$TON Price and Ecosystem Outlook: Potential Growth Despite Inflated Markets

The price of $TON impacts the entire web3 ecosystem on the blockchain, including usernames and other assets. Currently, minting usernames costs 5 TON, equivalent to about $15, while the total value of TON is around $8. Originally, the mint cost was approximately $45. The question is whether the minting cost will scale proportionally with TON’s price, especially if TON reaches $100. There is no clear information on whether the minting costs will change based on TON’s exchange rate. The suggestion is that Durov might find it easier to monetize through selling products and gifts in Telegram rather than manipulating or pumping the on-chain assets, which also face issues like unlock pressure from early investors. Understanding the purpose of Telegram (and TON) is crucial—whether it's about decentralization and accessibility or increasing asset prices. Currently, the market seems inflated mainly by the same players, with a tendency toward fixing USDT. The overall outlook suggests that while the market is to some extent inflated, these developments aim to attract Western users through celebrities, media, and new features like wallets, which are expected to take time but could significantly boost the ecosystem. The main conclusion is that messenger revenue drives its value more than blockchain assets do, and high TON prices may actually slow asset market growth. The ongoing phase appears to be a mix of stagnation and strategic preparations, with long-term potential if access is eventually opened and the ecosystem develops.