League New Year Season will kick off on November 27th and last till December 17th.

The Open League New Year Special Edition is Calling!



The Hackers League Sponsor Series celebrates the invaluable contributions of sponsors who help make the Hackathon possible. Their support fuels innovation, strengthens the developer community, and spotlights projects advancing blockchain. These articles dive into what sponsors hope to see from participants, offering insight into what makes a winning project.

Today, we’re featuring **Arkham**, a diamond sponsor and leader in blockchain intelligence dedicated to shining a light on crypto market activity. Supported by renowned founders of Palantir and OpenAI, alongside major trading firms and venture capitalists, Arkham has built an AI-powered platform that unveils the real-world identities behind blockchain transactions. Their mission centers on promoting transparency across the crypto space, making it easier for traders, investors, and researchers to access actionable insights.

Arkham’s sponsorship of the Hackers League marks a significant step in their partnership with TON. With plans to integrate the TON blockchain into their platform, Arkham is excited to empower developers and engage directly with the TON community through this event.

### **Could you introduce your project/entity? What motivated you to sponsor the Hacker?**

Arkham is a blockchain intelligence company backed by the founders of Palantir and OpenAI, trading and market-making firms and some of the world's best venture capitalists. They've built an AI platform to provide information on the real-world entities and individuals behind crypto market activity.

Sponsoring the Hacker League was a no-brainer for Arkham, given our existing partnership with TON and the imminent integration of TON blockchain. The integration will enable far more advanced onchain analysis within the TON ecosystem than was previously possible, directly in line with Arkham’s mission of bringing unparalleled transparency to crypto markets.

The Hacker League is a great introduction for Arkham to the TON community, particularly its builders, investors, and traders. It is also a perfect opportunity for TON users to become familiar with Arkham (and be rewarded for doing so).

### **Are there specific ways you envision your tools/platforms helping developers build solutions on TON?**

Arkham’s platform and API serve many users and use cases. However, they are especially well suited for crypto traders and investors, who can incorporate on-chain analysis into their strategies using Arkham.

Arkham is free and accessible via our [platform](http://platform.arkhamintelligence.com/). Sophisticated market participants can apply for access to the Arkham API at [arkhamintelligence.com/api-platform](http://arkhamintelligence.com/api-platform).

### **In your view, how do hackathons like Hackers League encourage innovation within the TON ecosystem? Which track in the Hacker League do you find most promising, and why?**

Initiatives like the Hackers League provide an excellent platform for dedicated users to collaborate and create impactful projects, bringing together individuals who often work independently. We look forward to the developments from the On-chain Data Analytics track we’re sponsoring.

### **Do you plan to build long-term relationships with innovators and developers after the Hackers League Hackathon? Do you have anything planned for projects that impress your team?**

Absolutely. Arkham is always looking to work with and support users, especially builders, traders, and investors, who share its vision. It has a number of dedicated programs, like [Arkham VIP](https://www.arkhamintelligence.com/affiliates), to reward users for contributing to its community and mission.

### **What to expect moving forward**

Arkham’s involvement in the Hackers League Hackathon highlights its dedication to empowering the next wave of blockchain innovations. By providing tools for deep on-chain data analysis and supporting developers beyond the event, Arkham continues to contribute to a transparent and insightful crypto market.

Stay updated with future interviews in our Sponsor Series to learn more about the companies shaping the Hackathon. The continuous support from these sponsors provides resources to help build a vibrant blockchain future.

Explore more about Arkham by visiting [Arkham Intelligence](http://platform.arkhamintelligence.com/).

*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.*

Hackers League Sponsor Series | Arkham's Mission to Improve Blockchain Transparency

The Hackers League Sponsor Series recognizes the essential contributions of sponsors who play a vital role in the Hackathon's success. These sponsors support and guide skilled developers as they compete for substantial prizes, helping to fuel innovation across Web3. Throughout the series, we dive into the sponsors' motivations, goals, and insights into developer projects.

Today’s article highlights *TON Apps*, a Title Sponsor focused on advancing the TON API ecosystem. TON Apps is dedicated to driving the development of innovative utility applications, leveraging the power of TON blockchain. With a mission to onboard and inspire developers, TON Apps leads the *TON Apps Track*, aiming to expand the blockchain’s reach and impact.

### **Could you introduce TON Apps and explain your motivation for sponsoring the TON Hackers League Hackathon?**

TON Apps, a leading innovator on the TON blockchain, aims to build applications that bring utility and engagement to millions of users. This year, as a Title Sponsor of the Hackers League Hackathon, we are excited to support developer onboarding for the TON API. We seek to enhance the visibility of TON's potential in gaming and utility-focused dApps, attracting developers with diverse skills to explore and build in the ecosystem.

Our main objectives include:

- **Onboarding new developers to the TON API** to support innovative projects.
- **Expanding the TON blockchain’s role** in gaming and utility-driven applications.

### **How do these goals align with TON Apps’ broader mission and innovation strategy?**

TON Apps aims to grow the TON developer ecosystem by building a foundation of skilled developers who can effectively use the TON API. By investing in infrastructure development, TON Apps empowers the creation of innovative, high-quality dApps that seamlessly integrate with Tonkeeper. Our approach encourages app ecosystem development, sustainability, innovation, and adoption of TON technology via problem-solving apps.

### **Could you share more about the track you are sponsoring? What innovations or opportunities are you hoping to see?**

We are thrilled to support the *TON Apps Track*, which centers on creative applications of the TON API and other solutions from Tonconsole.com. We hope to see dApps emerge that provide tangible value to Tonkeeper’s 70 million users, creating diverse and practical use cases that demonstrate the blockchain’s potential.

### **What kind of support, such as workshops, will you provide for participants in this track? And what kind of rewards will you offer for winners in this track?**

We will host workshops to guide participants in using the TON API, and provide mentorship throughout the event. The rewards include:

- **1st Place**: $5,000 + $7,000 in TON API credits + 30K Tonkeeper messages + Mentorship
- **2nd Place**: $3,000 + $5,000 in TON API credits + 20K Tonkeeper messages + Mentorship
- **3rd Place**: $2,000 + $3,000 in TON API credits + 10K Tonkeeper messages + Mentorship
- **4th Place**: $1,500 + $2,000 in TON API credits + 5K Tonkeeper messages + Mentorship
- **5th Place**: $1,000 + $1,500 in TON API credits + 3K Tonkeeper messages + Mentorship

Every participant will also receive assistance with TON API onboarding.

### **What factors should startups consider regarding market fit in this track? Why are projects in this track valuable to TON?**

Startups should focus on creating applications with:

- **Usability**: Offering practical solutions for users’ daily tasks.
- **User engagement**: Providing interactive features that enhance user experiences.
- **Intuitive UI**: Ensuring that applications are easy to navigate and visually appealing.
- **Long-term value**: Developing projects that prioritize retention and user loyalty.
- **Profit-sharing mechanisms**: Enabling B2B referral mechanics to drive revenue.

### **Will you further support the winners in your track after the hackathon? Are there any plans you can share at this time?**

Yes, we plan to continue working with top-performing teams by consulting on TON API best practices and product development. Exceptional projects may also receive marketing support and user acquisition assistance, including exposure within the Tonkeeper browser.

Discover Ton Apps and its tightly integrated products in TON ecosystem: [Tonkeeper](https://t.co/XxyCzbVaCg), [Tonviewer](https://tonviewer.com/), [Tonconsole](https://tonconsole.com/), and [TON API](https://tonapi.io/).

Stay tuned for more Sponsor Series articles as we continue highlighting the vision and contributions of TON Hackathon sponsors. Thanks to the generous support and guidance of sponsors like TON Apps, the hackathon is shaping up to be our largest yet.

