Telegram messenger has recently introduced a new built-in browser that supports decentralized sites known as “Ton sites.” This new feature is accessible on both mobile devices and computers, bringing Web3 capabilities to nearly a billion Telegram users.
The new browser enables users to seamlessly switch between browsing sites and messaging, merging communication and content consumption. Through Ton sites, Telegram users have the ability to deploy web servers and share their sites on The Open Network.
Furthermore, Telegram has also announced the launch of the Mini App Store, a feature that was previously promised and is now live for users. With the Mini App Store, users can send “Stars” – the Mini App payment system’s units – to their contacts.
Currently, over 500 million out of the 950 million Telegram users engage monthly with Mini Apps. Among these, one of the most popular applications is Hamster Kombat, a crypto game where players earn tokens by interacting with a virtual hamster and enhancing their virtual cryptocurrency portfolio. Despite being launched just four months ago, this game has already attracted over 300 million players, making it the third largest app with 150 million active users.
Another widely utilized platform within Telegram is the Web3 Catizen’s social entertainment platform, which has generated $16 million in in-app purchases since its launch in March. Notably, $160,000 of this revenue has been directed towards aiding homeless cats.
According to data from Coingecko, both Hamster Kombat and Catizen operate using the native cryptocurrency of The Open Network, Toncoin (Ton), which has observed a remarkable 467% surge in value over the past year, reaching $6.78.
The development of The Open Network blockchain progresses with the Ton Core team and Tonkeeper introducing a new W5 smart wallet standard, promising gas-free transactions. This advancement significantly reduces entry barriers for new users, allowing them to engage with the Ton ecosystem without the necessity of purchasing Toncoin beforehand.