Telegram mini-apps represent a fundamental shift in the digital environment, providing users with a varied way to interact with micro-applications directly within the Telegram platform. These mini-apps offer a variety of features, including the opportunity to play games, such as tap-to-earn cryptocurrency games, within the popular chat service.

Hence, the incorporation of the Telegram Open Network (TON) blockchain has increased the popularity of these mini-apps in 2024, resulting in a spike in users.

Understanding Telegram Mini-apps

Telegram mini-apps are small JavaScript-based applications that work perfectly with the Telegram messenger. Users can use these mini-apps without leaving the main app.

The design of these mini-apps enables businesses to develop app-like experiences right within Telegram without the need for additional downloads or external links. Games, e-commerce platforms, dating services, VPNs, cloud mining programs, and decentralized exchanges (DEX) are some of the most popular mini-app genres.

The launch of the Telegram Mini App Store in August 2024 was a key milestone. This store works with Telegram’s newly announced “Stars” feature, which is intended to increase user involvement and social interaction.

Users can give Stars to friends, who can subsequently explore over 1,000 mini-apps that use this functionality. With Telegram’s user base of over 950 million people, these mini-apps have a large potential audience. Notably, popular mini-apps such as Hamster Kombat, Catizen, and Notcoin have millions of users, demonstrating the applications’ quick growth and popularity.

The Appeal of Telegram Mini-apps

There are various reasons why Telegram mini-apps are so popular. One of the primary reasons for this is the ease of use of these apps, especially in the gaming sector.

Many of the most popular mini-apps are casual games that require little effort, making them attractive to a wide range of users. According to Liftoff’s study, hyper-casual games are the most popular type of game on mobile devices, which explains the success of Telegram’s gaming mini-apps.

Integrating crypto rewards into these casual games has also shown to be an effective method for recruiting more players to these web3 ecosystems.

Features of Telegram Mini-Apps

Telegram mini-apps run smoothly within the Telegram environment, resulting in a streamlined user experience. They use Telegram’s APIs to access the user’s information, such as their name, ID, or profile image.

The mini-app then communicates with backend servers to process requests and alter the interface in response to the user’s activities. One of the most distinguishing qualities of Telegram mini-apps is their simplicity. These programs are lightweight and simple to use, requiring little technological skill.

For example, many gaming mini-apps adopt a simple tap-to-earn model, in which users can earn incentives just by pressing the screen. This uncomplicated approach is not restricted to games; it applies to many other mini-apps, making them an excellent alternative for consumers looking for quick and easy interactions.

Furthermore, many mini-apps are incorporated into the larger GameFi ecosystem as a play-to-earn model, providing incentives like in-game currency, discounts, and power-ups. These rewards stimulate user participation.

In certain situations, the in-game assets obtained in these mini-apps can be converted into digital assets, which adds to their attractiveness. Telegram’s connection with the TON blockchain provides additional capabilities to mini-apps.

Developers can build their coins or take crypto payments through their mini-apps. Furthermore, the TON blockchain offers computing resources for applications like data storage and smart contract execution.

Pros and Cons

Telegram mini-apps offer several benefits that are appealing to users and developers. One of the key benefits is the ease of accessing anything from the familiar Telegram interface. Users do not have to move between apps or download new software, which saves storage space on their smartphones.

Another major advantage is that mini-apps perform much faster. Due to their compact size and optimized design, mini-apps load quickly and run smoothly, offering a better user experience than standard programs.

Interestingly, developers are particularly attracted to Telegram’s revenue-sharing model. Unlike traditional app stores, which take a large percentage of program sales and in-app transactions, Telegram allows developers to keep all in-app purchase revenue while just sharing ad revenue.

However, these mini-apps come with limitations. One is the lack of access to hardware capabilities. Hence, many complex functionalities in standard apps may be unavailable in mini-apps.

Furthermore, the lack of a strict vetting process in Telegram’s App Center increases the possibility of users discovering scam mini-apps. Moreover, the use of blockchain technology poses custodial wallet security and smart contract vulnerabilities that can be difficult to address.

Conclusion

Telegram mini-apps are a key breakthrough in the world of digital applications, providing a quick and easy method to access many features within Telegram. These mini-apps have swiftly grown in popularity among Telegram’s user base thanks to their easy user interface, smooth interaction with the TON blockchain, and the ease of possibility to earn various incentives.