*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.*

Hackers League Sponsor Series | TON Apps Empowers Developers with TON API Integration

[TON Accelerator](https://www.tonacc.org/) today unveiled Synergy, a groundbreaking $5 million initiative dedicated to advancing cross-chain innovations between the TON network and its Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) partner, [Mantle](https://www.mantle.xyz/).

Synergy seeks to create a seamless integration between TON’s users and the adaptability of EVM networks, setting a new standard in cross-chain projects. Building on the success of TON Accelarator’s inaugural launch, Synergy, which is supported by [TON Ventures](https://tonventures.io/) and [Mantle’s EcoFund](https://www.mantle.xyz/ecofund), allows founders and developers to leverage the unrivaled reach of TON’s ecosystem, connecting over 950 million Telegram users with over $90 billion in cross-chain liquidity, unlocking innovations and commercial opportunities for cross-chain projects.

**$5 Million Funding To Build The Future**

In addition to the $5 million in funding, participants will gain comprehensive support across key areas, including product design, technical integration, and go-to-market strategies. Developers who join this cohort will benefit from Mantle’s liquidity and scalable infrastructure, and TON’s extensive ecosystem, enabling them to bring transformative new applications to life.

**TON Accelerator’s Partnership with Mantle**

TON Accelerator has selected Mantle as one of its core partners for this initiative given Mantle’s proven expertise in decentralized finance (DeFi), centralized-decentralized finance (CeDeFi), gaming. Mantle has demonstrated its expertise in creating cross-chain applications by driving innovation and delivering high-value solutions through successful projects such as [Catizen](https://catizen.ai/). This partnership aims to assist users and developers in building products that bridge TON and EVM ecosystems.

"We’re thrilled to harness the synergy between Mantle and TON, opening doors for projects to scale across ecosystems with access to $5 million in funding," said Sophia Rusconi, Head of Acceleration at TON Accelerator. "This partnership isn’t just about collaboration, it’s about unlocking new markets, deep liquidity, and groundbreaking advancements in DeFi, AI, and Gaming. With the TON Accelerator providing vital support, we’re ready to empower founders to build the future. New developers, now is the time to join us and leverage the unique strengths of both ecosystems."

**Now Open: Synergy Seeks Developers Building Next-Gen Solutions**

TON Accelerator is calling on visionary builders ready to unlock the potential of Telegram’s vast social graph and distribution. Synergy is open to developers interested in creating next-generation cross-chain solutions, particularly in areas such as:

- **Cross-Chain DeFi**: Lending, trading, derivatives, and CeDeFi products
- **Infrastructure**: Wallets, aggregators, and keepers
- **Personalized LSDs**: Liquid staking solutions
- **Cross-Chain Games**: Studios pioneering new cross-chain gaming experiences
- **Other Applications**: Unique projects that foster new synergies across blockchains

Synergy isn’t strictly focused on traditional DeFi, TON Accelerator is searching for developers interested in pushing the boundaries of cross-chain applications within the TON Virtual Machine (TVM) and EVM ecosystems, offering an opportunity for developers to work with state-of-the-art technologies and benefit from unparalleled mentorship and resources.

*For those who are interested, please visit  https://www.tonacc.org/programs to apply.*

TON Accelerator Launches “Synergy”: A $5M Cross-Chain Initiative to Drive Innovation Across TON and EVM Ecosystems

Our mission at TON Studio is to enhance the developer experience within the TON ecosystem. To do that, we want to provide tools that eliminate the technical barriers between having an idea for a dApp and building and eventually launching it. Our determination to help developers realize their dream projects is why we’ve launched TON Studio: to provide the tools, resources, and expert engineering guidance to developers needed to build brilliant dApps.

### **A fast-growing, fast-evolving ecosystem**

TON’s ecosystem is growing rapidly and as a result, we’ve recently passed some pretty big milestones: 10 million monthly active wallets and 1 million daily users! Given such massive growth, we felt it was time to improve the developer experience and help our growing network of creators achieve even more. That is why we created TON Studio. We want to give our community access to a world-class toolbox and suite of resources that support developers on every step of their journey, so that they can focus on what they do best: building.

TON Studio is all about putting the power back in the hands of developers and making dApp development as easy as possible. This is why we’ve decided to focus on four key areas:

- Managing Telegram’s Apps Center
- Providing Top-Tier Developer Tools
- Offering Hands-On Technical Support
- Streamlined Onboarding for New Developers

Let’s break it down below.

### **World-class tools for developing Mini-Apps**

Every developer, no matter their skill level, wants tools that make their lives easier. At TON Studio, we’ve pulled together what we believe is one of the best toolkits in the industry, designed to streamline the development of Telegram mini-apps. Beyond our toolkit, you can also join our [GitHub community](https://github.com/telegram-mini-apps), where you will find pre-built solutions, ongoing projects, and loads of other resources dedicated to helping you build faster and smarter. From coding to deployment, we have it covered.

### **An audience of millions with Telegram Apps Center**

Once your dApp is ready, the next big step is to ship it! To succeed, it needs to find and connect with the right audience. Since TON Studio manages the [Telegram Apps Center](https://t.me/tapps), your mini-apps can reach millions of Telegram users worldwide. With over 10 million active members in the Telegram community, your dApp has the chance to make global connections. For additional visibility, you can push your app to feature in the [Trending Apps channel](https://t.me/trendingapps), where users discover popular new apps every day.

### **Engineering expertise whenever you need it**

Building a brilliant dApp is about more than coding; it’s also about having access to the best support to help you turn an idea into a go-to-market product. So we want you to have that support to hand, to be called upon whenever you need it, no matter what part of the development journey you’re on. Whether it’s troubleshooting, optimization, or simply making sure you’re following the best practices for blockchain development, we want to make sure everything you need is at your fingertips — from the first line of code right the way to your launch date. Our team of engineering experts have a history of helping launch top-tier projects, so trust us when we say you’re in the safest hands.

### **An insider’s knowledge of Tact**

We’re proud to be one of [Tact’s](https://tact-lang.org/) main contributors, so building safe, secure and high-performance smart contracts is something we know all about. Our team knows everything there is to know about optimizing smart contracts for the TON network, so not only will your dApps run smoothly, but they’ll also be super secure.

### **Seamless onboarding for developers**

Not all developers come to us with the same level of experience. It’s okay, everybody’s got to start somewhere. If you're new to the TON ecosystem, don’t worry about it. TON Studio offers a streamlined onboarding process packed with easy-to-follow instructions, step-by-step tutorials, and detailed documentation. We’ve thought of everything and we’ve made sure it’s clear and accessible, so you can dive straight into creating without worrying about getting weighed down with all the technical details.

### **Join TON Studio and begin building**

We believe that TON Studio is more than a platform; we believe it’s a community. One built by developers, for developers. We know all about the technical hurdles, support challenges, and pain points developers face when building their dApps because we’ve been there. We’ve all been there. Our mission is to remove as many of the barriers as we can that stand between developers building and launching their dApps. With access to the Telegram Apps Center, a best-in-class developer toolkit, expert engineering support, and a simplified onboarding process, developers have everything they need to thrive in the TON ecosystem.

To learn more, visit our [website](http://tonstudio.io/), [GitHub page](https://github.com/ton-studio) and follow us on [Telegram](http://t.me/ton_studio).

For the latest updates on TON Studio, stay connected with us on [X](https://x.com/thetonstudio) or [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ton-studio/about/).

TON Studio: Putting The Power Back In The Hands of Developers 

*Co-Authored by Steve Yun, President - The Open Network Foundation & Jack Booth, Co-Founder - TON Society*

The TON community has matured impressively in the past year. TON keeps connecting the crypto industry to a mass audience of new users, while successful projects constantly emerge. Advocating for decentralization and reactive to community growth and maturity, The Open Network Foundation (“Foundation”) introduces Society DAO, a new governance model.

