TON Builders Call: Payments Edition This virtual meetup will cover updates on TON’s payment solutions, practical tips for building on the network, and an interactive Q&A session. The focus on payments taps into a massive market—global digital payment transactions reached $8.1 trillion in 2024, per the World Bank—positioning TON to compete with giants like Visa and PayPal. Registration and question submissions are open via official TON links, with a live stream on YouTube for all to join. This event aligns with TON Nest, a 2025 growth program offering mentorship and funding to early-stage projects, signaling TON’s commitment to ecosystem growth.Recent NewsOver the past three months, TON has made waves with its new tiered grant model, announced on May 30, 2025, by Coinmania. This initiative targets DeFi, GameFi, payments, Telegram apps, and AI, providing milestone-based funding to Contenders (early-stage teams) and Champions (established projects). This strategic shift reflects TON’s focus on measurable outcomes, bolstered by its integration with Telegram, which continues to grow rapidly.Future PlansTON’s roadmap is ambitious, aiming to onboard 500 million users by 2028, as outlined by the TON Foundation. Future developments include expanding Telegram-based Web3 apps and enhancing payment infrastructure. The TON Nest program will support this vision, offering ongoing resources to builders, while the blockchain’s sharding technology promises scalability to handle millions of transactions.Onchain DataSpecific onchain metrics for June 2025 are not yet available as of June 17, but TON Stat reports steady network growth, with daily transactions and fees increasing throughout 2024. Toncoin’s price sits at $3.00 USD with a 24-hour trading volume of $172 million, per CoinMarketCap, indicating robust activity. These trends suggest growing adoption, though exact staking or wallet data awaits the next update.Community SentimentX reactions to the event are overwhelmingly positive. Users like @Ox_Fatimaa and @MoonMasterAI have expressed excitement, with @DappRadarDAO urging question submissions. Some, like @ergul61535, mention competing projects (e.g., Solana), but the general tone is bullish, with @Web3_Foreign calling it “packed!” This enthusiasm reflects TON’s rising profile.Additional InsightsTON’s edge lies in its Telegram integration, outpacing competitors like Solana in user accessibility. The payment focus could attract merchants and developers, though volatility risks remain typical in crypto. A risk disclaimer: Always research and assess risks before investing, as market conditions can shift rapidly.Join the call to stay ahead in the crypto payment revolution! Register at https://t.co/nNVsuRy4Ju.Sources: TON Foundation, Coinmania, World Bank, CoinMarketCap, TON Stat, X posts.