This Telegram-based game tackles fantasy football with TON’s technology

A TON-selected Web3 game aims to leverage the fantasy football genre to new heights, bringing a new dimension to the gaming experience on Telegram.

Telegram’s latest venture into Web3 space brings a unique twist to fantasy football by leveraging blockchain technology. Fanton, a Web3-based football game, embraces an innovative approach embodied in The Open League, a community-driven incentive system part of the TON ecosystem.

Web3-friendly messaging app Telegram has adopted a crypto-friendly approach and endorsed The Open Network (TON) as its preferred blockchain network. Adding to this momentum, Telegram has launched Wallet, a bot within the app that simplifies the process of buying and selling cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC).

Complementing these developments is The Open League, a community-driven incentive system from the TON ecosystem designed to boost user engagement with Web3 projects on The Open Network. Cointelegraph Accelerator participant Fanton, an innovative Web3 game playable on Telegram, was highlighted by The Open League with its focus on fantasy football.

This fusion of Telegram, a messaging behemoth with over 800 million active users, and the global appeal of football, a sport with an estimated 5 billion fans worldwide, represents a strategic convergence of two massive audiences.

On the one hand, Telegram offers a platform with immense reach and a user base that spans the globe, providing an ideal space for fostering community engagement and digital innovation. Conversely, with its unparalleled popularity, football presents a universal language that resonates across borders and cultures. The global fan base of football is significant in numbers and passion, creating a fertile ground for digital experiences that can harness this enthusiasm.

Evolving fantasy football into a global industry

The Open League aims to transform TON into a major digital player in the digital sphere by spotlighting projects like Fanton, which can appeal to broad audiences while utilizing Web3 technologies.

Fanton Fantasy Football features many real-world football leagues and superstars. Source: Fanton

Fanton Fantasy Football combines fantasy sports and digital collectibles. In the fantasy football genre, users create a virtual football team and score points for the players’ critical actions in real matches. Fanton users acquire and manage NFT-based virtual cards featuring top football stars.

Players can build teams using free cards or NFTs and register to compete in various tournaments. By winning or displaying noteworthy performances, participants can earn TON tokens or NFT card rewards in these tournaments. Players have the flexibility to utilize these NFTs in future tournaments or opt to sell them for TON on the open market.

Players can take part in fantasy football tournaments featuring real-world superstars. Source: Fanton

Telegram integration streamlines the user experience and introduces a novel way to engage with fantasy sports through the convenience and accessibility of a popular messaging platform. Uniquely integrated within Telegram, Fanton transcends the boundaries of typical standalone applications, leveraging mini-app capabilities.

Fanton’s ease of use is also reflected in statistics: the Fanton community on Telegram has surpassed 200,000 members, while its X (formerly Twitter) following has grown to over 80,000. Additionally, the number of registered users has soared past 710,000, and monthly active users for January alone have exceeded 275,000.

TON’s support elevates fantasy sports innovation

Being part of TON’s prestigious initiative has several advantages for Fanton. Besides financial backing, Fanton can get expert mentorship, access to an extensive network of industry leaders and the opportunity to leverage cutting-edge blockchain technologies.

Eldar Khayretdinov, CEO of Fanton, underlined the importance of this alliance with TON in The Open League and said that they aim not only to be a participant but also a pioneer that sets new standards in fantasy sports.

“In The Open League, much like in the esteemed England Premier League, the spotlight is on the best of the best, and Fanton is honored to be a part of this elite circle,” Khayretdinov said, adding: “This campaign is not just a marketing endeavor; it’s a celebration of excellence and innovation.”

As new niches continue to emerge in the Web3 space, unprecedented ways are emerging for the 5 billion football fans worldwide to interact with their favorite sport. Looking to the future, blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize many different industries and expand far beyond its current scope.