TON has been community-driven from day one. From its inception, the network has thrived thanks to dedicated community validators, securing its integrity, and resilience. The platform's growth has been led by developers who won public contests, becoming the leading contributors committed to TON's vision. TON's launch was uniquely fair, with initial distribution powered by Proof-of-Work mining, allowing participants to earn a stake. As the ecosystem expanded, the TON Foundation took the helm in business development, fueling a robust and dynamic ecosystem loyal to its decentralized, community-first ethos.

Honoring this DNA, The Open Network Foundation (“Foundation”) introduces Society DAO, a new governance model. We envision a governance framework that enhances decentralization, transparency, inclusion, competition, autonomy, participation, and resilience by democratizing access to the financial, socio-political, and human capital.

**Decentralization: A Progressive Journey**

Decentralization is an ongoing process. Over the past year, many founders have relied heavily on the Foundation for success, as it often serves as a central hub for capital. However, the Foundation sees this as a centralization risk—one that could lead to a single point of failure. How can the Foundation evolve to mitigate this risk and empower a more resilient, decentralized ecosystem?

**Challenges in L1 Governance: The Limits of the Corporate Model**

L1 governance faces complex challenges, starting with a concentration of capital. Across the blockchain industry, platforms often adopt a corporate model, with foundations overseeing strategy, partnerships, marketing, technical support, funding, and more. This centralized model can be efficient in the early stages, providing direction and producing initial use cases.

However, as the ecosystem matures and independent, competitive participants emerge, this model reveals its limitations. Capital and resources—financial, social, human, and political— accumulate around the foundation, making it difficult for projects to succeed without its official support. This concentration creates a gated environment, stifling the competition that’s crucial for a thriving ecosystem.

Additionally, operational inefficiencies arise as projects focus on navigating foundation processes instead of building products, leading to a lack of competitive innovation. Over time, this dependency risks undermining the original goal of ecosystem building, which requires decentralized, open support for incoming builders.

**Solutions for a Decentralized and Competitive Ecosystem: The Community Model**

To address the challenges of centralized governance the answer lies in democratized access to capital and fostering competition within a community-centric framework. By implementing open-source access to capital, projects earn resources transparently, rewarded for achieving key performance indicators (KPIs), which shift their focus to delivering exceptional products and results. In line with this, the Foundation is advancing a **Community Model** that redistributes resource allocation power back to the community. Under this approach, respected and proven community members are empowered to coordinate vision, goals, and strategies, collectively determining resource allocation in alignment with TON's overall growth.

This model also upholds a principle of competition, supporting at least two projects in each category, encouraging projects to excel, and fueling a vibrant innovative ecosystem. Previously monopolized roles within the Foundation can now be filled by competitive, independent teams, enhancing efficiency and resilience. Thanks to TON’s explosive growth and the emergence of widely respected ecosystem leaders, the Community Model enables proactive, autonomous, and competitive participation in the network.

Since its inception in 2023 as a Swiss non-profit, the Foundation has tested this model with a few leading teams, who have excelled in their roles. This competitive and decentralized model accelerates growth, promotes autonomy, and empowers community-led development, providing a scalable framework and better results for all TON ecosystem participants.

**Introducing Society DAO: Advancing the network adoption as a community**

With blockchain technology, the technical path to decentralization is clear. However, building a community capable of collective, coordinated action requires a more strategic approach. As the TON ecosystem grows, decentralizing at its core is essential to ensure resilience and long-term success.

Today, The Foundation is pleased to introduce Society DAO and its founding members; teams that have already been operating independently yet aligned with TON’s mission. Society DAO will become the organizing body for core ecosystem functions, its founding members comprise:

- **TON Core:** Core development, upgrading, and maintenance of the blockchain
- **TON Studio:** Developer experience
- **TON Society:** Community operations
- **Wallet in Telegram:** Payment adoption

The Foundation will support this DAO by reporting on its goals, KPIs, and strategies, ensuring compliance, and providing grants and other resources. Society DAO will grow to include proven and reputable community teams that can propose and execute a plan that supports the ecosystem’s objectives. It will welcome new contributors across roles such as marketing, app development, technology, stablecoin integration, DeFi, community growth, identity, and more. This model will make the community's brightest minds the key stakeholders in the growth and adoption of TON.

**TON Ecosystem Goals: A Transparent Route to Success**

The TON ecosystem is committed to a transparent path for accomplishing its goals. Like our network’s dynamic sharding architecture, smaller, independent, and focused teams can create better, more scalable outcomes. Our public goals are revisited every six months, ensuring they remain relevant and aligned with our community’s vision.

### **Key Features of Society DAO**

- **TON Ecosystem Goals**: Society DAO will publish The TON Ecosystem goals
- **Community Proposals**: DAO members can propose relevant strategies, expected time-bound, and specific key results for achieving the ecosystem goals.
- **Working Group Reviews**: Relevant DAO members will evaluate proposals across specialized working groups.
- **Grant Provided**: After DAO approval, The Foundation funds the plans, with the community team assuming responsibility for progress and performance.

### **Initial Goals of Society DAO**

Today, Society DAO sets the following initial goals:

1. **Position TON as The Gateway to Real-World Cryptocurrency Use Cases.**
2. **Establish TON as the Most Stable and Scalable Blockchain.**
3. **Grow the Developer and User Community in Super App markets.**

By January 2025, Society DAO will publicly publish the key initiatives and expected key results for H1 2025. With a public view over Society DAO’s objectives, the community can contribute their opinions and help guide the DAO on how best to achieve the Ecosystem goals. Shortly, Society DAO will continue to decentralize by inviting proposals from proven and reputable community teams. Successful proposals that align with our ecosystem goals can join the DAO as members, becoming core contributors to The Open Network.

**Debate and TON Society Reputation**

In 2025, Society DAO will enhance its transparency and community-driven focus by launching a public debate and voting platform. This platform will use TON Society onchain badges as a reputation marker, empowering active community members to have a voice in decision-making processes.

Over 3.6 million users have earned onchain badges on society.ton.org. This activity-driven reputation reflects your contribution and engagement within the ecosystem and will open access to contributing to debates and onchain votes.

Once the platform is live, DAO members will be supported by the real opinions of the active community. Together, we will cultivate an ecosystem of DAO members that self-regulates autonomously by collective insight and engagement.

**The Principle of Competition**

To ensure a decentralized approach, Society DAO is establishing the Principle of Competition as a core guideline for allocating all public resources, including financial, social, human, political capital, and incentive programs. This principle requires that at least two competing projects be provided with the opportunity to fulfill the KPIs in the same category.

Competition creates decentralization. Competitive environments make it difficult for single players to dominate. When an ecosystem depends on multiple players, it becomes more resilient to failures. If one competitor encounters issues or fails, others can take their place without significant disruption. Competitive ecosystems lead to higher transparency, as entities are motivated to act in users' best interests to maintain loyalty.

Moreover, competition encourages different approaches and ideas to address user needs. Each competitor brings unique strengths or innovations, leading to a richer ecosystem where multiple solutions coexist, reducing reliance on any single provider. Ultimately, this leads to a better user experience.

**Society DAO: Shaping a Resilient and Scalable Future for the TON Community**

Society DAO positions the TON community on the right trajectory to become more competitive, decentralized, and resilient. Overall, it aims to create a robust and scalable organizational structure. As this model continues to be proven further, it will lead to an autonomous community capable of collective action.

With a growing community of over 20 million members, we are stronger than ever and have the potential to make cryptocurrency accessible to everyone. Together, we can drive meaningful change and put crypto in every pocket.

