Rise of Telegram Mini Apps The Complete Guide You Need

11

Sep
  • By Shiva
  • Last updated: September 11, 2024

Rise of Telegram Mini Apps: The Complete Guide You Need in 2024

Table of Contents

The Rise of Telegram Mini Apps: A New Era in Web3 Integration

In 2024, The Open Network (TON), a blockchain platform closely tied to Telegram, experienced exponential growth, largely driven by the adoption of Telegram Mini Apps (TMAs). These web applications, built directly into the Telegram messaging platform, offer developers new tools for monetization, user engagement, and Web3 integration. With over 900 million active users, Telegram provides a fertile ground for the expansion of blockchain-powered applications. In this article, we’ll delve into the rise of Telegram Mini Apps, their significance, and the challenges they face in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

What Are Telegram Mini Apps?

Telegram Mini Apps (TMAs) are web-based applications that run directly within the Telegram app, utilizing standard web programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Launched in 2023, the TMA platform allows developers to create and launch sophisticated applications in Telegram without needing to build separate apps. This feature is accessible through the Telegram Apps Center, which functions as a Mini App itself, simplifying access to these tools.

According to Alena Shmalko, the ecosystem lead at the TON Foundation, TMAs represent a natural evolution of Telegram’s open bot API, allowing developers more flexibility and creativity in building web apps. In an interview with Cointelegraph, Shmalko explained that Telegram’s Mini Apps are part of a broader effort to combine messaging with digital assets and decentralized services.

Shmalko further emphasized that TMAs are more competitive than similar offerings on other platforms like WeChat due to the integration of the TON blockchain, which powers these apps with a Web3 engine. This, she says, opens up new opportunities for monetization, allowing users to have true ownership of their digital assets.

Beginner’s Guide to Telegram Mini Apps

Messaging apps have become an essential part of modern life, offering easy and instant communication. Telegram has taken this a step further with its introduction of Mini Apps, a powerful new feature that allows users to access additional services directly within the app, eliminating the need to switch between different platforms.

Mini Apps are built using JavaScript, giving developers the flexibility to create dynamic, interactive interfaces that function entirely inside Telegram, essentially replacing the need for a traditional website.

Key features of Telegram Mini Apps include:

  • Integration with Telegram’s vast user base of over 800 million
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • Interaction with bots
  • Web3 readiness

Creating a simple web app for Telegram:

  1. Initialize your project using HTML/CSS and JavaScript, or any preferred web framework.
  2. If using a framework, install the Telegram Web App (TWA) SDK:

npm i @twa-dev/sdk

Basic usage example:

import WebApp from '@twa-dev/sdk';
WebApp.showAlert('Hello world!');
Alternatively, for a more traditional setup, Telegram distributes the SDK via a simple script tag:<html lang="en">
<head>
<title>TWA</title>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<script src="https://telegram.org/js/telegram-web-app.js"></script>
<script>
window.Telegram.WebApp.showAlert('Hello world!');
</script>
</head>
<body></body>
</html>

Some essential WebApp properties to know:

  • ready()

    : Signals that the Mini App is ready to be displayed and should be called as soon as key interface elements are loaded.

  • close()

    : Closes the Mini App.

  • expand()

    : Expands the Mini App to its full height. You can check if it’s expanded using the 

    WebApp.isExpanded

    parameter.

  • enableClosingConfirmation()

    : Opens a confirmation modal before closing the app.

  • platform

    : Provides the Telegram platform name.

  • initData

    & 

    initDataUnsafe

    : These provide user data, either as a string or as an object.

Deploying your web app on Telegram:

  1. Open BotFather and use the /newbot command to create a new bot, assigning it a name and username.
  2. Use /mybots to select your bot, then navigate to Bot Settings -> Menu Button and add your deployed web app’s URL.

Now you have your own Telegram bot with an integrated Mini App!

TON Blockchain: The Engine Powering Telegram Mini Apps

The integration of TON blockchain technology into Telegram’s Mini Apps has been a game changer. With its fast transaction speeds, scalability, and low fees, TON has attracted developers and users alike. In January 2024, Telegram opened the door for developers to integrate the TON blockchain directly into their apps, which triggered a surge in TMA adoption.

One of the standout features of this integration is the ability to make in-app payments via Telegram Stars, an initiative that allows users to support creators directly. These payments can be withdrawn in Toncoin, TON’s native cryptocurrency. Shmalko likens this development to a Trojan horse, which could help onboard Web2 developers into the Web3 space. This fusion of Web2 and Web3 ecosystems is made even more seamless by Telegram’s massive user base.

