As Head of Development on the TON Basis, Martin Masser is on a mission to convey crypto to the lots—with out customers even realizing they’re utilizing it. A longtime Telegram person 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 via a Market Maker good friend. What bought me hooked was the concept of fixing crypto’s largest drawback — that onboarding continues to be manner too arduous 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 really mainstream. Now we’re seeing that potential begin to unfold, particularly with issues like items and stickers. I’ve been onboarding individuals via 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—and so they’re not simply enjoyable options, they’re onboarding instruments. I’ve seen firsthand how gifting via Telegram is usually a gateway for brand spanking 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 a few key issues:
“First, I wish to convey shopper manufacturers onchain— particularly in sports activities. Sports activities groups have emotional, lifelong relationships with their followers. TON may also help deepen that bond with actual utility: NFTs, digital merch, gamified fan experiences. I wish to see us powering these sort of connections .
“Second is stickiness. It’s not sufficient to have somebody make a one-time token swap. I need customers interacting with TON-powered apps each day, similar to they use their favourite social or finance apps.
“And the third is relationships throughout the ecosystem. Too many initiatives are being in-built silos. I see myself as TON’s “router” — connecting the dots, serving to groups uncover one another, clear up challenges, and collaborate to construct higher.”
Q3. Telegram Mini Apps (TMAs) are central to your technique. What distinctive benefits do TMAs supply 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.
“In addition 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 bought one thing actually highly effective.
“You’ll be able to even pin a TMA to your cellphone’s dwelling display screen, so it behaves like a local app, however with all the advantages of being inside Telegram.
“In the case of measuring affect, we’ll take a look at how usually customers return. Is that this one thing you’re opening each day? Are you coming again as a result of it’s helpful, enjoyable, or rewarding? Lengthy-term, we would like builders to suppose “Telegram-first,” and design experiences that begin right here, even earlier than excited about constructing for Android or iOS.”
This fall. What are the largest 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 individuals conscious of TON earlier than we are able to construct affinity with the model. Then it’s about making all the pieces easier. For instance, constructing DeFi merchandise which might be one-click as a substitute of 10 complicated steps. We additionally have to convey extra of what’s already constructed to the floor. There’s nice stuff within the ecosystem, however it’s a little bit arduous 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?
“Items and stickers are already beginning to pop, and below the hood they’re NFTs. However extra importantly, they’re relatable. They let customers categorical, share, and acquire in a manner that feels pure to how we already use Telegram.
“As a giant 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 largest groups get behind this, the dimensions might be monumental. Followers already need these things, they only don’t know but that it will probably dwell on-chain.”
Q6. For content material creators and channel homeowners, what new monetization fashions will TON introduce to incentivize participation?
“Monetization has at all times been a ache level for creators, however with TON and Telegram it’s beginning to change. We’re now seeing creators experiment with ideas immediately on posts, or gating non-public 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 property with their viewers. These fashions don’t simply generate revenue, they construct tighter fan communities. It’s early days but, however the playbook is forming, and we’re simply starting to see what’s attainable.”
Q7. What tooling or incentive packages are you most excited to roll out for builders constructing on TON?
“I feel a very powerful factor is constructing stronger relationships with builders. And which means higher documentation, extra assets, and a extra collaborative setting the place groups can be taught from each other. We don’t need individuals constructing in isolation.
“We’re additionally ramping up dev-focused occasions to convey expertise collectively in actual time. Whether or not it’s hackathons, meetups, or grants, we would like devs to really feel like TON is a platform that really helps and listens to them.”
Q8. Are you able to share any early indicators or pilot outcomes that offer you confidence in your progress roadmap?
“The momentum round items and stickers has been large. Round 55% of the wallets participating with these experiences have been created simply this 12 months. That’s an enormous indicator of actual utilization, not simply hypothesis. Quantity and person progress are spiking throughout the board. This isn’t only a pattern. It’s a sign that individuals need participating, social, collectible experiences. And so they’re selecting TON to energy them.”
Q9. Trying forward 3–5 years, what does a very “mass-adopted” TON ecosystem appear to be in your thoughts?
“I feel it seems to be one thing like this: You’re utilizing a Telegram Mini App the identical manner you employ your banking, buying, or ride-hailing app — with out even excited 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 below the hood. I feel that’s what actual mass adoption seems to be like.”
Q10. In case you may wave a magic wand and clear up one main trade problem for TON proper now, what wouldn’t it be—and the way shortly may you mobilize round it?
“I’d get rid of the parable that crypto is just too arduous 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 are able to clear up the notion drawback that crypto has — that it’s tough to make use of — the remaining turns into quite a bit simpler.”