TON’s Path to Decentralization: The Evolution of the Governance Model

In the ever-evolving blockchain landscape, bridging traditional assets with DeFi ecosystems has become revolutionary, and TON is making bold strides to lead the way. Recently, we introduced TON Teleport BTC, a decentralized bridge allowing for the seamless transfer of BTC with TON’s network. This bridge enables BTC holders to leverage their assets within TON’s DeFi ecosystem, unlocking new possibilities, like yield farming, using Bitcoin as collateral. For BTC enthusiasts, it’s the first step in transforming dormant assets into opportunities for growth.

## **Bridging Bitcoin to TON: A Practical Evolution**

TON has set a clear vision: to connect cryptocurrencies with real-world practicalities. Following the successful integration of native USDt, TON is now expanding its horizon with TON Teleport BTC. This bridge brings Bitcoin, the world’s most famous, well established, and dominant cryptocurrency into TON’s ecosystem, giving BTC holders new opportunities to explore DeFi applications, and participate in yield generation, staking, and more.

## **From Wallets to the World of DeFi**

Traditionally, BTC is locked away in wallets, sitting idle, while holders wait for its value to appreciate. But with TON Teleport BTC, users gain access to a suite of DeFi tools that make Bitcoin an active participant. The BTC transferred into the TON Network transforms into tgBTC, a synthetic Bitcoin equivalent, through a Peg-in process. The tgBTC will maintain a 1:1 backing with BTC, meaning it’s entirely redeemable for Bitcoin wherever the user wants to Peg-out back to the BTC blockchain. This seamless back-and-forth is enabled by trustless, decentralized, and automated smart contracts, eliminating the need for reliance on centralized control.

## **How TON Teleport BTC Works**

TON Teleport BTC is designed to provide a secure, transparent, and decentralized experience:

- **Peg-in process**: BTC holders move their Bitcoin into the TON Network. Where it’s converted to tgBTC, a token that fully represents BTC within the TON ecosystem.
- **Access to DeFi**: Once teleported, tgBTC can be utilized in yield farming, lending, and other DeFi activities. Bringing active utility to otherwise dormant BTC assets.
- **Redeem Anytime**: When users decide to transfer back to Bitcoin, they simply Peg-out, converting their tgBTC back to BTC with ease and confidence.

## **The $10 billion Opportunity**

TON Teleport BTC signals a future where cryptocurrency can be a fully active participant in the financial ecosystem, moving beyond storage to become a versatile asset. As BTC holders join the TON Network, they’re not just gaining access to new tools—they’re joining a movement to make crypto practical, accessible, and integrated into daily life.

With a $10 billion market cap for Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), a substantial 40% of which is actively used in DeFi, BTC’s potential is clearer than ever. TON Teleport BTC allows Bitcoin holders to gain exposure to DeFi without relying on centralized bridges, unlocking more opportunities to HODL, earn, and grow their holdings within a secure and decentralized network.

## **The Future of Decentralized Finance**

TON Teleport BTC advances TON and Bitcoin by enabling secure, trustless cross-chain transactions, verified on the TON Blockchain without third-party involvement. This solution enhances Bitcoin's scalability and interoperability, offering a transparent, reliable framework for cross-chain transactions. By expanding Bitcoin’s liquidity and utility through decentralized systems, TON Teleport BTC marks a breakthrough in cross-chain technology, paving the way for seamless multi-blockchain integration and the future of cryptocurrency.

## **Prepare for a new era of BTC on TON**

TON Teleport BTC marks the beginning of BTC’s journey within the TON ecosystem. It offers BTC holders a decentralized, trustless path to explore TON’s DeFi tools, trading platforms, and yield-generating services.

We’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible with TON Teleport BTC. Keep an eye on our updates to see how TON continues to build a bridge between crypto worlds, creating new utility and value for BTC and beyond.

Join this community to learn more: https://t.me/tgbtc_news

*To read an introduction about the TON Teleport BTC, [click here](https://blog.ton.org/introducing-ton-teleport-bringing-bitcoin-to-ton).*

Unlocking BTC’s Potential in TON: Introducing TON Teleport BTC

**Growth of the TON Ecosystem**

Since the beginning of 2024, TON has undergone significant changes, particularly in the DeFi space. At the start of the year, there were about 10 projects; now, there are 35, all of which are listed on [DefiLlama](https://defillama.com/). A key milestone was the launch of USDt, which confirmed that TON is actively strengthening its position in the DeFi landscape. The largest liquidity pools for USDt pairs have emerged on TON Blockchain.

Currently, TON is nearing the completion of its first tier of DeFi primitives—we have already established lending solutions, liquidity staking, and CPMM model AMM protocols. Second-tier projects are also emerging, including launchpads, options, derivatives, and more. Upcoming plans include bridges between TON and other networks, such as BTC and EVM, which will allow the addition of new assets, including major stablecoins.

 ![B1.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/B1_1da52a9ecb/B1_1da52a9ecb.png) 

**Infrastructure for Stable Assets**

A crucial step will be the development of the CFMM (Constant Functional Market Maker) — a mechanism designed for the efficient trading of similar assets, such as stablecoins and Bitcoin derivatives, with minimal price impact during exchanges. TON Foundation supports this initiative by creating infrastructure for onboarding new stablecoins and similar assets from various networks. We have chosen the CFMM model as our first option, as it is optimal for upcoming assets. Curve-like Stable Swaps are best suited for these assets, providing decentralized exchanges that allow users to conveniently trade similar tokens such as USDC, USDt, FDUSD, DAI, and Bitcoin derivatives.

 ![B2.webp](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/B2_b3608b0600/B2_b3608b0600.webp) 

**Collaboration with Curve Finance**

To launch stable swaps on TON Blockchain, we joined forces with Curve Finance and Michael Egorov. Together, we initiated a competition for professional DeFi teams to develop CFMM model stable swaps. We received applications from 70 teams; 10 commenced work, and 5 reached the finals with completed CFMM protocols. Together with Curve, we carefully evaluated their code and experience, selecting winners during an online session that included 7 venture funds interested in potentially investing in these projects.

The winners of the competition were [Torch Finance](https://torch.finance/) and [Crouton Finance](https://crouton.finance/).

 ![B3.webp](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/B3_80730c7660/B3_80730c7660.webp) 

**Short Term Results**

This initiative, supported by Curve, enabled us to launch two stable swaps on the mainnet in just several months, achieving $300,000 in total liquidity and millions of active users through the projects' Telegram Mini Apps. TON Foundation and Curve plan to continue supporting these projects: Curve will serve as an advisor and grant access to the CFMM formula, while TON Foundation will allocate $150,000 to each project for audits, assist with initial liquidity in the pools for new stablecoins, and provide incentives for these pools. 

Additionally, TON Foundation has collaborated with [CrossCurve](https://crosscurve.fi/) to integrate the cross-chain stable swaps using liquidity of Torch Finance and Crouton Finance into the CrossCurve DEX. Backed by the founder of Curve Finance, CrossCurve addresses the issue of liquidity fragmentation in DeFi.

Furthermore, TON Foundation and CrossCurve will launch $500,000 incentives for cross-chain pools, enabling stablecoin exchanges between the TON Ecosystem and EVM networks.

Seven venture funds, including [TON Ventures](https://tonventures.io/), [DWF Labs](https://www.dwf-labs.com/), [GSR](https://www.gsr.io/), [Kenetic Capital](https://www.kenetic.capital/), [Foresight](https://www.foresightventures.com/), [Bitrue Ventures](https://x.com/BitrueVentures), and [Paper Ventures](https://paper.ventures/), have made a soft commitment of $2.3 million for investments in Torch Finance and Crouton Finance.

