Inside Telegram's Gaming Revolution | TON Foundation x Mighty Bear | Simon Davis & Martin Masser

On this episode of Talking Tokens, Jacquelyn sits down with Simon Davis, co-founder and CEO of Mighty Bear Games, and Martin Masser, head of growth at TON Foundation. The two combined forces to shape the future of gaming and digital collectibles inside Telegram. Simon breaks down the story behind Mighty Action Heroes and why his studio pivoted to build on TON. Martin shares how TON-powered Telegram apps are quietly onboarding millions, often without users realizing they’re even interacting with crypto. The discussion covers the new wave of airdrop farming games, why collectibles and mini-apps matter, and what mass adoption in web3 could look like. Plus: advice on growth, why frictionless UX beats hype, and practical tips for breaking into crypto.

⏱️ Timestamps

(00:00) - Intro

(01:08) - What’s the REAL connection between Telegram and TON?

(03:30) - How Simon and Martin got started in web3 & gaming

(05:34) - What actually makes a good web3 game? Audiences, fun, yield, and “crypto speculators”

(08:05) - Why onboarding is broken—and how Telegram/TON plan to fix it

(09:08) - Using Telegram Collectibles as social and onboarding gateways

(13:16) - Users don’t care about chains or tech. They just want fun, easy games

(16:05) - Growth hacks: using AI bots and community agents for user acquisition

(18:07) - Social apps, sticker NFTs, and why “crypto” is better hidden behind the scenes

(22:09) - The next wave: Brand partnerships, new utility, and sticker store innovations

(27:14) - Challenges: Airdrop farmers, awareness gaps, and what still needs building

(36:14) - Lessons & advice: Stay curious, get into the weeds, and “provide value” if you want in

(43:04) - Final tips for security, jobs, and how to really impress in crypto

📢 Subscribe & FollowSubscribe on Spotify, Apple or YouTube. If you like the show, leave us a review!Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LOgWxIQ0NnNUD5eXsSuoZApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-tokens/id1743669141Follow on X: Jacquelyn: https://twitter.com/jacqmelinek | Talking Tokens: https://twitter.com/_TalkingTokensInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_talkingtokens/

Note: This podcast is for informational purposes only. Guests may have a financial interest in discussed assets or companies. Not investment advice.