Mini Applications Penetrate 1 Billion Users
The biggest issue with blockchain applications is their “intangible” nature. Various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and SOL have little utility beyond investment. Given this, how can Web3 applications surrounding blockchain create a sense of “tangibility” for the average user?
The messaging software Telegram places its hopes on decentralized mini applications (DApps), or more simply put, various mini-programs within Telegram.
Although Telegram is not the messaging software commonly used in Taiwan, it already boasts over 1 billion global users, features a built-in native blockchain wallet, and integrates the TON blockchain, making it a prime candidate to promote “pain-free access to Web3.”
As Dr. Awesome Doge, founder of the infrastructure and development platform TONX, stated: “When you use a Web3 service without ever realizing you’re using Web3, that is true success.” This statement reflects his core belief developed over three years of deep involvement in the TON ecosystem, creating development tools and designing user experiences.
Telegram’s “Super App” Vision
Currently, the TON blockchain and its native token Toncoin are primarily led by the TON Foundation, which was originally propelled by Telegram itself. In 2018, Telegram decided to issue the token Gram and develop the blockchain network “Telegram Open Network” (TON) to support it. Their motivation was to create a secure, fast, and user-friendly cryptocurrency that could serve as an alternative to traditional payment systems in daily life.
However, in October 2019, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) deemed the private placement as a security issuance, thus requiring adherence to SEC regulations. Following a lawsuit from the SEC, Telegram eventually abandoned the project to avoid the uncertainties of regulatory compliance.
In 2021, community members decided to take over, establishing the TON Foundation to continue development, renaming the new chain “The Open Network,” and allowing users to transfer cryptocurrency directly via Telegram. Although The Open Network is currently managed by the foundation, Telegram remains actively involved.
That same year, Dr. Awesome Doge, a core developer of TON, recognized the potential of this chain and chose to invest at a time when it wasn’t widely noticed. He noted that there were no existing development tools capable of reliably providing on-chain data, prompting him to establish TONX to lower the barriers for developers and users. He subsequently launched TONX API tools, the enterprise-grade multi-signature wallet service Tonkey, and even hosted hackathons to bolster the TON ecosystem.
Dr. Awesome Doge emphasized that TON is the ecosystem birthed to realize Telegram’s vision of a “super app.” In 2023, Telegram launched mini applications with built-in wallet functionality, allowing users to gain Web3 payment capabilities simply by updating the app. This advantage positions mini applications as an ideal means for Web3 penetration, enabling users to operate blockchain financial applications directly within the chat window without needing to switch or learn new tools.
From Games to Decentralized Finance
When TON mini applications were first launched, “tap-to-earn” games became quite popular. For instance, “Hamster Kombat” was well-received, attracting over 200 million users within three months. This game not only later airdropped its native tokens but also launched a second-layer blockchain on TON called “Hamster Network,” along with native wallets and decentralized exchanges, enticing projects to develop on the platform.
Telegram’s founder and CEO Pavel Durov strongly supported this initiative, praising Hamster Kombat as a leader of the mini application “new wave” on his Telegram channel.
Dr. Awesome Doge explained that these simple-to-operate games can pre-condition users to become familiar with wallet and transaction logic, serving only as a prelude to achieving payment goals. As users become accustomed, an increasing number of mini applications integrating Web3 finance will emerge, such as decentralized trading platforms STON Fi and Blum, as well as the Bitget wallet, all of which can be utilized directly within Telegram.
Specifically, according to decentralized application data analytics platform DappRadar, STON Fi currently boasts the highest number of independent active wallets among mini applications in the TON ecosystem, providing users with an experience for completing transactions and asset exchanges directly within the chat interface. Additionally, the built-in TON wallet can be used for receiving and sending encrypted assets, even supporting zero-fee purchases of USDT in over 60 countries and regions, approaching the scenario of “everyday transactions.”
The liquidity staking protocol KTON launched by TONX also integrates the operational experience of Telegram’s mini applications, allowing users to connect their built-in wallets and complete staking and interest withdrawal actions in one go. These cases illustrate that Telegram’s mini applications are not merely a stage for games but are gradually realizing the financial vision of embedding into everyday life as envisioned by the TON team and developers.
If you are a user of both Telegram and Line, you may notice that Telegram adopts a more neutral term “mini applications” to encapsulate its functionalities, unlike Line’s emphasis on “decentralized applications” (DApps), which highlights Web3 characteristics more prominently.
Dr. Awesome Doge pointed out that this is a strategic choice by Telegram, as mini applications are not meant to serve only “Web3 users,” but rather encompass a variety of programs, enabling users to engage with new technologies without pain. “To truly reach 1 billion users, we cannot use a language they don’t understand.”
As a core developer of the ecosystem, Dr. Awesome Doge stated, “Our vision is to make this Web3 platform born from Telegram the most natural choice for users in Asia.” When user experience is sufficiently natural and payments are stable, TON can quietly enter everyone’s daily life without relying on hype.