Full version of our live judging session with VCs announcements:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8SBHClQ5UE

As a TON DeFi Lead, [Vlad Degen,](https://twitter.com/VladDegen) I would love to share three essential messages through this initiative.

Firstly, for professional DeFi teams, you can build a significant DeFi protocol on TON with the support of TON Foundation, our partners, and venture capital.

Secondly, venture funds constantly search for the right place and time to invest. The right place is the TON Ecosystem, and the right time is now.

Finally, we are actively developing DeFi for TON holders. The upcoming year will be the year of DeFi on TON.

Infrastructures for stable assets with Curve

Welcome to the Hackers League Sponsor Series, where we highlight the visionary backers making the winter hackathon possible!

Each sponsor brings a unique perspective and a commitment to supporting the hackathon's brightest minds. Today, we’re excited to introduce **DeDust**, a Title sponsor helping developers make their mark on the TON ecosystem.

DeDust’s journey began with a pivotal moment — a victory at their first TON hackathon, which propelled them from an ambitious group to one of TON’s most influential DeFi platforms. DeDust has expanded its scope beyond being a DEX and is now a robust DeFi hub that offers developers advanced tools and a thriving platform to unleash their creativity. Through their hackathon sponsorship, DeDust aims to allow aspiring developers to explore their protocol and showcase the possibilities on TON.

### **Could you introduce your project/entity? What motivated you to TITLE sponsor the TON Hackers League Hackathon this year?**

The first TON hackathon we won marked a turning point for DeDust.io. It accelerated our transformation from a "group of enthusiasts" into real builders, eventually evolving into one of the most popular protocols in the TON ecosystem. This sponsorship is our way of giving back, helping independent enthusiasts grow into larger, impactful projects.

### **Please share any specific goals or outcomes you hope to achieve through this hackathon.**

Our primary goal is to introduce more developers to the DeDust protocol. DeDust is not just a DEX — it’s a comprehensive DeFi platform designed for others to build upon. With our upcoming release, we’ll provide developers with unprecedented opportunities, and the hackathon is an excellent way to showcase these new capabilities and engage a broader audience.

### **How do these goals align with your organization’s broader mission and innovation strategy?**

Our mission is to equip the community with reliable, scalable, innovative DeFi tools. While we drive many innovations internally, we empower talented developers to leverage our solutions and build on our platform.

### **What kind of support, such as workshops, will you provide for participants in this track? And what kind of rewards will you offer for winners in this track?**

We’re taking a unique approach by offering a “secret workshop” for participants in our sponsored track. While details are still under wraps, it’s all about delivering in-depth guidance and expert insights tailored to developers.

### **Will you further support the winners in your track after the hackathon? Are there any plans you can share at this time?**

DeDust is committed to supporting the winners well beyond the Hackathon. Winners will gain access to developer chats and a one-on-one mentorship session with a DeDust founder, who will provide personalized guidance as they build their DeFi projects.

Plus, there’s a total of $60,000 in $DUST prizes up for grabs — with top prizes of $30,000, $20,000, and $10,000 for first, second, and third place, respectively — giving winners not only a financial boost but also the expertise they need to succeed on the DeDust platform.

Participants can join our dev chats for additional support:

- https://t.me/dedust_dev_chat
- https://t.me/dedust_dev

Hackers League Sponsor Series | DeDust Transforms DeFi Development on TON

The Hackers League Sponsor Series acknowledges our outstanding sponsors, whose considerable support has been crucial in the creation of the Hackathon. We thank all the sponsors who back the talented individuals competing for victory and cash prizes. The series delves into sponsors' expectations for developers and provides tips for successful projects.

Today’s article highlights **AEON**, a Hackers League’s Title Sponsor focused on simplifying Web3 payments. AEON is a next-gen modular payment protocol developing a multi-chain PayFi standard to support various developer monetization strategies. As a key supporter, AEON sponsors the **GameFi & Onboarding** and **Payments** track at the Hacker League.

In addition, TON Society has joined as a partner in the [GameOn TON Hackathon](https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/game-on-ton-hackathon/detail) to bring in outstanding projects and provide support to bolster the event outreach. Hosted by AEON, Oak Grove Venture, Nomad Capital, The Open Network (TON) Foundation, and TOP, this collaboration aims to attract top talent, stimulate innovation, and accelerate the growth of Web3 game development on the TON platform, while also promoting the adoption of AEON’s payment protocol.

AEON seeks innovations in onboarding, payment models like subscriptions, and solutions enhancing financial functionality, including cross-chain liquidity and automated payments. Through the Hackathon, AEON aims to encourage developers to integrate their advanced payment API into projects, enabling broader adoption within the TON ecosystem.

### **Could you share more about the track you are sponsoring? What specific opportunities or innovations are you hoping to see in this track?**

We’re proud to support the GameFi & Onboarding and AEON Payment tracks. Our core drive is AEON’s mission to simplify crypto payments and broaden monetization opportunities for developers on the TON network, ultimately attracting more mass crypto adoption.

In the GameFi track, we’re excited to see innovations in smooth onboarding and monetization models utilizing the AEON API, including in-game purchases like pre-auth transactions and subscriptions. For the AEON payment track, we’re looking forward to new approaches in all verticals (Defi/Infra/SocialFi, etc.) to streamline crypto payments and enhance financial functionalities, such as automated payments, cross-chain liquidity, yield generation, and more.

### **What kind of support, such as workshops, will you provide for participants in this track? And what kind of rewards will you offer for winners in this track?**

We’ll host online AMA and workshops to showcase our product, guide participants through AEON’s features, and address any technical questions developers may have. To provide further support, we’ll establish a GitHub page where developers can post specific questions and receive continuous assistance from our team.

All participants in the gaming track are also invited to join the GameOn TON Hackathon (https://aeon.xyz/gameon) for a chance to win prizes totaling up to 6 million. We’ll offer grants and potential investment opportunities as rewards for winners in this track. We welcome all the gaming enthusiasts to join the hackathon at https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/game-on-ton-hackathon/detail.

For participants in other verticals besides gaming, we’ll provide investment opportunities and industry resources ranging from technical, community, and adoptions to exchange listings.

### **What factors must be addressed for startups working within your sponsored track when considering market fit? Why are the projects selected in this track important for TON?**

We believe payments are central to achieving mass adoption for any technology. Just as Visa facilitates cross-border retail, PayPal drives e-commerce, and Google Pay/Apple Pay fuels mobile app growth, establishing a robust payment model is essential for widespread adoption on TON. Participants in our track should focus on clear monetization strategies and recognize the critical role of payments in building a sustainable and thriving ecosystem.

Startups should prioritize user adoption with revenue potential, emphasizing easy onboarding and a sustainable business model rooted in a seamless payment experience.

We see GameFi as an important driver of TON adoption, as it showcases practical use cases and provides effective monetization strategies for developers. However, other verticals, including SocialFi, e-commerce, and DeFi, are also promising areas within this track. Teams with strong technical skills and a dedicated focus on user experience are best positioned to make a lasting impact on the TON ecosystem.

### **Will you further support the winners in your track after the hackathon? Are there any plans you can share at this time?**

Leveraging our extensive network of VCs, exchanges, and the broader Web3 industry, we will support the project’s growth after the hackathon, providing assistance with investments, exchange partnerships, community building, marketing and PR, technical mentorship, and more.

### **Stay tuned**

Stay tuned for the next article in our series highlighting the Hackathon sponsors. Owing in part to their financial and technical support, this year's Hackathon is the largest ever, featuring a prize pool of over $3 million and IRL bootcamps in 19 cities worldwide, including London, Astana, Warsaw, and more.