TON Blockchain The Engine Powering Telegram Mini Apps

The Rapid Growth of Telegram Mini Apps

Since the introduction of TMAs, two apps have gained particular attention: Notcoin and Hamster Kombat. Notcoin amassed a user base of 40 million, while Hamster Kombat boasts an astonishing 300 million players. These numbers are a testament to the potential of Telegram’s ecosystem as a gateway for mainstream blockchain adoption.

TON’s total value locked (TVL) skyrocketed from $14.2 million in early January to $307.6 million by September 2024, a growth of over 2,000%, according to data from DefiLlama. This massive surge underscores the appeal of TMAs and TON as innovative tools for users and developers to interact with blockchain technologies.

Another key driver of TON’s growth is the TON Foundation’s community incentive program, The Open League. Launched in March 2024, this initiative plans to distribute 30 million Toncoin, worth $167 million at the time of writing, to developers and contributors. This program has fostered a vibrant community around TMAs, encouraging more developers to innovate within the platform.

Challenges Facing Telegram Mini Apps

Despite the impressive growth of Telegram Mini Apps, the ecosystem has not been without its challenges. After reaching a peak TVL of $776.6 million in July 2024, TON faced a significant downturn, with a 60% decline in TVL by August. This drop coincided with a broader market sell-off in the cryptocurrency space, impacting major players like Bitcoin.

Another key issue was the detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov by French authorities in August 2024. Although unrelated to the platform’s security, Durov’s detention sent ripples through the TON ecosystem, causing a 5% drop in TVL and a nearly 20% decline in the value of Toncoin.

Compounding these problems were technical difficulties with the Telegram Wallet, a third-party app that enables users to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrency. While the problems were attributed to the airdrop of “Dogs,” a new TON-based memecoin, they raised concerns among users about the reliability of the platform during high-traffic events.

Despite these hurdles, the TON Foundation remains optimistic about the future of TMAs. Shmalko assured the community that the ecosystem is “stronger than ever” and continues to innovate, pointing to future developments that aim to further enhance the platform’s capabilities.

The Future of Telegram Mini Apps and TON

Looking ahead, the future of Telegram Mini Apps appears bright. The combination of Telegram’s massive user base and the innovative capabilities of the TON blockchain positions TMAs as a leading force in the Web3 ecosystem. By providing new monetization tools and seamless integration with blockchain technologies, TMAs could play a pivotal role in onboarding the next billion crypto users.

However, challenges remain. Market volatility, regulatory scrutiny, and the evolving needs of users will continue to shape the development of TMAs. For now, the TON Foundation is focused on building a robust ecosystem that can withstand these challenges, with plans to expand its offerings and improve the user experience.

Conclusion

Telegram Mini Apps represent a groundbreaking fusion of Web2 and Web3 technologies, providing developers with powerful tools to create blockchain-enabled applications within one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms. As the ecosystem continues to grow, fueled by the TON blockchain and community-driven initiatives, TMAs are set to redefine the way users interact with digital assets and decentralized technologies. However, navigating market volatility and regulatory challenges will be crucial for the continued success of this innovative platform.

FAQ

In this section, we have answered your frequently asked questions to provide you with the necessary guidance.

  • What are Telegram Mini Apps?

    Telegram Mini Apps (TMAs) are web-based applications that run directly within the Telegram messenger platform. They allow developers to build sophisticated apps using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, providing users with the ability to access various services without leaving Telegram.

  • How does the TON blockchain integrate with Telegram Mini Apps?

    The TON blockchain powers Telegram Mini Apps by enabling decentralized features such as low-fee, fast transactions, and scalability. This integration also allows for in-app payments using Toncoin, TON’s native cryptocurrency, providing a seamless Web3 experience for users and developers.

  • What is the significance of Toncoin in Telegram Mini Apps?

    Toncoin is the native cryptocurrency of the TON blockchain and is used for various purposes within Telegram Mini Apps. Developers and users can make in-app transactions, withdrawals, and other financial activities using Toncoin, making it central to the TMA ecosystem.

  • What factors contributed to the rapid growth of Telegram Mini Apps?

    The combination of Telegram’s 900 million active users, the TON blockchain’s fast and scalable infrastructure, and innovative apps like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat led to rapid adoption. Additionally, community-driven initiatives like the TON Foundation’s Open League incentive program contributed significantly to this growth.

  • What challenges have Telegram Mini Apps faced in 2024?

    Despite early success, Telegram Mini Apps faced a sharp decline in total value locked (TVL) due to a broader cryptocurrency market sell-off and the temporary detention of Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov in France. Technical issues with third-party apps like the Telegram Wallet during high-traffic events have also posed challenges to the platform’s stability.

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