TON Ventures Secures $40M to Boost App Development in Rapidly Growing Ecosystem

The TON blockchain, originally developed by Telegram, is rapidly expanding, with its ecosystem seeing a surge in popularity, especially in web3 gaming. To capitalise on this growth, TON Ventures has launched a new venture capital fund, raising $40 million to invest in early-stage consumer apps within the TON ecosystem.

The fund is led by former TON Foundation members, Ian Wittkopp and Inal Kardan, and is supported mainly by private investors committed to the network’s long-term success.

This growth is further highlighted by the success of web3 games like Hamster Kombat, which have attracted millions of users. 20% of the TON users actively engage with the games on the TON platform. 

Related: Pantera Capital Backs TON with Multi-Million Dollar Investment, Eyes Mainstream Crypto Adoption

The TON blockchain, despite its origins with Telegram, continues to operate independently following regulatory challenges. Major players in the crypto space, such as Pantera Capital and Tether, have also shown strong support, with Pantera making its largest-ever investment in TON and Tether integrating its USDT stablecoin for enhanced peer-to-peer payments.

Although $40M isn’t that much to deploy, TON Ventures believes that strategic capital allocation will be key to addressing the critical challenges in user experience that are preventing the general public from entering web3. The end goal seems for TON to become the ‘Everything’ app just like WeChat is for China.

MicroStrategy ETF Launched with 175% Daily Leverage on Bitcoin Holdings

The SEC has approved the first-ever leveraged single-stock ETF targeting MicroStrategy, known as MSTX, which will offer 175% of MicroStrategy’s daily return. Issued by Defiance ETFs, this new ETF provides amplified exposure to Bitcoin, as MicroStrategy is one of the largest corporate holders of the cryptocurrency. 

With around 226,500 Bitcoin on its balance sheet, MicroStrategy’s stock is already a leveraged play on Bitcoin. MSTX amplifies this even further, making it a high-risk, high-reward option for investors looking to maximise their exposure to the Bitcoin market.

However, investing in MSTX comes with significant risks due to its leveraged nature and concentration in a single stock. Leveraged ETFs aim for daily performance targets, which can lead to amplified gains or losses over short periods, but their performance can vary greatly over longer terms. 

Despite the novelty of this ETF, industry experts, like Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas, warn that MSTX could become one of the most volatile ETFs in the U.S. market. The success of this first-of-its-kind ETF will largely depend on investor interest and MicroStrategy’s ongoing performance as a major Bitcoin holder.

Analysing Solana’s Bull Flag: Key Levels to Watch

Solana’s price action continues to attract attention as the bull flag pattern remains intact, a positive sign for bullish investors. The price has held steady around the $122 USD level, which is a promising indicator that the bulls are maintaining control. This consolidation within the bull flag suggests that Solana could be gearing up for a strong move, but caution is still warranted if we do decide to break this flag, we might see a little bit of a free fall all the way down to $106 ranges: (See below) – The bulls must hold here.

At the moment, Solana finds itself in a bit of a no-man’s land from a technical perspective. The price is neither at a clear buy level nor a decisive sell zone. This neutral territory can be tricky, as it’s easy to get caught up in the noise of short-term fluctuations. To navigate this, it’s essential to respect the boundaries of the bull flag pattern. For those looking to capitalise on this setup, waiting for a breakout above the upper trendline of the flag would signal a strong buying opportunity. Conversely, if the price breaks below the lower trendline, it might be wise to consider reducing exposure.

A breakout could push Solana into a new bullish phase, potentially leading to significant gains. On the flip side, if Solana fails to hold support at around $100 and breaks down, it could indicate further downside, making it a signal to either sell or hold off on new positions.