Learn more about AEON and follow their development through [X](https://twitter.com/AEON_Community), [Telegram](https://t.me/aeon_xyz), or visiting [AEON](https://aeon.xyz/).

*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.*

Hackers League Sponsor Series | AEON Drives Forward GameFi Onboarding with Payment Solution

Welcome to the **Hackers League Sponsor Series**.

The Hackers League series acknowledges our incredible sponsors, whose contributions have made the event possible. Owing in part to their financial and technical support, this year's Hackathon is the largest ever, featuring a prize pool of over $3 million and IRL bootcamps in 20 cities worldwide, including London, Astana, Warsaw, Hongkong, Bangkok and more.

We greatly appreciate all the sponsors who support the creative minds competing for victory and financial rewards. The Hackers League Sponsor Series explores what sponsors seek in developers and offers tips for project success.

The first sponsor we'll highlight in our series is **Gate Ventures**, a **Title Sponsor**. Gate Ventures is a proud Gaming and Mini Apps track sponsor that aims to ignite creativity and innovation in Web3 gaming. The venture capital arm of Gates.io is seeking developers who can leverage their support to showcase the significant influence of blockchain technology.

Beyond mini apps, Gates Ventures is also excited about the potential of TON’s gaming ecosystem. TON’s high throughput enables real-time multiplayer games, cross-platform experiences and more complex gaming models, addressing performance limitations in Web3 gaming. Their involvement in the Gaming and Mini Apps track strengthens the hackathon's potential to build on existing Web3 ideas and uncover new ones.

### **Could you introduce your entity? What motivated you to TITLE sponsor the TON Hackers League Hackathon this year?**

[Gate Ventures](https://ventures.gate.io/) is the venture capital arm of  [Gate.io](http://gate.io/), one of the world’s largest and most trusted cryptocurrency exchanges, specializing in early-stage investments in blockchain technology and digital assets. Our mission is to drive innovation and foster growth across the global blockchain ecosystem. By collaborating with industry leaders worldwide, we support visionary teams and startups that have the potential to reshape social and financial interactions. As a long-term investor, we are committed to offering comprehensive support to our portfolio companies, from product development and operational scaling to global expansion. Follow Gate Ventures on [X](https://x.com/gate_ventures) for more updates.

Our primary goals for this hackathon are to foster innovation in the gaming and mini-apps space with TON and discover emerging talent. By sponsoring this track, Gate Ventures aims to support the development of cutting-edge projects that have the potential to drive the Web3 ecosystem forward. We’re also looking to build long-term relationships with developers and startups, offering them resources and guidance to bring their ideas to market.

### **Could you share more about the track you are sponsoring? What specific opportunities or innovations are you hoping to see in this track?**

The development of TON Mini Apps can offer users more convenient experiences in areas such as social interactions, payments, entertainment, and various business and personal services. These seamlessly integrated apps not only enhance the usability of decentralized applications but also accelerate the adoption and penetration of Web3 technologies.

Gate Ventures is committed to supporting the development of innovative applications, and we hope to discover promising projects through this hackathon. Ultimately, we aim to make TON Mini Apps an indispensable part of everyday life.

In addition to mini apps, we are also excited about the diverse potential within the TON gaming ecosystem, from simple casual games and strategy-heavy competitive games to immersive virtual worlds. TON’s high throughput makes real-time multiplayer games, cross-platform experiences, and more complex gaming models feasible, overcoming the performance limitations that Web3 games have faced in the past.

### **What kind of support, such as workshops, will you provide for participants in this track? And what kind of rewards will you offer for winners in this track?**

Gate Ventures will provide workshops on the following course content.

1. Gate Ventures & Gate Ecosystem: Driving Innovation and Adoption
2. Gate.io CeFi Mini App, Wallet Mini App introduction
3. As Gate Ventures perspective how to:
    1. Crafting Compelling Business Plans
    2. Business Model
    3. Technology and Innovation
    4. Roadmap
    5. Competitive Analysis
    6. Team Background
    7. Financial Projections
    8. Tokenomics
    9. Call to Action

Gate Ventures will provide a $20,000 grant for the Top 3 projects and set aside $500,000 as soft commitments for funding selected projects in the overall hackathon.

1. $10,000 + $10,000 TG ads credits
2. $8,000 + $10,000 TG ads credits
3. $2,000 + $10,000 TG ads credits

### **What factors must be addressed for startups working within your sponsored track when considering market fit? Why are the projects selected in this track important for TON?**

Projects should illustrate their potential to transform the gaming industry through innovative blockchain integration, highlighting distinctive features that set them apart from conventional gaming solutions. Additionally, they should incorporate considerations of scalability, robust tokenomics, and long-term user engagement. What will we be looking for: GameFi, Game Studio and Mini apps on TON

**Qualifying requirements:**

**Strategic Alignment:** Projects must align with Gate’s strategic goals, including fostering innovation, enhancing community engagement through Gate’s CEFI and Mini Apps, potential integration with Gate wallet and contributing to the overall growth of the Gate ecosystem. Clear articulation of how the project supports these goals is essential.

**Minimum Viable Product (MVP):** Participants should have developed a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that effectively showcases their concept. The MVP should be functional and user-friendly, allowing judges to evaluate the project's core features.

**Tokenomics and Blockchain Gaming Value Accrual Mechanism:** Participants should demonstrate a solid understanding of blockchain gaming principles. This includes presenting a comprehensive project plan that outlines the game's mechanics, tokenomics design, reasonable vesting schedules and value accrual flywheel

**Monetization Model:** A clear and viable monetization model should be presented, illustrating how the project will generate revenue while providing value to users. This could involve in-game purchases, subscription models, or unique blockchain-based economic structures.

### **Will you further support the winners in your track after the hackathon? Are there any plans you can share at this time?**

Gate Ventures will not only provide bounty and capital; projects from our Gaming & Mini Apps hackathon track can also leverage Gate’s resources to become official partners in the Tonvibe 2024 Task2Earn campaign. This collaboration will enhance user acquisition and engagement within the Gate ecosystem.

### **Finally, what message would you like to leave with the developers and startups participating in the TON Hackers League Hackathon?**

At Gate Ventures, we believe that innovation happens when visionary teams are empowered to push boundaries. To developers and startups, TON Hackers League hackathon is an opportunity to shape the future of Web3. We encourage you to take risks, collaborate, and create solutions that can transform industries. Gate Ventures is here to support your journey, and we look forward to seeing the incredible ideas you'll bring to life.

You can learn more about Gate Ventures and follow our updates by following us on [X](https://x.com/gate_ventures) or visiting [Gate Ventures](https://www.gate.io/ventures).

*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.*

Hackers League Sponsor Series | Gate Ventures

[TON Memelandia](https://ton.org/en/memelandia) is excited to announce the launch of two memecoin competitions with a total reward pool of **$1,250,000.**

Memecoins are fuelling this crypto cycle, and the TON ecosystem with its access to almost 1 billion Telegram users has much to offer for memecoin producers, traders and communities. Exciting battles on TON Memelandia are a way to support memecoin growth by creating an open competition for memecoin projects and attracting degens and normies to join a fair fight and stay in the ecosystem.

To create a robust and thriving land reigned by memes, TON Memelandia has designed two battles that will **begin in the last week of October and last four weeks.**

In the epic Cabal Arena, Cabals, consisting of traders and memecoin producers, will battle to release influential memecoins on TON pump.fun-style launchpads, launch on DEXs and increase their market cap to hundreds of millions. The top performers have a chance to win a reward pool of $750,000.

On Memecoin Mountain, TON memecoin communities will compete in a fierce fight to reach the peak. The memes with the best trading volume, market cap, diamond hands, holder growth, and community engagement will receive up to $500,000 in community airdrops, liquidity injections, Telegram ads credits and KOL boosts.

