Telegram ranks as one of the most widely used digital communities and messaging software globally, with over 900 million monthly active users.
The software company has recently successfully simplified and made Web3 available on everyone’s smartphone by integrating TON’s blockchain into its app. This allowed for rapid mini-apps developments within Telegram, which has driven so many users into web3 and crypto.
The Rise of Telegram Mini-Apps
Telegram Mini-Apps (TMAs) are web-based apps that operate within Telegram. Telegram launched the Mini Apps platform in 2023 to let developers worldwide release innovative applications leveraging the already existing Telegram infrastructure.
With the tool, developers can employ popular web programming languages like HTML, CSS, and Javascript to create web applications swiftly within the Telegram app. These apps can be found in the Telegram Apps Center, a Mini App that can be accessed on Telegram using a dedicated bot.
Alena Shmalko, the ecosystem lead for the TON Foundation, claims that the rapid rise of TMAs in 2024 has been made possible by integrating the TON blockchain’s speed, scalability, and cheap transaction costs with Telegram’s 900 million users.
With revenue withdrawals limited to Toncoin (TON), the native cryptocurrency of TON Blockchain, Telegram Mini Apps may “end up being a Trojan horse for onboarding Web2 developers into Web3” when combined with additional in-app payment features like Telegram Stars.
Crypto Adoption Growing
The transaction activity on TON has been significantly influenced by Telegram “mini-apps”. Players engage in several mini-app activities daily, socializing, competing, and collecting rewards. This has significantly fueled TON’s economic activities and the adoption of web3 and cryptocurrency.
For instance, Lost Dogs, a play-to-earn game, helped to fuel the surge of over 13.5 million transactions by the end of August.
Another Telegram Mini-App, Notcoin, made a significant adoption contribution in June by rewarding over 11.5 million users with over $1 billion in tokens for doing various activities on the app. Also, $DOGS, a new TON-based meme-coin designed to embody the spirit and culture of the Telegram community, has so far rewarded over 7 million users with over 120 Billion tokens.
Final Words
Telegram looks set to become the major driver of web3 and crypto adoption for users and developers. With the integration of TON Blockchain with the Telegram app, leveraging over 950 million monthly users, the platform has positioned itself to be the major driver of web3 inclusion globally.
Will Telegram become the driving force for the next bull market? Only time will tell…
