The Gateway 2024: Key Insights and Trends from the Conference

The Gateway Conference, held on November 1-2, 2024, in Dubai, became a true magnet for the entire TON community. More than 2,000 participants - developers, investors, and blockchain enthusiasts - gathered to review the year’s progress and discuss the ecosystem’s future. Among the attendees was the DYOR.io team, immersing itself in the latest trends, and now bringing you key insights from this significant event.

The conference highlighted TON's impressive growth: within the year, Toncoin has gained nearly 100 million holders, with over 20 million active wallets. Against this backdrop, The Gateway set the stage for even more ambitious steps forward.

Speakers from the TON Foundation, including Steve Yun, Andrey Rogozov, Anton Tsivarev, and Kirill Emelyanenko, presented accomplishments and outlined three key areas that will drive TON’s growth: the launch of mini-apps and meme coins, expansion of DeFi products, and Telegram integration. Special emphasis was placed on new opportunities for a broad audience and developers to solidify TON’s market position as a platform for next-gen applications.

Technical Updates

The conference spotlighted technological advances focused on scaling and enhancing the user experience within the TON ecosystem. Kirill Emelyanenko, TON’s lead developer, shared how the team achieved substantial improvements in network throughput and reduced block processing time to just 3 seconds. These changes ensure stability and high performance, even under heavy load - a crucial step in supporting a growing user base and application landscape.

Alexander Kirsanov took TON to a new level with the introduction of Tolk, a fresh programming language for smart contracts that enhances the power of FunC by making it genuinely user-friendly. Tolk is designed for developers who value speed and ease, with familiar syntax and typing similar to Kotlin or TypeScript. It’s not just a new tool but a shift in the development pace within the TON ecosystem, making entry into TON more accessible and attractive.

Anton Trunov from TON Studio presented updates to Tact, the smart contract language for TON. In 2024, Tact gained new operators, error-handling systems, and underwent a security audit by Trail of Bits. These improvements make smart contract development safer and more flexible, crucial for attracting new developers to TON’s ecosystem.

Telegram Integration

TON’s integration with Telegram has been a breakthrough, bringing the ecosystem within a click’s reach for millions. TON President Andrey Rogozov proudly highlighted the impact: integrated wallets now allow users to send Toncoin directly through Telegram, and with the launch of Ton Space and Ton Connect in September 2023, interacting with crypto services has become even easier.

A notable feature is the “tap-to-earn” model in mini-apps, where Telegram users can earn by simply interacting with content. As a result, over 40 million active users have joined in just a few months! And this is just the beginning: an app catalog and a fee payment system via Stars are soon to be introduced, adding even more convenience.

Gleb Vorontsov, responsible for Telegram Mini Apps, shared plans to develop ad tools and traffic management options, aiming to make Telegram more than just a messaging app. These innovations make it a fully-fledged crypto platform where developers can find their audience, and users enjoy ease and simplicity.

DeFi Development on TON

DeFi and TON at the conference resembled a cyberpunk scene where numbers spoke for themselves. TON Foundation President Steve Yun announced: $6 billion in monthly transactions for Toncoin and USDT. These numbers demonstrate that TON is working and gaining traction, not just in theory but in practice, with users choosing it as a convenient platform for everyday financial activities.

Toe Bautista, an analyst from GSR, added a dramatic perspective: “Stablecoins on TON aren’t just DeFi; they’re survival for users in emerging economies.” Turkey, Argentina - places where USDT on TON has become a digital refuge of sorts. TON here acts as a lifeline for people struggling to stay afloat amid wild inflation. It’s not just crypto; it’s a chance for stability, possibly more tangible than local currency.

Alex Chiocchi from LayerZero introduced something groundbreaking: “The collaboration with TON is more than an integration - it’s a bridge giving TON access to over 85 blockchains.” Imagine all these networks now connected, and TON suddenly gains endless cross-chain possibilities. This step doesn’t just expand the ecosystem; it literally breaks old barriers, turning DeFi into a living, breathing ecosystem where TON becomes a force to reckon with.

Gaming and Meme Coins

Imagine games and memes in TON not just as entertainment but as the force turning the ecosystem into a vibrant community. At the conference, Inal Kardan from TON Ventures presented numbers that even skeptics found impressive: over eight months, the share of Telegram users diving into GameFi on TON soared from 1% to 52%.

What does this say? Millions came not for financial transactions but for games like Notcoin, Catizen, Dogs, and Hamster. Around 50 million received airdrops, and 5.8 million stayed, as if a new habit was born. These are not just games and memes but a thoughtful strategy: each airdrop isn’t just a gift but a way to engage people and build a community for whom TON is not merely technology but a space for interaction and creativity.

Learn more about what’s happening with play-to-earn games after their tremendous success.

Kardan also highlighted the economics of this gaming movement: users have received over $1.5 billion through airdrops, with ad impressions reaching 1.7 billion. And this, as they say, is just the beginning. In the future, Kardan predicts a fivefold increase in per-user revenue and a wave of new GameFi and DeFi applications that will elevate TON to a new level, turning it into the heart of digital interaction and gaming.

A key development focus has also been meme coins, which attract attention and create unique cultural phenomena in the crypto space. Alena Shmalko, head of TON Foundation’s ecosystem, introduced TON Memeland, an initiative supporting meme coins with grants totaling $1.2 million. This initiative will support meme coin communities and stimulate growth through marketing grants and competitions.

DAO and Decentralization

At the conference, Society DAO was introduced - a new stage for TON where ecosystem power shifts to the community. TON Foundation President Steve Yun and TON Society co-founder Jack Booth enthusiastically announced the launch of this model, which makes governance transparent and, most importantly, accessible to all participants.

Society DAO’s principles speak for themselves: clear goals updated every six months and support for teams genuinely working toward TON’s decentralization. The DAO will gradually transfer governance to trusted teams like TON Core and TON Studio, making them the ecosystem’s true “builders.” This isn’t just another DAO; it’s a mechanism that enables the ecosystem to grow organically, free from centralized control, so TON truly becomes a platform for everyone.

Investment and Ecosystem Support

TON’s investment partners aren’t just funding - they are literally building the ecosystem at every step, from financing to technical support. Alessia Baumgartner from DWF Labs proudly shared numbers at the conference: within the year, the company invested $50 million, launched two validator nodes, and provided liquidity support to projects like Stonfi and DeDust. But there’s more - DWF Labs also sponsored several hackathons, turning TON into a magnet for developers and fresh ideas.

To further encourage new players, the TON Accelerator program was launched, as shared by Sophia Rusconi and Sami Al-Abed. The program not only offers funding but also provides marketing and technical solutions for cross-chain projects. Next year will see the second incubator cohort, with $5 million allocated to support TON and EVM projects.

TON Ecosystem’s Future

Ian Wittkopp, a partner at TON Ventures, presented a strategic plan for TON’s development through 2025. Key priorities include strengthening TON’s presence in mid-core gaming, developing advertising tools, and integrating with the Telegram App Center to expand the user base. To enhance user engagement within the ecosystem, the introduction of AI tools for interaction personalization is also planned.

TON is betting on e-commerce and cashback, meaning users will soon be able to earn and shop directly in Telegram. The idea is simple yet ambitious: to transform TON into a multifunctional platform where everything - from communication to finance and entertainment - centers in one app. This isn’t just an update; it’s a step toward creating a digital ecosystem where every click brings value.