 ![Screenshot 2024-10-18 at 09.16.35.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/Screenshot_2024_10_18_at_09_16_35_035850fc08/Screenshot_2024_10_18_at_09_16_35_035850fc08.png)
###### *Screenshot was taken from The Open League Token Battle to reflect the leaderboard idea. The actual Memecoin Mountain leaderboard will not be identical.*
Cabal Arena and Memecoin Mountain are expected to help the TON ecosystem boost trading volume and liquidity, accelerate the launch of new successful memecoins and help memecoin communities achieve long-term, sustainable and robust growth.

[Read more about TON Memelandia](https://blog.ton.org/exploring-ton-memelandia).

## **1. Cabal Arena**

### **What is Cabal Arena?**

[Cabal Arena](https://cabal-arena.fun/) is a mysterious battlefield where teams of memecoin producers and traders called Cabals compete for large prizes during the four weeks of active competition. Each Cabal has up to 100 members and a strong leader who deploys up to four memecoins on whitelisted bonding curve launchpads and coordinates their team efforts in trading theirs and other teams’ memecoins.

The Cabal performance is shown on the leaderboard, updated in real-time.

### **Who can participate?**

**Token producers:** Skilled memecoin producers can form and lead teams (Cabals), deploying memecoins for their Cabal to trade and coordinating the actions of team members.

To form a Cabal, the leader must hold at least 42 TON from the application date until the end of the competition.

**Traders:** Active meme token traders are invited to join a team (Cabal) and compete with others for the best score and thus the biggest prize. To become part of a team, the trader can use an invite link, apply for an invite code or submit a request to join the preferred Cabal.

**Community:** Users not taking part in any team are welcome to join the Cabal Arena to search for new memecoins, trade them along with competing teams and ultimately join new meme communities on TON.

### **Rules**

- Each Team (Cabal) consists of up to 100 members (wallet addresses). The Cabal Leader creates a group, registers deploy addresses, fills in ten initial trading addresses (of closest allies) and is given 90 invite codes to distribute across the community. Once all 90 codes are used, the group stops accepting new members.
- The Cabal Leader must create a Telegram chat to coordinate the team's trading activity. Upon joining the Cabal, each team member automatically receives an invite.
- Throughout the battle, each team can launch up to four meme coins on the whitelisted bonding curve launchpads:
    - [GasPump](https://t.me/gasPump_bot)
    - [BigPump by Pocket.fi](https://t.me/pocketfi_bot/bigpump?startapp=terror240_8242)
    - [TONPump by HOT Wallet](https://t.me/herewalletbot/app?startapp=hotpump)
    - [Blum](https://t.me/BlumCryptoBot)
    - [Wagmi](https://t.co/sbwIypO1Wj)
- Only memecoins launched from the Cabal Leader's registered deploy addresses are considered.
- Only memecoins launched by participating teams during the season are taken into account.
- Participants trade both their own and others teams’ memecoins.
- Memecoins launched by Cabals appear in the dashboard only upon reaching a particular volume or after 72 hours since the deployment.
- The battle lasts for four weeks.
- Ten teams will share the final prize pool, distributed between the Cabal Leader (10%) and 10-20 best-performing team members (90%).
- If no team outperforms the market maker, all prizes will be awarded according to the final rankings without doubling. This ensures that all participants will receive rewards based on their performance, regardless of whether they beat the market maker's benchmark.
- Market makers' involvement extends beyond setting benchmarks. Some act as mentors, offering their expertise to assist teams in improving their strategies and potentially beating the benchmark.
- If you're a professional market maker interested in participating as a benchmark setter or a mentor, please reach out to @tonmemelandia2024 on Telegram.

### **How are the results calculated?**

The Scoring System consists of two scores:

1. The **individual score** is determined by considering PnL, trading volumes, and weighted contributions from both their own and other teams' memecoin trades.

 ![image.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/ton-strapi/image_245a3c1742/image_245a3c1742.png)

**2. Cabal Score** is a composite ranking of:

1. Finding the average of the team's (Cabal) top 10 individual scores.
2. The combined trading volumes (in TON) of the team's top three memecoins.
3. The combined market capitalization (in TON) of the team's top three memecoins.

**3. Multipliers and Bonuses**

- **Token multiplier:** Rewards based on the market capitalization of memecoins.
- **Wallet activity multiplier:** Bonus for engaging over 100/500/1000 active* TON wallets (*at least one swap during the last two months).
- **Narrative multiplier:** This is a bonus for creating memecoins with strong narratives (e.g., digital resistance, etc.). A new narrative will be introduced at the beginning of each battle week.

### **How is the reward pool distributed?**

Ten winning teams will share the maximum prize pool of $750,000, which will be distributed between the Cabal Leader (10%) and 10-20 best-performing team members (90%).

The final prize pool is milestone-based and will depend on the total trading volume of all memecoins launched throughout the competition, generated by the participating teams and the community.

- Milestone 1: $150,000,000 - Prize Pool: **$350,000**
- Milestone 2: $250,000,000 - Prize Pool: **$400,000**
- Milestone 3: $400,000,000 - Prize Pool: **$500,000**
- Milestone 4: $500,000,000 - Prize Pool: **$600,000**

| **Team rank** | **Prize Share** | **Prize in USD** | **Leader (10%)** | **Top 5 addresses** | **Next 5 addresses** | **Last 10 addresses** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | 25% | $125,000 | $12,500 | $6,750 | $5,625 | $4,500 |
| 2 | 18% | $90,000 | $9,000 | $4,860 | $4,050 | $3,240 |
| 3 | 12% | $60,000 | $6,000 | $3,240 | $2,700 | $2,160 |
| 4 | 9% | $45,000 | $4,500 | $2,430 | $2,025 | $1,620 |
| 5 | 8% | $40,000 | $4,000 | $2,160 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| 6 | 7% | $35,000 | $3,500 | $1,890 | $1,575 | $1,260 |
| 7 | 6% | $30,000 | $3,000 | $1,620 | $1,350 | $1,080 |
| 8 | 5% | $25,000 | $2,500 | $1,350 | $1,125 | $900 |
| 9 | 5.00% | $25,000 | $2,500 | $1,350 | $1,125 | $900 |
| 10 | 5.00% | $25,000 | $2,500 | $1,350 | $1,125 | $900 |

Additionally, if a team exceeds the performance of a professional market-maker, their prize is doubled, allowing for a maximum prize pool of $750,000.

### **How to apply?**

Sign up for the [Cabal Arena](https://cabal-arena.fun/) and select one of three options: creating a new team, becoming a Cabal Leader, or joining an existing one. In order to register, participants must submit a wallet address for trading purposes.

Applications will close seven days before the battle finale.

### **How to prepare?**

Ahead of the start of the battle, Cabal Leaders are advised to build strong teams by sharing their invite code and exploring the existing trading tooling available in the [Memecoin Armery](https://ton.org/en/memelandia). The community is invited to prepare to explore and exchange new gems on TON.

### **Disclaimer & Support**

Please be aware that the content above is subject to change throughout and after the competition.

If you are having issues registering, please reach out to @tonmemelandia2024 on Telegram.

By participating in the battle in the Cabal Arena, you represent and warrant that you are of legal age to form a binding contract and meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements. You further represent that you are not a citizen, resident, or member of any jurisdiction or group that is subject to economic sanctions or where your participation would be illegal or otherwise violate any applicable law, and you will complete any applicable KYC requirements as requested. You further represent that your participation will fully comply with all applicable laws and regulations and that you will not conduct, promote, or otherwise facilitate any illegal activity. If you do not meet all of these requirements, your participation will be disqualified. 

