The encrypted messaging app Telegram rolled out a browser and “mini app store” this week, the latest salvo in what has been a busy few months for Telegram and the associated TON blockchain. 

Telegram’s browser gives users more streamlined access to the mini apps, such as “Hamster Combat” and “Catizen,” which have captured users’ attention in recent weeks following the TON-based airdrop carried out by the “Notcoin” tap-to-earn game.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov first announced the new features on July 19. Three days later, he announced the app had reached 950 million active users (although it’s unclear how this figure was calculated. And with the airdrop fever surrounding TON mini-apps, it’s fair to assume that at least some of these users are duplicates). 

The mini app store and browser are linked, with the app store redirecting users to mini app sites on the browser. Users can have several “tabs” open at once. 

As part of the same update, Telegram enabled users to gift stars — an in-app currency that can be exchanged for TON tokens — to their friends, who can then use the stars for in-app purchases on Telegram. 

Telegram has long been the go-to messaging app for crypto-natives. Durov and Co. — who have long been associated with Web3 — appear to be in the process of formalizing that connection.

6th Man Ventures’ Mike Dudas wrote on X that Telegram is “by far the most crypto-friendly global social platform” following the announcement.

Source: Jack Kubinec – blockworks.co