Telegram, the crypto-friendly social messaging platform, has unveiled a new in-app browser designed to support decentralized websites, known as "TON Sites."
Telegram, the crypto-friendly social messaging platform, has unveiled a new in-app browser designed to support decentralized websites, known as "TON Sites." According to a post from Telegram's team on July 31, these TON Sites are now accessible on both mobile and desktop versions of the app. This integration aims to bring Web3 capabilities to nearly one billion monthly users of Telegram.
Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO, emphasized the significance of this update in a July 31 post, stating, "The Browser lets users switch between viewing websites and messaging, merging communication with news consumption." TON Sites enable users to launch a web server and host their website on The Open Network (TON).
In addition to the in-app browser, Telegram has also launched its much-anticipated Mini App store, which the company had promised to release by the end of July. This new feature allows users to send "Stars"—units of the Mini App payment system—to friends, enhancing the platform's social and transactional capabilities.
Currently, over 500 million of Telegram's 950 million users engage with Mini Apps each month. Among the most popular is Hamster Kombat, a crypto game that has gained over 300 million players in just four months. In Hamster Kombat, players tap a hamster to earn tokens and upgrade their virtual crypto exchange, making it the third-fastest app to reach 150 million players.
Another popular app on Telegram is Catizen, a Web3 social entertainment platform that has seen significant adoption. According to Durov, Catizen has accumulated 26 million players since its launch in March, generating $16 million from in-app purchases. Impressively, around $160,000 of that revenue has been allocated to rescuing stray cats.
Both Hamster Kombat and Catizen utilize The Open Network's native cryptocurrency, Toncoin (TON).
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