Telegram Reaches 950 Million Monthly Active Users, TON-Based Games Drive the Surge

Telegram, the popular messaging platform, has experienced a significant surge in users, reaching 950 million monthly active users, up from 900 million in the spring.

Telegram users up 950 million, driven by games, TON

By Terry Jones

Updated Aug 22, 2023; Terry Jones covers digital assets for CCN. He is an economics graduate of the University of California, Davis, and has worked in the digital assets industry since 2017.

Telegram users up 950 million, driven by games, TON

Telegram has reached 950 million monthly active users, up from 900 million in the spring, its founder and CEO Pavel Durov announced Monday.

The milestone was reached more swiftly thanks to the interest in crypto games on Telegram, Durov said.

Telegram users up 950 million, driven by games, TON

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov announced Monday that the platform has reached 950 million monthly active users (MAU), up from 900 million in the spring.

This growth is largely driven by the increasing interest in games available on the platform and the rise of The Open Network (TON), a blockchain initially founded by Telegram.

“The milestone was undoubtedly reached more swiftly thanks to the immense interest in crypto games proliferating on Telegram,” Durov wrote in the announcement.

One of the primary catalysts for this surge is the popularity of Notcoin, a tap-to-earn game that attracted millions of players by offering in-game coins with the promise of future on-chain rewards.

In May, Notcoin players were able to convert their in-game earnings into NOT tokens on TON, supported by major exchanges Binance and OKX. This airdrop became the biggest gaming token launch of the year, helping TON achieve a market cap of $17 billion, making it the 10th largest cryptocurrency.

Following Notcoin, Hamster Kombat emerged as another significant game on Telegram. With a similar tap-to-earn mechanic, the game features cute hamsters and various ways to earn rewards, quickly becoming a global phenomenon.

It reached 100 million users in June and drew attention from the Iranian government, which feared its popularity might distract citizens from the presidential election. As of this month, Hamster Kombat has attracted 250 million players, making it the fastest-growing digital service in the world, according to Durov.

Other games like Yescoin, TapSwap, Catizen, PixelTap, W-Coin, and Musk Empire have also gained popularity on Telegram. Some of these games have begun offering benefits for Notcoin holders.

Like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat plans to launch its own token on TON, while PixelTap’s token is already live on Ethereum, with plans to expand to TON.

Despite abandoning the TON project in 2020 due to regulatory issues, Telegram has reintegrated the network in various ways, including sharing ad revenue with channel owners. This integration has helped drive the platform’s growth and user engagement.

Recently, Durov announced that Catizen, a tap-to-earn game on Telegram with over 26 million players, has earned $16 million from in-app purchases. Durov highlighted that Catizen has donated 1% of its earnings to rescue stray cats, showcasing the positive impact of these games.

Telegram’s gaming ecosystem has opened new revenue streams for creators and developers. The rapid growth in Telegram’s user base and the integration of blockchain technology highlight the platform’s potential to become a dominant player in both the messaging and mobile gaming industries.

As the platform continues to evolve, its ability to engage users with innovative features and services will be crucial to maintaining its upward trajectory.