Discussing Tonkeeper Battery, Gasless and W5 with CEO Oleg Andreev

Could you share the story behind Tonkeeper? How did it start, and what motivated you to create this non-custodial TON wallet?

TON is about the mass decentralization of financial services. I have been working with blockchain and secure systems for the past 10 years. My concern has always been about user experience, ensuring that people do not resort to unsafe but convenient solutions. To create a successful decentralized system, it needs to be user-friendly, which is a significant challenge requiring advanced technologies beyond just aesthetically pleasing interfaces.

TON offers the technology to make applications both user-friendly and scalable. When we realized TON was functional and robust, my co-founders and I decided to create a non-custodial wallet, leveraging our experience to develop a mass-market, user-friendly product for financial management. Unlike centralized banks or exchanges, our solution allows users to have full control over their assets while maintaining the convenience of traditional financial platforms.

Reflecting on the integration of Notcoin into Tonkeeper, how did the listing of Notcoin unfold, and what was the overall impact on the Tonkeeper ecosystem? Were there any notable challenges or successes during this process?

Notcoin was a significant global project, attracting more than 30 million users. These users earned points by interacting with various TON services, including Tonkeeper, and other wallets, exchanges, and games. These points could later be converted into tokens tradable on exchanges, giving users tangible value.

Tonkeeper prepared for this listing by introducing Battery service, which launched in late April along with USDT on TON. The concept involves charging the Battery upfront, which then covers the fees.

This innovation was crucial as it allowed users without Toncoins to participate fully in the ecosystem. The success was evident as we processed over a million transactions through Battery, paying over $100,000 in fees in just two weeks. It validates the demand and utility of the feature, making blockchain access easier for newcomers without requiring them to invest in TON initially.

Considering the surge in activity surrounding the listing of Notcoin, how did Tonkeeper navigate the increased traffic and support demands from users, particularly those transitioning from other platforms? Were there any specific strategies or measures put in place to ensure a smooth experience for users?

Unlike other blockchains where transaction fees spike with increased demand, TON’s architecture allows the network to scale by adding more computers to service it, keeping fees stable. Our company also provides TON API, an infrastructure for developers that handles high traffic and simplifies interactions with the blockchain.

We successfully managed the increased load during Notcoin listing, ensuring smooth operations for our partners, exchanges, and other wallets using our infrastructure. Our robust infrastructure allowed us to maintain service quality, and we invite developers to join TON ecosystem, confident in our ability to support their projects reliably.

Moving on to recent developments, the Tonkeeper N.3 IOS App has been making waves, especially with features like Tonkeeper Battery and gasless payments in USDT. Can you delve into how these innovations came about and their significance for Tonkeeper users? Regarding Tonkeeper Battery, some users may wonder if it makes fees cheaper or simply facilitates fee payments when TONs are unavailable. Could you elaborate on what Tonkeeper Battery does in terms of transaction fees

People often misunderstand the purpose of Tonkeeper Battery, thinking it reduces transaction fees. In reality, Battery makes fee payment more convenient. If you have TON, it’s cheaper to pay with it directly. However, if you lack TON or prefer not to buy it, Battery provides an alternative. While it might be slightly more expensive than paying with TON, the difference is minimal and outweighed by the convenience.

Gasless covers transaction fees with the transferred asset, such as USDT or Notcoin, but is limited to these specific assets. Battery, on the other hand, can handle various types of transactions, including NFTs, making it more versatile. However, both options are designed to enhance user convenience, not necessarily to save costs. Users can still opt to pay with TON if they prefer.

Tonkeeper Battery seems like a game-changer, allowing users to receive tokens and make payments without relying on exchanges for blockchain fees. How has the reception been so far, particularly in regions like Nigeria where access to exchanges might be limited?

Tonkeeper Battery is indeed a game-changer. Our mission is to create a super app with low transaction fees that enable daily crypto payments. Battery allows users to pay for everyday items like SIM cards, internet, food delivery, and airline tickets directly with crypto, bypassing exchanges entirely. This reduces costs, increases security, and fosters a true crypto economy.

In terms of reception, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We currently have 1,300,000 active users in Nigeria, with an impressive 900,000 new users joining in May 2024 alone. This surge demonstrates the real-world applicability and demand for such a feature, especially in areas with limited access to traditional financial infrastructure.

Gasless payments in USDT is another exciting addition. How do you envision this feature impacting the user experience and broadening the accessibility of Tonkeeper for newcomers to the crypto space?

Gasless payments offer a straightforward, familiar user experience akin to traditional banking apps, making crypto transactions more accessible to newcomers. Users can transfer USDT without worrying about additional fees, providing a seamless experience while retaining full control over their assets. This empowerment fosters trust and confidence among users, as they become the architects of their financial autonomy. Gasless payments mark a milestone achievement in our journey to make cryptocurrency accessible to everyone, representing a significant step forward in our mission to democratize financial services worldwide.

Looking ahead, what are Tonkeeper’s future plans? Are there any upcoming developments or features that users can look forward to?

We plan on making Tonkeeper even easier and safer for all cryptocurrency users.

About Tonkeeper
Tonkeeper, a product of Ton Apps Group, is the leading non-custodial wallet for TON blockchain. It has created innovations such as Tonkeeper Battery for handling token and NFT fees and TON Connect for secure connection to thousands of web3 apps. In addition, Tonkeeper also has the largest developer platform on TON network — TON API, used by over 80% of projects in the ecosystem.