1. Visionaries Behind TON Ventures
2. Beyond Funding: Building the Future
3. The Strategic Importance of Integration with Telegram

Former senior members of the TON Foundation have launched a $40 million fund aimed at fostering early-stage crypto projects within the TON ecosystem.

Visionaries Behind TON Ventures

TON Ventures is led by Ian W., former Director of the TON Accelerator, and Inal K., former Gaming Lead at the TON Foundation. Both have been instrumental in developing successful TON-based Web3 games like Catizen and Gatto, as well as the perpetual exchange Tradoor. According to the TON Foundation, they are ideally positioned to identify and nurture high-potential projects that could leverage TON's unique capabilities, including its integration with Telegram.

Beyond Funding: Building the Future

The fund aims to empower founders with the tools, infrastructure, and support necessary to build applications capable of achieving mass adoption. Selected projects benefit from their global network, hands-on support, and growth opportunities offered by Telegram's advertising channels and TON experiments. > *“We’re not just investing in projects; we’re building the future,” said Ian W., Managing Director of TON Ventures. “Our focus is on consumer applications that harness the power of Telegram’s social features and Mini Apps, creating opportunities for mass adoption and long-term sustainability.”* TON Ventures has already made significant contributions to the ecosystem. It has invested in more than a dozen startups, including Catizen, Tradoor, and Evaa Protocol.

The Strategic Importance of Integration with Telegram

TON’s integration with Telegram offers millions of users a seamless entry point into the blockchain space. This integration is crucial for gaming applications, where TON’s scalable and efficient infrastructure can handle millions of transactions per second, essential for real-time multiplayer experiences. Games like Notcoin, which attracted 35 million players in just three months, and Hamster Kombat demonstrate the potential of TON-based games to reach vast audiences quickly. This unique relationship with Telegram allows for easy in-game purchases and interactions, making mobile gaming more accessible to Telegram’s massive user base.

The launch of TON Ventures comes at a time of rapid growth for the TON ecosystem. Recently, TON has surpassed Ethereum in daily active users, with total assets on the platform soaring from $71 million at the start of the year to $1.14 billion by July. The rise of tap-to-earn gaming in 2024 has played a significant role in drawing hundreds of millions of new users into the Web3 space.