TON Gateway 2023 was the first major offline event of The Open Network (TON) community, held on November 10–11, 2023, in Dubai. The conference brought together a large number of participants, including developers, investors, and enthusiasts of TON Ecosystem.

It became a significant milestone in the development of TON community, providing a platform for idea exchange, showcasing achievements, and discussing the future of blockchain.

Presentation of TON products and services

New products and services built on The Open Network were showcased at the conference.

Built-in wallets in Telegram

One of the main topics of the conference was the integration of cryptocurrency wallets into the Telegram messenger. This innovation enabled users to send and receive cryptocurrency directly in chat without needing to switch to external platforms.

Key Advantages of Built-In Wallets:

Users can instantly transfer funds by simply sending a message in Telegram. The interface is intuitive, making cryptocurrency use accessible even to those unfamiliar with the technology.
Advanced encryption technologies ensure the confidentiality and security of transactions. Telegram serves as an interface, while all operations are conducted on TON Blockchain.
With Telegram's extensive user base of over 900 million active users, the integration of built-in wallets accelerates the adoption of cryptocurrencies and Web3 technologies.

Decentralized Asset Exchange Services

At the conference, decentralized exchanges developed on TON platform were showcased. These platforms allow users to securely exchange cryptocurrencies without the need for centralized platforms.

Features of TON-Based DEX:

Users retain full control over their funds, as transactions are executed via smart contracts.
Thanks to the innovative architecture of TON Blockchain, exchanges occur faster than on traditional decentralized exchanges.
TON algorithms optimize gas costs, making transactions more cost-effective.

An updated version of DeDust protocol was also presented at the conference, enhancing user experience, minimizing fees, and offering advanced features for traders.

Telegram Mini-Apps

Another innovation was the introduction of mini-apps integrated into the Telegram messenger. These applications enable users to perform a wide range of cryptocurrency-related operations without leaving the familiar Telegram interface.

Examples of Mini-App Features:

Users can make purchases using built-in wallets.
Staking, lending, and asset exchange are available through integration with decentralized services.
Mini-apps allow users to participate in games using Toncoin.

Mini-apps represent a significant step in popularizing TON Ecosystem. They simplify the use of cryptocurrencies and make the process accessible to a broader audience.

Investment and Partnership Programs

TON Gateway 2023 served as a platform to announce investment programs by partners of The Open Network, including:

Grant Program by KuCoin and TON Foundation
Investments from MEXC Ventures
Developer Support Program by TON Foundation

All these programs aim to support startups within the Ecosystem. The announced grants and support funds have accelerated the adoption of innovations on TON, encouraging developers to create new projects and integrate them into the Ecosystem.

Key Statements

At the conference, many important statements were made, covering various aspects of TON Ecosystem. Among the most significant were presentations emphasizing the strategic partnership with Telegram, efforts to decentralize the network, support for developers through grants and investment programs, and plans to expand TON's integration with DeFi and GameFi to attract new users.

Steve Yun, President of TON Foundation, outlined key strategic directions for the development of TON Ecosystem, including its integration with Telegram, aimed at driving the mass adoption of Web3. He highlighted that the partnership with Telegram provides the Ecosystem access to a broad audience, while built-in wallets and Web3 services make cryptocurrency usage more convenient.

Other important topics in his speech included plans for scaling and decentralizing the network. Steve emphasized the importance of supporting developers through grant programs and initiatives to create secure Web3 applications integrated with Telegram. Special attention was also given to educational initiatives aimed at teaching users the fundamentals of blockchain.

Kirill Emelyanenko, a representative of TON Core, emphasized the technical and organizational challenges facing the Ecosystem in his speech and proposed solutions to overcome them for scaling the network.

Key Points of His Speech:

Network Performance Optimization Kirill emphasized the need to enhance the throughput and transaction processing speed of TON Network. This involved plans to implement new consensus algorithms and improve sharding mechanisms, enabling the network to efficiently handle increasing data volumes.
Improving Developer Tools He highlighted the importance of creating more accessible and functional tools for developers to simplify the process of building and integrating applications on TON. This includes developing new SDKs, improving documentation, and providing code examples.
Ensuring Network Security and Resilience Kirill focused on strengthening security measures to protect against potential threats and attacks. He stressed the importance of regular code audits, implementing vulnerability discovery programs, and collaborating with cybersecurity experts.
Expanding Decentralization The importance of increasing the number of independent validators and network participants was underscored to ensure decentralization and network resilience.
Educational Initiatives Kirill noted the necessity of educating the community and developers to enhance their blockchain technology skills and understanding of working with TON. He mentioned plans for webinars, the creation of educational materials, and organizing hackathons.

Andrew Rogozov, CEO of Telegram Open Platform (TOP), delivered a speech titled «TON x Telegram», where he highlighted the current state and future prospects of the collaboration between the platforms. The partnership aims to expand the audience and simplify access to cryptocurrency services.

It was announced that Telegram will continue working on creating intuitive solutions to make cryptocurrencies accessible to the mass audience.

Following TON Gateway 2023 conference, The Open Network (TON) Ecosystem experienced significant growth and the development of several projects that captured the attention of users and investors. Below are some of these projects:

1. DeDust

At TON Gateway 2023 conference, DeDust team showcased updates and achievements of their decentralized exchange (DEX) operating on TON Blockchain. Specifically, they announced the launch of DeDust Protocol 2.0, which significantly improves user experience, reduces fees, and expands the platform's functionality. This update aims to provide more convenient and efficient tools for users while attracting new participants to TON Ecosystem.

2. STON.fi

STON.fi presented several key initiatives:

Omniston Protocol: Aimed at enabling users to execute token swaps without slippage and minimizing the impact of transaction volumes on prices.
Integration with TON Space: Further strengthening its role in the Ecosystem.
JETTON Farming: The team launched a JETTON Farming program, offering rewards of 20,000 JETTON in TON-JETTON pool over 30 days. This initiative seeks to encourage user activity and increase platform liquidity.

3. Tonstakers

At the conference, Tonstakers team introduced their liquid staking platform, which allows users to earn income from staking Toncoin (TON) without locking up their funds. Users can deposit TON and receive tsTON tokens in return, representing their share in the staking pool. These tsTON tokens can be used across various decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, providing additional flexibility and earning opportunities.

4. bemo

The bemo project also presented its advancements in liquid staking within TON Ecosystem. The team demonstrated how their platform enables users to stake $TON and receive bTON tokens, which represent their share in the staking pool. These tokens can be utilized in various decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

5. EVAA Protocol

EVAA Protocol showcased its decentralized lending protocol built on TON Blockchain. The presentation focused on the integration of EVAA with the Telegram messenger, allowing users to manage their assets directly through the familiar Telegram interface. By leveraging Telegram Mini Apps, users can now lend and borrow funds as well as earn interest without leaving the Telegram application.

TON Gateway 2023 conference received high praise from participants, who highlighted the importance of the presented projects and the development prospects of the Ecosystem. The event showcased TON's strategic approach to achieving its mission — making cryptocurrency accessible to everyone and providing secure and user-friendly access to Web3.