## **2. Memecoin Mountain**

### **What is Memecoin Mountain?**

The Battle on Meme Mountain is a four-week competition of TON memecoin communities competing to showcase their best performance for the chance to win big airdrops and other prizes. Performances are monitored on the leaderboard and ranked based on a criteria including trading volume, market cap, diamond hands, holder growth, community engagement. Depending on the market capitalization, tokens will be divided into the Major and Minor Leagues.

### **Who can participate?**

- **Memecoins** willing to join the battle and appear on the leaderboard will need to comply with the following criteria:
     - Market cap > **$100,000**
    - Average Daily Trading Volume > **$5,000** during seven days prior to the application time.
    - Unique Token Holders > **1,000**
    - Have a fair launch

Depending on their Market Cap by the time of applying, applicants will be split into the **Major** (>$1M) and **Minor Leagues** ($100k < x < $1M).

🔥Memecoins that originated from the Cabal Arena battle and meet the entry criteria are invited to join Memecoin Mountain.

- **Traders and whales** can actively trade memecoins to receive an airdrop at the season's end.
- **Key opinion leaders** are welcome to promote the participating memecoins on their social media to earn a higher social score for the upcoming airdrop and trade memes with their community to increase their final reward further.

### **How are the results calculated?**

The rank of each memecoin in the leaderboard depends on a comprehensive set of on and off-chain metrics:

- **Trading volume and market cap:** How much trading activity and recurrent trading activity the memecoins can generate within a season. And how their trading volume compares to the circulating market cap.
- **Holder growth & diamond hands:** Tracking the change in holders over time and the proportion of wallets that hold the token continuously.
- **Community engagement:** Measuring the off-chain community engagement of the memecoin project on Twitter.

More details and formulas can be found here: https://hackmd.io/@barsiketh/meme-mountain

### **How is the reward pool distributed?**

There will be two types of prizes for the winning memecoins: 

- Community airdrops
- Marketing prizes: KOL boost (Major League only) and Telegram Ads credits

The final prize pool for community airdrops and liquidity injections is milestone-based and will depend on the total volume generated from trading of all participating memecoins (e.g. reaching a $200 million total trading volume will unlock $150k in rewards).

The maximum prize pool for this battle’s winners amounts to **$500,000.**

Community airdrops will be given to holders, active traders and memecoin promoters that show high social engagement score.

Additionally, the winners will be eligible for a reward pool of marketing prizes, such as Telegram ads credits and KOL boosts, regardless of their trading volume.

### **Prize pool distribution**
| **Trading Volume Milestone** | **Total airdrop size** | **League** | **1st Place** | **2nd Place** | **3rd Place** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **$200 million** | $150,000 | **Major** | $45,000 | $30,000 | $15,000 |
|  |  | **Minor** | $37,500 | $22,500 | - |
| **$400 million** | $250,000 | **Major** | $75,000 | $50,000 | $25,000 |
|  |  | **Minor** | $62,500 | $37,500 | - |
| **$600 million** | $400,000 | **Major** | $120,000 | $80,000 | $40,000 |
|  |  | **Minor** | $100,000 | $60,000 | - |
| **$800 million** | $500,000 | **Major** | $150,000 | $100,000 | $50,000 |
|  |  | **Minor** | $125,000 | $75,000 | - |


### **How to get an airdrop?**

The Major League's top 3 memecoin communities and the Minor League's top 2 memecoin communities will be rewarded with airdrops.

To receive an airdrop, community members are encouraged to hold and actively trade participating memecoins and promote them on social media to increase their social engagement scores.

More details can be found here: https://hackmd.io/@barsiketh/meme-mountain

### **How to apply?**

Memecoins communities are welcome to apply on [TONResearch](https://tonresear.ch/t/about-the-memecoin-mountain-category/38395). The TON Memecoin Working Group will process the submissions shortly and announce their decision in the comments. The accepted memecoins will be invited to the TON Memelandia GANG (secret chat of TON memes) and will be added to the leaderboard at the start (or shortly after the start) of the competition.

Applications will close seven days prior to the end of the battle.

### **How to prepare?**

Memecoin communities should gear up and activate their forces. Explore the available tooling in the [Memecoin Armery](https://ton.org/en/memelandia), set up a marketing plan, create educational materials for newcomers and be ready for four weeks of active trading and community engagement!

### **Disclaimer & Support**

Please be aware that any content mentioned above might change before, during or after the competition.

If you are facing issues when registering, please reach out to @tonmemelandia2024 on Telegram.

**Let the memecoin games begin.**

TON Memelandia Launches $1.25M Memecoin Battles

We’re thrilled to announce the Hackers League, a global hackathon designed to showcase the talents of developers, founders and hackers worldwide. It is more than a competition: the Hackers League is an opportunity for the brightest minds in the blockchain space to bring their ideas to life, all while competing for millions in prizes. With a prize pool of $1.4 million and an additional $2.1 million in VC funding up for grabs, the opportunity on offer to participants is the chance to turn a concept into a fully funded startup.

### **An opportunity like no other for blockchain innovators**

The Hackers League provides the perfect platform for developers looking to make a real impact in the world of Web3. Participants will compete across five specialized tracks—including DeFi and GameFI—and will have just eight weeks to turn their initial ideas into fully functioning dApps. It promises to be an intense, fast-paced competition designed to challenge developers to push the limits of what blockchain technology can deliver to improve everyday life.

This hackathon builds on the success of our earlier initiative, the Open League, which took place during the summer and saw 3,000 participants and 1,000 project submissions entered. The Open League demonstrated the massive enthusiasm within the TON ecosystem and the wider blockchain community for creating practical, real-world applications that can help further the mainstream adoption of blockchain technology.

### **Fostering creativity, collaboration and innovation**

At TON, we believe in supporting the development of future blockchain leaders, which is why coding is only one aspect of the Hackers League. Our mission is to encourage creativity, innovation, and collaboration within our community. We are organizing over 20 in-person boot camps in 20 cities globally from September to December, coinciding with the end of the competition. All individuals who enter will have the opportunity to learn directly from TON ecosystem experts, collaborate with fellow developers, and connect with some of the best and brightest founders in the blockchain space. We are pretty confident that the practical experience participants will get from the Hacker League will not only sharpen their skills but also inspire them to explore possibilities for solving real-world problems through blockchain technology.

### **Backed by the biggest names in Web3**

We're proud to have some of the biggest names in the world of web3 backing the Hackers League. Our Title Sponsors include TON Apps, Gate Ventures, AEON, and DeDust. And if that wasn't impressive enough, our Diamond Sponsors include industry leaders such as GSR, ByBIt, Arkham, Adsgram, Curve, and Yescoin. With such powerhouses in support, participants have access to unrivaled expertise and resources. We are also fortunate to have the backing of capital partners like TON Ventures, Gate Ventures, MEXC Ventures, Kenetic Capital, and Foresight Ventures.

To ensure that project submissions are held to the very highest standards, our judging panel will feature experts from TON Foundation, TON Ventures, Pantera Capital, Curve Finance, and Foresight Ventures, among others.

> “The Hackers League is channeling the creation of a consumer app and turning it into a competitive sport”, said Jack Booth, co-founder of TON Society. “The goal of the competition is to guide an entrant from project concept to potential prize-winning and fully-funded Web3 startup in just eight weeks. This is by far our largest event and, as with previous events, plays a big role in uniting our community and bringing people together in person. We have had several developers meet their future co-founders at TON Society events, which is something that makes us very proud.”
> 

So, now that you know everything that you need to know, there’s only one question left: *are you ready to join the Hackers League?*

***For more information about Hackers League, how to participate, and event details, visit the website [here](https://eco.ton.org/en/opportunities/hackers-league-winter-2024).***