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 practical application beyond investment. Given this, how can various Web3 applications surrounding blockchain make general users feel their presence?
The messaging software Telegram places its hopes on decentralized mini applications (DApps), or more colloquially, various mini programs within Telegram.
Although Telegram is not the messaging software commonly used by people in Taiwan, the platform already boasts over 1 billion global users, has a built-in native blockchain wallet, and integrates the TON blockchain, making it one of the most promising environments to drive “pain-free access to Web3.”
As Dr. Awesome Doge, founder of the infrastructure and development platform TONX, stated: “When you use Web3 services without ever realizing you are using Web3, that is true success.” Behind this statement lies his core belief cultivated over three years of deep engagement with the TON ecosystem, building development tools, and designing user experiences.
Founded in 2021, TONX is a foundational platform dedicated to helping developers create Web3 applications, making it easier for users to develop on the TON blockchain.
Telegram’s Vision of a “Super App”
Currently led by the TON Foundation, the TON blockchain and its native token Toncoin were initially driven by Telegram itself. In 2018, Telegram decided to issue the token Gram and develop a blockchain network to support it called the “Telegram Open Network” (TON). Their motivation was to create a secure, fast, and user-friendly cryptocurrency to serve as an alternative to traditional payment systems in everyday life.
However, in October 2019, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) deemed the private placement to be a securities issuance, thus requiring compliance with SEC regulations. After months of struggle following the SEC’s lawsuit, Telegram abandoned the project to avoid the uncertainties brought by regulation.
In 2021, community members decided to take over, establishing the TON Foundation to continue development, rebranding the new chain as “The Open Network,” and allowing users to transfer cryptocurrencies directly through Telegram. While 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 did not attract much attention. He noted that there were no stable development tools available to provide on-chain data, prompting him to establish TONX to lower the barriers for developers and users. He subsequently launched the TONX API tools, enterprise-level multi-signature wallet service Tonkey, and even organized hackathons, significantly contributing to the growth of the TON ecosystem.
Dr. Awesome Doge emphasized that TON is an ecosystem born to realize Telegram’s vision of a “super app.” In 2023, Telegram launched mini applications with built-in wallet functionality, allowing users to automatically gain Web3 payment capabilities by simply updating the app. This advantage makes mini applications an ideal way to penetrate Web3, requiring no switching or learning of new tools, enabling blockchain financial applications to be operated directly within chat windows.
In 2023, Telegram launched mini applications with built-in wallet functionality, allowing users to automatically gain Web3 payment capabilities by simply updating the app.
From Games to Decentralized Finance
When TON mini applications were first launched, “tap to earn” type games were quite popular. For example, “Hamster Kombat” garnered significant user interest, attracting over 200 million players within three months. The game not only conducted airdrops of its native tokens but also introduced a second-layer blockchain on TON called “Hamster Network,” and developed a native wallet and decentralized exchange facilities, attracting more projects to develop.
“Hamster Kombat” garnered significant user interest, attracting over 200 million players within three months.
Pavel Durov, Telegram’s founder and CEO, strongly supported this initiative, praising Hamster Kombat as the leader of the new wave of mini applications on his Telegram channel.
Dr. Awesome Doge explained that these simple-to-operate games could preemptively help users become familiar with wallets and transaction logic, serving as a prelude to achieving payment visions. As users become accustomed to it, more mini applications combining Web3 finance will emerge, such as decentralized trading platforms STON Fi, Blum, and even wallets from exchanges like Bitget, all operable directly within Telegram.
For instance, according to data from decentralized application analytics platform DappRadar, STON Fi has the most independent active wallets among mini applications in the TON ecosystem, providing users with a seamless experience for completing transactions and asset conversions directly in the chat room. Furthermore, the built-in TON wallet can be used for receiving and sending cryptocurrencies, and even supports zero transaction fees for purchasing USDT in over 60 countries and regions, nearing the application scenario of “everyday transfers.”
Additionally, TONX’s liquidity staking protocol KTON has also integrated the operational experience of Telegram’s mini applications, allowing users to complete staking and interest collection seamlessly by connecting to the built-in wallet. These cases illustrate that Telegram’s mini applications are not just a stage for games but are gradually realizing the financial vision of embedding into daily life held by the TON team and developers.
For users who use both Telegram and Line, it’s noticeable that Telegram adopts a more neutral term “mini applications” to describe its features, rather than Line’s “decentralized applications” (DApps), which emphasizes Web3 characteristics.
Dr. Awesome Doge pointed out that this is a strategic choice by Telegram because mini applications do not exclusively serve “Web3 users,” as they encompass a variety of programs, allowing users to engage with new technologies without pain. “To truly reach 1 billion users, you cannot use a language they do not 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 natural enough and payments are stable enough, TON can quietly integrate into everyone’s daily life without relying on hype.