Telegram Stars has transformed the messaging app Telegram into a digital marketplace, allowing users to buy digital goods like e-books, online courses, and in-game items. With over 400 million monthly users interacting with bots and mini-apps, Telegram has always been more than just a messaging app. The new feature allows bots and mini-apps to sell digital goods and services, expanding the platform’s offerings to include e-learning resources and digital art. Telegram Stars can be purchased through in-app purchases on Apple and Google platforms or via PremiumBot, ensuring smooth transactions that comply with their policies for digital sales.
In the near future, developers will be able to convert their earned Stars into Toncoin (TON), Telegram’s cryptocurrency, through Fragment. This will enable developers to sell their TON on exchanges or keep them as investments. Telegram has already supported the sale of physical products via bots and mini-apps, accepting payments from around the globe. With the addition of digital products, Telegram has broadened its scope and plans to further enhance Stars by introducing features like gifts for content creators.
Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, revealed that Apple and Google take a 30% commission when users buy Stars from their platforms. Telegram has a solution to offset these costs by subsidizing ads purchased with Stars, effectively bringing the overall commission down to nearly zero. This makes launching and promoting apps on Telegram more cost-effective than on traditional mobile platforms, aligning with the recent boom in mini apps on the platform. Success stories within the Telegram ecosystem, such as Notcoin and Hamster Kombat, highlight the platform’s potential for rapid growth.
Telegram has also made strides in the crypto space, with the launch of Tether (USDT) on the TON blockchain. Developers will soon be able to withdraw their earned Stars in TON through Fragment, Telegram’s marketplace for in-app usernames and advertisements. Toncoin has seen a significant rise in value, hitting its highest price ever at $7.76 with a market cap nearing $18 billion. The surge in TON is attributed to increased whale activity and the launch of Telegram Stars.
The future of Telegram and its ecosystem is expected to bring more mini-apps and user growth, with Telegram Stars lowering promotion costs for developers. This is likely to attract more innovative apps to the platform, creating a new type of marketplace where users can earn and spend Stars. The use of Toncoin is also expected to rise, given its recent price surge and the ease of converting Stars into TON. This growth could lead to more partnerships and integrations within the crypto space, solidifying Telegram’s role in the digital economy.
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