TLDR
- Telegram is all set to introduce a compact app store along with a built-in browser featuring web3 capabilities by the end of July 2024.
- The platform has surged in popularity thanks to tap-to-earn crypto games such as Hamster Kombat, capturing a massive user base of 239 million within 81 days.
- To guard against fraudulent activities, Telegram plans to showcase registration details for public accounts and enable third-party verification checks.
- There's been a remarkable $760 million surge in the total value locked within the TON blockchain, which is closely associated with Telegram.
- Globally, Telegram engages roughly 900 million active users every month and is consistently ranked within the top 10 most downloaded apps.
Telegram, the widely-used messaging service with around 900 million active users monthly, is planning to launch a compact app store and a web3-enabled in-app browser by late July 2024. This development comes amidst the platform's blockchain activity bustling upwards, driven by tap-to-earn crypto games.
Founder and CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, shared these innovative strategies on his personal Telegram channel, expressing:
\"2024 is set to be a pivotal year, a time when hundreds of millions will engage with blockchain. We stand proud, leading this evolution at Telegram's core.\"
Recently, the platform has transformed into a center for straightforward crypto games leveraging The Open Network (TON) blockchain. Games like Hamster Kombat, Games like Notcoin and Yescoin have skyrocketed in popularity.
Hamster Kombat, for instance , captivated 239 million users over just 81 days, demonstrating the promising potential of blockchain games as income supplements for players.
These gaming platforms are a core driver behind the monumental expansion witnessed within the TON blockchain landscape. The ecosystem's total locked value (TVL) has catapulted past $760 million, soaring from $300 million in May. Concurrently, the network’s native currency, Toncoin, has experienced significant price inflation, climbing from $2.30 at the outset of the year to over $7.00.
However, the speedy advancement and rising fame of these games have become a magnet for scammers. In a bid to combat this, Telegram is gearing up to roll out enhanced security protocols.
Spelling out these plans, Durov highlighted that the app would soon reveal public accounts' registration month and primary location, akin to Instagram. Further, entities can harness their mini apps for channel labeling, fostering an open marketplace for third-party validation.
The forthcoming app store stands to substantially benefit blockchain application development within the platform. With Telegram Mini Apps, projects can seamlessly introduce crypto applications directly within the app, providing cross-device access without requiring installations.
Helika Gaming and Notcoin, observing the increasing enthusiasm for blockchain gaming on Telegram, have rolled out a $50 million program to accelerate gaming development.