Telegram Surges to 950M Users, Driven by Crypto Gaming Boom

Telegram, the popular messaging platform, has reached a new milestone of 950 million monthly active users, according to founder and CEO Pavel Durov. This significant increase from 900 million users in spring is largely attributed to the surging popularity of blockchain-based games on the platform.

The gaming trend on Telegram is powered by The Open Network (TON), a blockchain system originally developed by Telegram but later open-sourced. The phenomenon began with Notcoin (NOT), a simple tap-to-earn game that promised future crypto rewards. Millions of users flocked to the game, eager to convert their virtual coins into NOT tokens on TON.

In May 2024, the NOT token officially launched with support from major exchanges like Binance and OKX, marking it as the year’s biggest gaming token event. Following Notcoin’s success, Hamster Kombat emerged as another popular game, reaching 100 million users by June with its engaging gameplay and varied reward options.

Hamster Kombat‘s popularity has even caught the attention of the Iranian government, which expressed concerns about the game potentially distracting voters from the presidential election. The game’s user base has since grown to an impressive 250 million players.

The success of Notcoin and Hamster Kombat has paved the way for numerous new crypto games on Telegram. Emerging titles like Yescoin, TapSwap, and Catizen are now planning to launch their own cryptocurrencies on the TON blockchain.

As Telegram continues to grow, the platform’s integration with blockchain technology and crypto gaming appears to be a key driver in attracting and retaining users. This trend highlights the increasing intersection of messaging apps, blockchain, and gaming in the evolving digital landscape.