What do hamsters, crypto, and Iran’s military share in common? During the summer of 2024, the Telegram mini-game Hamster Kombat gained immense popularity, attracting 300 million users. This success led Iran's Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari to attribute the game's success to western efforts aimed at distracting Iranian voters during elections, part of the so-called "soft war" against Iran.

Hamster Kombat, along with other simple tap games, runs on Telegram’s blockchain-based infrastructure known as TON (The Open Network). Steve Yun, as the president of the TON Foundation, plays a key role in the promotion of TON. The network is experiencing significant growth, boasting a market cap exceeding $17 billion, positioning it as the 13th largest cryptocurrency project.

Many in the U.S. haven't fully engaged with TON due to regulatory hurdles, particularly the absence of a native Telegram crypto wallet. However, this may soon change as SEC Chair Gary Gensler announced his intention to step down early next year, prompting Yun to proclaim on Twitter, "TON is going to the U.S."

This profile is part of CoinDesk's Most Influential 2024 package. Discover more about this year's nominees here.