TLDR
- Telegram is launching a mini app store and an in-app browser with web3 support by the end of July 2024.
- The platform has become popular for tap-to-earn crypto games like Hamster Kombat, which gained 239 million users in 81 days.
- Telegram aims to combat scams by displaying registration info for public accounts and allowing third-party verification.
- The TON blockchain, associated with Telegram, has seen significant growth in total value locked, reaching over $760 million.
- Telegram has about 900 million monthly active users globally and ranks among the top 10 most downloaded apps.
Telegram, the popular messaging app with around 900 million monthly active users, is set to launch a mini app store and an in-app browser with web3 support by the end of July 2024. This move comes as the platform experiences a surge in blockchain-related activities, particularly in the form of tap-to-earn crypto games.
Pavel Durov, Telegram’s founder and CEO, announced these plans in his personal Telegram channel. He stated,
“2024 will go down in history as the year when hundreds of millions of people became familiar with blockchain. We’re proud that Telegram is at the epicenter of this societal transformation.”
The platform has recently become a hub for simple crypto games that utilize The Open Network (TON) blockchain. Games like Hamster Kombat, Notcoin, and Yescoin have gained massive popularity.
Hamster Kombat, for instance, attracted 239 million users in just 81 days, highlighting the potential for blockchain games to supplement players’ income.
These games have contributed to significant growth in the TON blockchain ecosystem. The total value locked (TVL) in TON has surpassed $760 million, up from $300 million in May. The network’s native token, Toncoin, has also seen substantial price increases, rising from about $2.30 at the start of the year to over $7.00.
However, the rapid growth and popularity of these games have also attracted scammers. To address this issue, Telegram plans to implement new security measures.
Durov announced that the app will soon display the month of registration and principal country for public accounts, similar to Instagram. Additionally, organizations will be able to use their mini apps to issue labels for channels, creating a decentralized marketplace for third-party verification.
The introduction of the mini app store is expected to further boost the development of blockchain-based applications on the platform. Telegram Mini Apps allow projects to deploy crypto applications directly within Telegram, accessible across various devices without additional installations.
In response to the growing interest in blockchain gaming on Telegram, Notcoin and Helika Gaming have announced a $50 million gaming accelerator program.
