According to the platform’s founder Pavel Durov, the Telegram app’s active user base has reached 950 million as of July 22.
The platform is a longtime favorite among digital communicators. However, the recent surge in active users can be attributed to the rising trend of crypto gaming and the rise of The Open Network (TON).
Crypto Gaming Propels Telegram to 950 Million Users
Durov announced the milestone, highlighting the 50 million increase in active Telegram users since spring.
“Telegram reached 950 million monthly active users — up from 900 million in the spring. On track for one billion,” Durov wrote.
It comes amid booming euphoria around crypto gaming on Telegram. Notcoin (NOT), issued on The Open Network (TON) blockchain, first fronted this narrative as a viral tap-to-earn gaming token within Telegram. In January, it forayed into the Web3 arena by introducing Telegram mini-applications integrating blockchain technology.
Notcoin has swiftly amassed a global community of over 40 million users, bolstering its capabilities with listings for its token. The NOT airdrop in June also became one of the biggest gaming token launches this year.
Read more: How To Buy Notcoin (NOT) and Everything You Need To Know
Before the hype around Notcoin subsided, another tap-to-earn game, Hamster Kombat (HMSTR), announced its launch on TON. Durov described the game as the fastest-growing digital service in the world.
Integrating Notcoin and Hamster Kombat with The Open Network means any of the messaging app’s 950 million monthly users can access crypto gaming without exiting the app. According to Hamster Kombat’s team, it is the leading Telegram-based project in the second half of 2024, with at least 250 million players.
“Telegram is tapping into a very unique market trend that has proven to appeal to many innovators within TON. The deployment of games with incentives on a massively used social messaging app is ingenious and will continue to drive user adoption in the broader digital currency ecosystem. The spillover from the large user base that Telegram commands to the native tokens of games associated with it is a good catalyst for driving value,” Alvin Kan, COO at Bitget Wallet, told BeInCrypto.
Hamster Kombat Poised to Bring Masses to Blockchain
The excitement around Hamster Kombat stands among the key drivers for the surge in Telegram active users drawn to crypto gaming. Durov said it took Hamster only 73 days to reach 100 million monthly users. Each day, four to five million new users join Hamster Kombat, making it the fastest-growing digital service in the world.
“As I said a few months back, a new wave of mini-apps on Telegram is coming, and Hamster Kombat is now leading the pack. Its amazing growth shows the viral potential of the Telegram mini-app platform,” Durov commented.
More exchanges are launching pre-market trading for Notcoin’s NOT token and Hamster Kombat’s HMSTR token. These, coupled with in-game rewards, invigorate investor frenzy around crypto gaming and could draw more capital into the space.
Nevertheless, Hamster Kombat’s rise to fame has been challenging. In June, the Uzbekistan National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP), which regulates the country’s crypto industry, cited HMSTR, saying it is not a crypto asset.
The regulator argued that in-game coins are not blockchain-based. However, it highlighted that if Hamster Kombat adopts blockchain technology, it will render HMSTR tokens. Uzbekistan cautioned that Hamster Kombat players who withdraw in-game coins to crypto exchanges or exchange for fiat risk a 15-day imprisonment.
Read more: Tap-to-Earn: What to Know About the Crypto GameFi Trend
Despite the controversial status, such projects as Hamster Kombat play a crucial role in driving Telegram’s growth and success. The messaging app continues to evolve and adapt to its user’s changing needs.
“The rapid growth of Telegram games has already caught the attention of major gaming companies. As the ecosystem evolves, this cross-ecosystem support will positively impact the quality and volume of products in the market. Additionally, the evolution of the Play-2-Earn ecosystem creates a synergistic effect for the development of the crypto industry, the gaming industry, and Telegram. The ecosystem’s visions might be achieved if T2E innovators focus on the major aspects players and investors look out for, including community incentives, an achievable roadmap, and an easy-to-integrate wallet, among others,” TapSwap representative told BeInCrypto.
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