The Open Network (TON) is rapidly emerging as a leading blockchain ecosystem for mass-market applications, thanks to its deep integration with Telegram’s 950 million monthly active users. In a strategic move to accelerate innovation within this dynamic space, our Ventures arm is proud to announce a $5 million investment in TON Ventures, a dedicated fund focused on nurturing early-stage, Telegram-native applications.
This investment underscores our long-term commitment to building a robust developer ecosystem on TON. By supporting experienced builders and fostering technical best practices, we aim to empower the next generation of decentralized applications (dApps) that are seamless, scalable, and user-centric.
👉 Discover how blockchain innovation is reshaping digital experiences on TON.
Expanding Our Commitment to the TON Ecosystem
This $5 million commitment complements our previously launched **$10 million Telegram Growth Hub*, a collaborative initiative with The Open Platform and Folius Ventures. While the Growth Hub focuses on go-to-market strategies, community development, and product acceleration, the investment in TON Ventures targets the foundational layer: technical excellence and engineering leadership*.
Together, these initiatives form a comprehensive support system for developers building on TON—covering everything from initial concept and funding to scaling and user acquisition.
With proven successes like Notcoin, OKX Racer, and Catizen, mini-apps on Telegram have already demonstrated strong engagement and viral potential. These apps leverage TON’s high-speed, low-cost infrastructure to deliver frictionless onboarding and real-time interactions—key ingredients for mainstream blockchain adoption.
Building With Founders Who Understand the Ecosystem
TON Ventures is led by two seasoned veterans of the TON ecosystem: Ian Wittkopp, former Director of Acceleration at the TON Foundation, and Inal Kardan, ex-Gaming Lead. Their firsthand experience in shaping TON’s early development gives them unparalleled insight into what it takes to build successful consumer applications on the network.
The fund primarily backs early-stage startups in key verticals:
- Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
- Web3 Gaming
- Creator Economy Infrastructure
- AI-powered Applications
- Developer Tools & Middleware
Already, TON Ventures has supported innovative projects such as:
- DeLabs and Goat Gaming, advancing mid-core gaming experiences on TON.
- Memetics, enabling Telegram communities to create tokenized economies and monetize content.
- Grably, an AI platform leveraging Telegram data streams—secured via TON—to train machine learning models.
These examples highlight the versatility of the TON blockchain and its ability to support diverse use cases beyond simple token transfers.
Why TON Matters for Mainstream Blockchain Adoption
Most blockchain ecosystems struggle with user experience barriers—complex wallets, slow transactions, high fees. TON addresses these pain points head-on by offering:
- Sub-second transaction finality
- Near-zero gas costs
- Native integration with Telegram’s messaging interface
- Built-in wallet functionality (via @wallet bot)
This combination makes TON uniquely positioned to onboard millions of non-crypto-native users through engaging mini-apps that feel familiar and intuitive.
Moreover, the ecosystem benefits from strong network effects: every new app increases the utility of the underlying infrastructure, encouraging further development and adoption.
👉 See how developers are creating seamless Web3 experiences on scalable blockchains.
Fueling the Next Generation of Builders
TON Ventures has secured $40 million in initial funding and typically invests up to $500,000 in seed-stage projects, with flexibility for larger rounds when needed. Beyond capital, portfolio companies gain access to technical mentorship, design resources, and strategic partnerships.
In the coming months, the fund will prioritize three key growth areas:
- Midcore Gaming: Moving beyond clicker games to more immersive, skill-based experiences with real economic models.
- Creator Monetization: Expanding tools that allow influencers and communities to launch tokens, NFTs, subscriptions, and fan rewards directly within Telegram.
- DeFi Expansion: Enhancing liquidity protocols, decentralized exchanges (DEXs), and cross-chain bridges to improve capital efficiency on TON.
By focusing on these pillars, TON Ventures aims to establish clear development standards and reusable frameworks—accelerating time-to-market for future builders.
A Shared Vision for Sustainable Innovation
As one of the earliest institutional supporters of TON, we believe this ecosystem has the potential to redefine how billions interact with digital ownership, finance, and entertainment. Our dual approach—through both the Telegram Growth Hub and now TON Ventures—ensures that innovators have not only funding but also guidance, infrastructure, and distribution channels.
We’re confident that Ian, Inal, and the TON Ventures team will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Web3 on Telegram. Their deep technical expertise and community-first mindset align perfectly with our vision of making blockchain technology accessible, secure, and genuinely useful for everyday users.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is TON Ventures?
A: TON Ventures is a venture capital fund focused on early-stage startups building consumer applications on The Open Network (TON) blockchain. It is led by former TON Foundation executives and supports projects in gaming, DeFi, AI, and creator economy infrastructure.
Q: How will OKX’s $5 million investment be used?
A: The investment will help scale TON Ventures’ operations, enabling it to back more developers, provide technical resources, and establish best practices for building high-performance Telegram-native apps.
Q: Is TON Ventures only funding gaming projects?
A: While gaming is a major focus area—especially midcore experiences—the fund actively invests across multiple sectors including decentralized finance, AI applications, and tools for creators and developers.
Q: Can developers outside of Telegram apply for funding?
A: The primary focus is on applications deeply integrated with Telegram’s ecosystem. However, projects leveraging TON’s infrastructure—even if not fully hosted within Telegram—may still qualify if they contribute to broader ecosystem growth.
Q: How does this relate to OKX’s other initiatives on TON?
A: This investment complements OKX’s $10M Telegram Growth Hub. Together, they provide end-to-end support—from seed funding and technical mentorship to marketing and user growth—for teams building on TON.
Q: Are there plans for future investments in the TON ecosystem?
A: Yes. This $5M commitment reflects our ongoing confidence in TON’s trajectory. We expect to continue expanding our support through grants, incubation programs, and strategic partnerships in 2025 and beyond.
👉 Explore opportunities to build the future of Web3 with cutting-edge blockchain platforms.
Our investment in TON Ventures is more than financial support—it’s a vote of confidence in a new paradigm of internet-native applications. As blockchain technology matures, ecosystems like TON show that real utility, engaging experiences, and mass adoption don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
By empowering skilled builders with capital, mentorship, and infrastructure, we’re laying the groundwork for a decentralized future that’s not only secure and transparent but also joyful and accessible to all.