- Telegram has reached 950 million active monthly users, according to founder Pavel Durov
- The platform has added 50 million users since the spring, showing significant growth
- Hamster Kombat’s popularity has significantly contributed to this user increase
Messaging platform Telegram has hit 950 million active monthly users, according to founder and CEO Pavel Durov. Durov revealed yesterday that the company has added 50 million users since the spring and looks to be on course to pass the 1 billion milestone before the end of 2024. In large part, the company has its viral game Hamster Kombat to thank for its dramatic rise, with its popularity helping to fuel uptake and repeat visitors.
Telegram Banking on Hamsters
Durov made the announcement, fittingly, on Telegram yesterday:
Telegram’s Open Network (TON blockchain), which started out as an eventually abandoned multi-billion dollar ICO in 2018, has gone from strength to strength in 2024, driven by its offering of easy-to-play blockchain-based games. This began with Notcoin but has exploded with Hamster Kombat, which launched on March 25, 2024, and has quickly gained popularity within the crypto gaming community.
Its rapid rise can be attributed to its engaging “tap-to-earn” gameplay mechanics and strategic elements, where players earn rewards by upgrading and managing their hamster characters. Within just 11 days of its launch, the game amassed 1 million players, and by mid-June, it had reached 148 million users, making it one of the fastest-growing games on the Telegram platform.
Hamster Kombat’s success has been further fueled by its strong community engagement and frequent updates, with developers regularly introducing new features, characters, and events, encouraging players to return and discover what’s new. Viral marketing and community engagement on social media platforms have also played a significant role in its growth, as players share their experiences and achievements, increasing the game’s visibility.
The game’s accessibility through Telegram has reduced the barrier to entry and attracted a large user base, contributing to its widespread popularity and the concomitant increase in Telegram users. Hamster Kombat has recently announced that it will launch its own token on TON, which will increase awareness and usage even further.
Community Driven Enterprise
Telegram effectively handed TON off to the community in 2020 as the company faced scrutiny by government regulators over its issuing of TON tokens, but clearly this hasn’t stunted the platform’s growth. On the contrary, it has allowed the messaging app to integrate itself into the network in new ways, including sharing the ad revenue with Telegram channel owners.
With Hamster Kombat showing no signs of shedding users anytime soon and more such games surely in the pipeline, it won’t be long before Telegram is shouting about a billion monthly users.
