Can the TON Blockchain Attract 500 Million Users by 2028?
Telegram has a grand vision of revolutionizing money transfers by making them as easy as sending a text message. To achieve this goal, the company is leveraging its TON blockchain and aiming to reach 500 million users by 2028.
Currently, Telegram boasts 900 million monthly active users, and it is projected to reach 1.5 billion by 2028. The TON Foundation aims to capture 30% of this user base, which would contribute to their ambitious goal. What sets TON apart is that no other blockchain project has direct access to such a massive pool of potential users. This presents a unique opportunity for TON to introduce blockchain technology to millions of people.
TON has already shown promising growth, surpassing Ethereum in terms of daily active addresses within a year of its official partnership with Telegram. This indicates strong momentum for the Toncoin platform. Additionally, TON’s success in the GameFi sector, with projects like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat attracting millions of users, has been a powerful driver for user acquisition.
Even converting just 5% of Telegram’s current monthly active users would make TON the most populated blockchain in terms of monthly active addresses. However, even a more modest goal of 45-50 million users would still be significant and solidify TON’s position among the top crypto assets.
TON aims to become the leading mobile-first blockchain, aligning with current consumer technology trends. Its adaptive sharding architecture enables fast transactions, which is crucial for supporting a massive user base without any slowdowns. Features like TON Proxy and garlic routing ensure resistance to censorship and uphold the principle of privacy in the crypto space.
The TON ecosystem already hosts over 500 applications, including wallets, decentralized exchanges, NFT marketplaces, blockchain games, and DeFi platforms. The Open League initiative, which rewards projects with strong on-chain metrics, plays a vital role in ecosystem development. As more developers target on-chain activity to win rewards, TON’s utility and user retention are expected to improve.
One of TON’s greatest advantages is its integration with Telegram. Features like the Wallet bot make it easy for users to send and receive cryptocurrencies, simplifying adoption for crypto newcomers. The recent launch of TON Space, a non-custodial wallet within Telegram, further streamlines blockchain interactions for potential users.
However, TON does face some challenges. The limitations of FunC, TON’s native programming language, pose a barrier for developers. Additionally, the reliance on incentives from the TON Foundation raises concerns about long-term sustainability. Regulatory challenges, particularly in the US where Telegram’s native wallets are currently inaccessible, also present significant obstacles. Furthermore, TON’s asynchronous design poses development challenges that need to be resolved to attract developers. Lastly, TON faces tough competition from established blockchain platforms like Ethereum and Solana.