TON Gateway 2024 was one of the most pivotal events on GetBlock’s community roadmap for Q4. Nataly Lahuti, our Chief Marketing Officer, reflects on the key takeaways from the conference and what it revealed about TON’s growth, ecosystem, and opportunities.
TON is huge. For real.
Let me start by saying this: TON has become massive. TON Gateway 2024 was a testament to the ecosystem’s explosive growth. It’s no exaggeration to call this one of the largest blockchain events ever focused on a single network.
Some experts even compared its scale to iconic gatherings like Token2024, DevCon, or DevConnect. For TON, this level of visibility is an enormous win, bringing together speakers, visitors, and performers from all corners of the industry.
The Gateway 2024, Largest TON conference
That said, there’s room for improvement. For future conferences, I’d suggest allocating more space for project booths rather than emphasizing immersive experiences and entertainment. While fun elements have their place, more exhibit space would better showcase TON’s progress to newcomers and seasoned developers from other blockchain ecosystems.
Bigger funding, better projects
Funding was the hottest topic at TON Gateway 2024. TON itself is clearly investing heavily, with DeFi, AI agents, and RWAs (real-world assets) at the forefront for both TON Ventures and third-party VCs aligned with the ecosystem.
GetBlock CMO Nataly Lahuti with ex-Binance Russia Head Vladimir Smerkis
As odd as it may sound, this is a critical component of growth. The next bull market in altcoins—and within the TON ecosystem—won’t happen on its own. It’s incredible to see how well the major players (“fat cats”) are steering the narrative and fueling development.
One highlight for me was the invite-only event hosted by the TON Accelerator. The level of innovation and ambition on display was inspiring. At GetBlock, we’re excited to do our part by offering infrastructure grants to support the next generation of TON projects via our TON RPC API solutions.
Ecosystem rocks, but infrastructure needs catching up
From a regional perspective, TON’s ecosystem truly knows no bounds. The conference attracted participants from across the globe, with notable representation from the CIS, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other MENA countries. This inclusive and community-driven approach enabled TON Gateway to supercharge its network’s growth. If there’s ever a textbook on community management, this event should be featured as a case study.
GetBlock CMO Nataly Lahuti with Ellen Sheidlin, a renowned NFT artist
However, there’s one area I’d love to see more attention on in 2025: infrastructure. While it’s fantastic to see growth in gaming, DeFi, and tap-to-earn apps, the TON Foundation and TON Ventures should prioritize infrastructure to streamline the developer experience. Without a solid backbone, scaling the ecosystem could become a challenge.
Encouragingly, fiat gateways and on-chain bridges were highlighted in TON’s 2025 roadmap. These tools will be critical in onboarding users from both Web2 and competing blockchains.
Thank you, TON Gateway, for the connections, insights, energy, and—of course—the ridiculously awesome merchandise!
We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store. See you next year!
