As Head of Development on the TON Basis, Martin Masser is on a mission to deliver crypto to the plenty—with out customers even realizing they’re utilizing it. A longtime Telegram consumer and early TON advocate from his STON.fi days, Martin now leads one of the formidable adoption pushes in Web3. From gifting NFTs and sports-themed stickers to rolling out Telegram Mini Apps (TMAs), he’s serving to remodel TON into essentially the most user-friendly blockchain ecosystem on the planet. On this unique interview, Martin shares what drew him to TON, how he defines success, and why the following period of crypto is hiding in plain sight—inside your favourite messaging app.
Q1. You’ve been a key determine in TON’s ecosystem for years — what initially drew you to TON, and the way has your imaginative and prescient for it advanced since your STON.fi days?
“I’ve been on Telegram since 2016, however solely heard about TON by a Market Maker buddy. What acquired me hooked was the thought of fixing crypto’s largest drawback — that onboarding continues to be method too onerous for most individuals — inside an app that everybody’s already utilizing. Again then, TON felt like a hidden gem. It was nonetheless largely unknown, but the potential was there for one thing actually mainstream. Now we’re seeing that potential begin to unfold, particularly with issues like items and stickers. I’ve been onboarding folks by these — it’s easy, enjoyable, and dealing.
“Since stepping away from STON.fi, the ecosystem has continued to evolve. New narratives like items and stickers are rising—they usually’re not simply enjoyable options, they’re onboarding instruments. I’ve seen firsthand how gifting by Telegram could be a gateway for brand new customers. We’re beginning to see third-party marketplaces pop up round these mechanics, and that’s a sign: we’re simply getting began.”
Q2. As Head of Development, how do you outline “success” for TON’s adoption over the following 12–18 months?
“TON is uniquely positioned on the intersection of crypto and mainstream tradition. My function is to verify we flip that potential into affect. For me, success comes down to 3 key issues:
“First, I need to deliver client manufacturers onchain— particularly in sports activities. Sports activities groups have emotional, lifelong relationships with their followers. TON may help deepen that bond with actual utility: NFTs, digital merch, gamified fan experiences. I need to see us powering these kind of connections .
“Second is stickiness. It’s not sufficient to have somebody make a one-time token swap. I would like customers interacting with TON-powered apps every day, identical to they use their favourite social or finance apps.
“And the third is relationships inside the ecosystem. Too many initiatives are being inbuilt silos. I see myself as TON’s “router” — connecting the dots, serving to groups uncover one another, resolve challenges, and collaborate to construct higher.”
Q3. Telegram Mini Apps (TMAs) are central to your technique. What distinctive benefits do TMAs provide over standalone dApps, and the way will you measure their affect?
“TMAs flip the script on conventional crypto apps. You don’t have to obtain something, you simply faucet and go. That alone removes a large barrier to entry.
“Additionally they really feel inherently social as a result of you’ll be able to share hyperlinks, refer associates, or simply drop into group conversations. And you are able to do all of this with out leaving Telegram. Mix that with a seamless crypto pockets connection and also you’ve acquired one thing actually highly effective.
“You possibly can even pin a TMA to your telephone’s house display screen, so it behaves like a local app, however with all the advantages of being inside Telegram.
“With regards to measuring affect, we’ll have a look at how usually customers return. Is that this one thing you’re opening every day? Are you coming again as a result of it’s helpful, enjoyable, or rewarding? Lengthy-term, we wish builders to suppose “Telegram-first,” and design experiences that begin right here, even earlier than fascinated about constructing for Android or iOS.”
This fall. What are the most important hurdles in onboarding mainstream Telegram customers onto TON, and what techniques will you deploy to beat them?
“I feel consciousness is the primary hurdle. We have to make extra folks conscious of TON earlier than we will construct affinity with the model. Then it’s about making every little thing easier. For instance, constructing DeFi merchandise which can be one-click as a substitute of 10 complicated steps. We additionally have to deliver extra of what’s already constructed to the floor. There’s nice stuff within the ecosystem, but it surely’s a little bit onerous to search out proper now.”
Q5. You’ve spoken about stickers, NFTs, and RWAs. Which class do you see hitting crucial mass first on TON, and why?
“Presents and stickers are already beginning to pop, and beneath the hood they’re NFTs. However extra importantly, they’re relatable. They let customers specific, share, and accumulate in a method that feels pure to how we already use Telegram.
“As an enormous soccer and sports activities fan, I see an enormous alternative right here. Digital memorabilia — club-themed stickers, animated items, unique drops — can turn into a part of fan id. Think about with the ability to flex your loyalty to your membership inside each Telegram dialog.
“If the most important groups get behind this, the size may very well be monumental. Followers already need these things, they only don’t know but that it might probably stay on-chain.”
Q6. For content material creators and channel house owners, what new monetization fashions will TON introduce to incentivize participation?
“Monetization has all the time been a ache level for creators, however with TON and Telegram it’s beginning to change. We’re now seeing creators experiment with suggestions immediately on posts, or gating personal teams behind a token or NFT. That’s already an enormous step ahead from conventional fashions.
“I feel there’s additionally room for collaborative stickers and referrals, the place creators co-launch digital belongings with their viewers. These fashions don’t simply generate earnings, they construct tighter fan communities. It’s early days but, however the playbook is forming, and we’re simply starting to see what’s doable.”
Q7. What tooling or incentive packages are you most excited to roll out for builders constructing on TON?
“I feel crucial factor is constructing stronger relationships with builders. And meaning higher documentation, extra assets, and a extra collaborative atmosphere the place groups can be taught from each other. We don’t need folks constructing in isolation.
“We’re additionally ramping up dev-focused occasions to deliver expertise collectively in actual time. Whether or not it’s hackathons, meetups, or grants, we wish devs to really feel like TON is a platform that actually helps and listens to them.”
Q8. Are you able to share any early indicators or pilot outcomes that provide you with confidence in your development roadmap?
“The momentum round items and stickers has been large. Round 55% of the wallets partaking with these experiences have been created simply this 12 months. That’s an enormous indicator of actual utilization, not simply hypothesis. Quantity and consumer development are spiking throughout the board. This isn’t only a pattern. It’s a sign that individuals need partaking, social, collectible experiences. They usually’re selecting TON to energy them.”
Q9. Wanting forward 3–5 years, what does a really “mass-adopted” TON ecosystem appear like in your thoughts?
“I feel it appears one thing like this: You’re utilizing a Telegram Mini App the identical method you employ your banking, procuring, or ride-hailing app — with out even fascinated about the truth that it’s Web3. The tech is all within the background. Customers aren’t “utilizing crypto”, they’re simply sending a present, unlocking a membership, becoming a member of a fan membership, or making a fast fee. And it’s all taking place inside Telegram, with TON working quietly beneath the hood. I feel that’s what actual mass adoption appears like.”
Q10. In the event you may wave a magic wand and resolve one main business problem for TON proper now, what would it not be—and the way shortly may you mobilize round it?
“I’d eradicate the parable that crypto is simply too onerous to make use of. As a result of as soon as customers realise how seamless it may be, particularly inside Telegram, they’re in. We’ve seen it with gifting.
We’ll see it once more with TMAs, stickers, and fan engagement. If we will resolve the notion drawback that crypto has — that it’s troublesome to make use of — the remaining turns into loads simpler.”
