Animoca Brands became the largest validator of the TON blockchain in 2023, betting on Telegram's vast 800 million user base to drive GameFi adoption.

Co-founder Yat Siu is confident that several key investments and partnerships could deliver results in 2024, as mainstream institutional interest in Bitcoin gathers momentum.

Speaking at the Next Block Expo event in Berlin, the chairman highlighted some 70 deals made in 2023 that are poised to pay off next year. Chief among them is a high-profile partnership with The Open Network (TON) blockchain, allowing Animoca to stake Toncoin as part of a validator agreement.

"With 800 million Telegram users, TON offers massive onboarding potential," Siu remarked. He added that Animoca's earlier acquisition of gaming platform Gamee is now commercially viable to monetize via Telegram after the integration of TON payments.

While Gamee is not yet fully integrated, the growth of its GMEE token signals the excitement and potential for GameFi on Telegram, Siu explained.

Beyond TON, the executive remains bullish on wider metaverse and NFT projects, noting markets are healthier now as speculators departed and long-term believers remain. With major regulatory clarity secured via Binance's settlement and the conclusion of criminal proceedings, Siu sees strong tailwinds for crypto entering 2024. The anticipated approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs adds further momentum.