The Open Network (TON) Could Be the Key to Unlocking the Mainstream Adoption of Cryptocurrencies and Decentralized Technologies

The TON blockchain’s virality is largely attributed to its relationship with the messenger app Telegram and its over 950 million users who can access TON-based blockchain applications directly via the messenger app.

The Open Network (TON) blockchain is quickly becoming a favorite among mainstream users thanks to its integration with popular messenger app Telegram and its vast user base of over 950 million people.

This unique synergy is paving the way for TON to play a pivotal role in driving the mass adoption of decentralized finance (DeFi), according to a recent report published on Oct. 17 by GSR.

Highlighting this potential, the report states:

This development offers a glimmer of hope for the DeFi sector, which has been lagging behind other crypto niches in terms of performance.

As noted by Artemis data, tokens associated with DeFi protocols experienced a decline of 72% between January 2022 and September 2023, while memecoins dropped by 35%, and smart contract-related tokens witnessed a decrease of 48%.

Crypto sectors price performance. Source: Artemis, GSR

Related: Telegram games and Hamster Kombat will catalyze Web3 adoption: Animoca's Yat Siu

According to GSR, TON surpassed Ethereum and L2s in terms of monthly active addresses.

Active addresses on TON, Ethereum, Polygon PoS, Arbitrum, OP over 30 days. Source: GSR

Impact of small language models on AI and blockchain — Interview with Assisterr

In this interview, Assisterr CEO Nick Havryliak discusses the advantages of SLMs, the potential of decentralized AI and how blockchain is empowering communities to shape the future of AI development.

Cointelegraph: What prompted the creation of SLMs, and how do they differ from the large AI models developed by Big Tech companies?

As artificial intelligence shifts toward more efficient solutions, small language models (SLMs) are emerging as a powerful tool, offering a cost-effective and scalable alternative to the large, generalized models favored by Big Tech, especially for task-specific applications.

Assisterr, a Cambridge-based network of SLMs, is creating a decentralized AI ecosystem where communities can own, manage and enhance their AI models while participating in governance and reward systems through blockchain technology.

In this interview, Assisterr CEO Nick Havryliak discusses the advantages of SLMs, the potential of decentralized AI and how blockchain is empowering communities to shape the future of AI development.

Cointelegraph: What inspired the creation of SLMs, and how do they differ from the large AI models developed by Big Tech companies?

Nick Havryliak: My experience in tech consulting, particularly in managing R&D teams and developing machine learning (ML) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, highlighted the major limitation of data set size and quality in ML. This challenge led me to explore how Web3 incentives could be harnessed to aggregate high-quality, niche-specific data. This idea laid the foundation for creating SLMs, which solve the inefficiencies seen in larger, general AI models.

The report highlighted that TON boasts a higher number of monthly active addresses than Ethereum, which recorded 5.5 million active addresses in September 2024, and other Ethereum layer-2 (L2) networks and sidechains, including Arbitrum, OP Mainnet and the Polygon PoS chain.

However, the report also noted that Coinbase’s Base blockchain and Solana still have a larger number of monthly active users.

Related: Hamster Kombat Season 2 lets players become CEOs, build game studios

Tap-to-earn games like Hamster Kombat are bringing new users to the blockchain in droves.

Tap-to-earn games, such as the popular TON-based Telegram clicker game Hamster Kombat, are attracting a large number of mainstream users to the blockchain.

Within five months of its launch, Hamster Kombat is preparing for what it claims will be the “biggest airdrop in the history of crypto” and has already attracted over 300 million users.

According to GSR data, this makes Hamster Kombat the world’s second most-played mobile game, coming close to Subway Surfers, which had 304 million downloads.

Mobile game downloads, Hamster Kombat users Source: GSR

As reported by GSR, Telegram is currently the eighth-most popular social media platform globally with over 950 million monthly active users, making it a significant part of the success behind these games.

Top social media platforms by monthly active users. Source: GSR

Others also believe in Telegram’s onboarding potential. Notably, Telegram could be a “Trojan horse” for mass crypto adoption, according to Justin Hyun, TON Foundation’s director of investments.

In an interview with Cointelegraph, Hyun stated:

The viral Web3 clicker game could be included in the Guinness World Record as the first YouTube channel to gain over 10 million subscribers in one week (six days, 13 hours and 15 minutes).

The Truth on Hamster Kombat: Revolution or Scam? Source: Cointelegraph/YouTube

Magazine: Clicker games to