The biggest hurdle facing the crypto industry today is achieving mass adoption. Roundtable anchor Rob Nelson and Rebecca Chow, head of investment research at ViaBTC Capital, recently delved into the key factors that could drive widespread acceptance of cryptocurrencies.

Rob Nelson highlighted that mass adoption hinges on developing technologies, products, and services that meet genuine utility needs. Drawing a parallel with the advent of email, he emphasized the importance of creating applications that people find indispensable. Nelson suggested that the success of email lay in its ability to fulfill a need that users didn't even realize they had until the technology became ubiquitous.

Rebecca Chow pointed to the bitcoin ecosystem as a prime example of efforts to drive mass adoption. She noted that bitcoin's Lightning Network enables fast, low-cost payments at stores, demonstrating the potential for blockchain technology to enhance everyday transactions. However, Chow emphasized that the TON ecosystem, the blockchain for Telegram, might have an even greater potential. With hundreds of millions of existing users, Telegram offers a built-in community that most crypto projects struggle to develop from scratch.

Powerful crypto venture firms, like Pantera Capital, have recently invested heavily in TON, buying up millions of dollars worth of the coin.

Chow explained that the majority of crypto projects start with an idea and then attempt to build a community around it. In contrast, TON benefits from an already established, massive user base. This unique approach positions TON to leverage its community-first strategy to drive adoption. She remarked, "The most difficult part for a crypto project is to establish a regular, large user base, but Telegram already has that."