The Open Network Foundation has announced a groundbreaking initiative in the crypto sphere, launching a $115 million community incentive program for users and developers on the TON blockchain. This ambitious endeavor aims to foster engagement, innovation, and growth within the TON ecosystem, offering participants the opportunity to claim a share of 30 million TON tokens.
The allocation of incentives, as outlined in the announcement made on March 20, will be divided across four key areas:
- Token Mining and User Incentives: $38 million will be earmarked for rewarding participants engaged in token mining activities and encouraging user adoption.
- Airdrops: $22 million will be dedicated to airdrops, ensuring broader distribution and accessibility of TON tokens among the community.
- The League Developer Ecosystem: $15 million will be allocated to support and nurture the development of projects within The League, fostering innovation and collaboration among developers.
- Liquidity Pool Boosts: $40 million will be deployed to enhance liquidity pools, facilitating efficient trading and liquidity provision within the TON ecosystem.
Commencing on April 1, the incentive program will operate in monthly seasons, allowing users to participate and claim rewards through various mechanisms. The TON Foundation aims to democratize access to TON tokens, providing a clear pathway for users to transition from ordinary Telegram users to active participants within the TON ecosystem.
The announcement follows a successful pilot season, during which the TON Foundation distributed 650,000 TON tokens to users through Liquidity Pool boosts and allocated 550,000 TON tokens to winning projects in The League Pilot. Jack Booth, Director of Marketing at TON Foundation, expressed optimism about the community’s response, stating, “The Open League’s pilot season has shown our community is ready to have some fun.”
The TON blockchain, which powers Telegram’s new advertising platform, has recently gained traction with the official launch of the Telegram Ad Platform in March 2024. This platform enables Telegram channel owners to monetize their content by facilitating advertising transactions and revenue sharing in TON tokens.
While initially developed by Telegram, the TON project faced legal challenges from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, leading to its abandonment in May 2020. Despite this setback, Telegram remains a dominant force in the messaging app landscape, boasting over 900 million users globally.
In a related development, Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov hinted at the company’s path to profitability, considering options such as an initial public offering (IPO). Additionally, plans are underway to prioritize “loyal” users for access to the firm’s IPO subscription, taking inspiration from Reddit’s approach.
With TON’s value showing significant growth over the past year, currently trading at $4.12, the implementation of the community incentive program underscores the TON Foundation’s commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem while driving the adoption of blockchain technology on a global scale.