How Tonkeeper Bridges the Gap Between Crypto Novices and Experts in TON, According to its Own Execs

Now approaching the third anniversary of its launch, Tonkeeper has firmly established itself as one of the primary gateways to The Open Network (TON), offering a unique blend of simplicity and advanced features. 

Thanks to innovations like gasless transactions, in-app swaps, staking and the Tonkeeper Battery – not to mention many key integrations and partnerships – the non-custodial wallet has amassed over 1.3 million active users in under three years. During the same period the TON blockchain ecosystem has also grown, with almost 52 million addresses now holding a balance.

Tonkeeper’s approach to crypto accessibility is one of the aspects that makes it stand out. “We want to promote utilities,” explains Rostislav Rudakov, Head of Business Development at TonApps, which in addition to Tonkeeper has developed a suite of leading apps, services and standards on the TON chain. Of course, users often want simple play-to-earn games. 

The ultimate goal, according to Rudakov, is the “gradual conversion of the gaming audience into long-term users,” the sort that gravitate towards utility-driven apps.

Lita Liu, Head of Business Development Asia at Tonkeeper, elaborates on the sort of projects users and product holders want to see: “Digital nomads need network tools and other products to help them travel around the world; crypto users or those interested in financial management look for asset allocation products.”

Partners and Portfolios

One of the reasons for Tonkeeper’s success is the diversity of its portfolio, with Rudakov revealing that the wallet currently hosts “two staking projects, one integrated swap project, six fiat-to-crypto, three crypto-to-crypto, 34 dApps and six external partners.” Such an extensive lineup means users can access a broad range of services without having to leave the comfort of their wallet. 

Naturally, the selection process for the wallet’s partners is rigorous. Liu explains that for the Asian region, “The focus is mainly on digital nomad tools, DeFi products, and games; a good product must meet various user needs, such as practicality, playability, or economic benefits.” And how does Tonkeeper decide which projects to green-light? “The team’s endorsement, development capabilities, user growth, and project profitability are all assessed.”

Which is not to say good projects automatically join the wallet’s network: Rudakov acknowledges that some worthy projects sometimes fail to make the cut, noting that around 70% of potential projects aren’t listed for due to “duplication of functions with already listed applications, lack of TON Connect, payments via Tonkeeper, or profit sharing.” The presence of similar competitors offering more favorable business conditions can also prevent a project from joining the Tonkeeper family.

This selectivity also extends to the types of projects Tonkeeper avoids. Rudakov rhymes off the usual suspects: “Token sales to avoid participating in scams, projects with no real user value or without a clear monetization scheme, and projects without legal entities – as it’s difficult to account for profits in bookkeeping.”

Liu, meanwhile, mentions a project that was not prioritized for inclusion in the wallet after a background investigation found that it “received almost no growth for about three weeks after its launch, suggesting the team might not be fully dedicated to it. With this risk identified, it was placed on the watchlist for further observation.” 

Looking to the Future

Despite these challenges, both Liu and Rudakov see a bright future for Tonkeeper, TON and blockchain adoption more generally. When quizzed on possible future dream partnerships, Rudakov envisions integrations to facilitate services like “buying event tickets with discounts and/or cashback,” or with Web2 giants like Netflix, Airbnb and Roblox to create waves of interest among users.

Lita is equally optimistic about the potential for growth, particularly given Tonkeeper’s connection to messaging app Telegram: “I believe it still has great potential because Telegram is a super app with nearly a billion users. Due to its features and the user-friendly nature of projects within the wallet, it will attract more non-crypto Telegram users, too.”

In the immediate future, both see a convergence of user and holder desires. Rudakov suggests “gamified onboarding” will play a key role, after which retaining users will be a matter of ensuring “repeated actions that elicit positive emotional responses and user interest.” Lita says “integrating the wallet with other applications and services, such as payment systems and social platforms, in a user-friendly manner, will meet both user and holder needs.” 

In a crypto landscape often criticized for its complexity, Tonkeeper stands out as a beacon of user-friendliness: built by veterans, it’s a wallet that can find favor among novices or connoisseurs alike. A bit like the Telegram messaging app itself.