The 1 Billion User Platform You're Ignoring Right Now

TL;DR: Telegram Mini Apps represent a once-in-a-decade platform shift opportunity. With 1 billion users, apps reaching 300+ million users in months, and billions in revenue potential, this is the 2025 equivalent of the early iPhone App Store. AppStruct’s lifetime deal on Earlybird gives you the only no-code platform purpose-built to capture this massive opportunity before the window closes.

This is What a Platform Revolution Looks Like

Remember 2008? The iPhone App Store launched with just 500 apps and a $206 million market. “Experts” called it a fad. Developers who ignored it kicked themselves later as the market exploded to $33.9 billion by 2023—a 16,459% increase.

Remember 2004? Facebook opened to universities only. Mark Zuckerberg was begging people to build on his “little social network.” Early Facebook app developers became multimillionaires. Those who waited? They got scraps.

History is repeating itself right now with Telegram Mini Apps.

And just like those previous platform shifts, 99% of people will miss it because they can’t see the forest for the trees.

The Numbers That Should Terrify Your Competition

The Platform Scale

Telegram has 1 billion monthly active users in 2025, showing a sharp rise from 950 million in July 2024. Every day, the number grows as 2.5 million new users join the platform—that’s adding the equivalent of Chicago’s entire population every single day.

But here’s what makes this different from any other platform opportunity:

450 million daily active users—half the user base is active EVERY DAY
Users spend an average of 3 hours and 45 minutes per month on Telegram
On average, a session on Telegram lasts for 41 minutes. Additionally, Telegram active users open the app at least 21 times a day

To put this in perspective: Telegram has more monthly active users than the entire populations of Europe and North America combined.

The Revenue Reality

Telegram recorded approximately 13.6 million U.S. dollars in worldwide in-app purchase revenue in January 2025 alone. But that’s just Telegram itself.

The real money is in the Mini Apps ecosystem:

Telegram users rack up over 1 trillion channel views every month
Telegram Ads gives advertisers access to over 4,000 active channels, connecting them to over 75 million subscribers. These channels boast an impressive average engagement rate of 28%

Compare that to traditional social media platforms where engagement rates hover around 1-3%. Telegram’s engagement is 10x higher than Facebook or Instagram.

The Demographic Goldmine

53.5% of Telegram users are aged between 18 and 34 years old—the exact demographic with the highest spending power and digital adoption rates. Even better:

45% of the Indian population regularly uses Telegram—that’s 621 million people in one country alone
Russia has the highest Telegram penetration rate at 64.4%, followed by Indonesia at 64.3% and Malaysia at 62.2%
Brazil: 38% penetration, Mexico: 34%, Italy: 29%, South Africa: 32%

These aren’t just users—they’re highly engaged, mobile-first consumers in the world’s fastest-growing economies.

The Success Stories That Prove This Isn’t Hype, It’s History in the Making

Hamster Kombat: From Zero to 300 Million Users in 6 Months

Hamster Kombat’s click-to-earn model attracted a whopping 200 million users, with almost 10 million subscribers to its X channel and an additional 28.7 million on YouTube. But that was just August 2024.

By late 2024, the game claims more than 300 million players now ahead of the planned TON airdrop.

300 million users. Let that sink in.

That’s more users than Netflix (260 million)
More than Disney+ (150 million)
More than the entire population of the United States

The number of Hamster users reached 250 million—more than the number of Binance app users (200 mln). A simple tap-to-earn game built more of an audience than the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov called TON mini apps “Internet Phenomenon” and marked Hamster Combat’s success as a top case.

Catizen: $25 Million Revenue + 1 Million Paying Users

According to the Catizen Telegram, the game has generated over $25 million and is the first Web3 app to reach 1 million paying users.

Think about that for a second: 1 million people paid real money for a Telegram Mini App. With over 34 million players actively engaging with the game, that’s a 3% conversion rate to paid users—better than most traditional SaaS companies.

Notcoin: The $2.2 Billion Pioneer

Notcoin has gone on to become one of the top 10 traded coins in the crypto market, enjoying a market cap of over $2.2 billion at the time of writing.

Notcoin has gained over 35 million players since its launch in early 2024 and proved that simple mechanics could onboard millions into Web3.

But here’s the kicker: In roughly one year, the number of accounts on the TON network increased from approximately 4 million to 128 million, largely driven by these Mini Apps.

That’s 3,100% growth in blockchain adoption, driven primarily by Telegram Mini Apps.

The Bigger Picture: An Entire Ecosystem Exploding

As of mid-2025, TON supports over 650 dApps and more than 200 ecosystem tokens. Its DeFi sector has surpassed $150 million in total value locked (TVL).

Additionally, the blockchain’s native token, toncoin, saw its price rise by over 100%, amassing a market capitalization of $14 billion.

This isn’t just about individual apps anymore. It’s about an entire digital economy being built inside Telegram.

Why This Opportunity Is 100x Bigger Than You Think

The Mobile App Market Reality Check

The global mobile application market size was estimated at USD 252.89 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 626.39 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.3%.

But here’s what most people miss: Traditional app development is becoming harder and more expensive every year.

There were only 500 apps on the App Store when it launched with the release of the iPhone in 2008. Back then, the mobile app market was worth just $206 million. Fast forward to 2023, when 1.96 million apps are available on the App Store.

The competition has increased by 3,920x while the market has “only” grown 16,459%. Do the math—it’s exponentially harder to get noticed now.

The Traditional Mobile Development Problem

Building a successful mobile app today requires:

A lot of money in development costs
6-18 months of development time
Separate teams for iOS, Android, and web
App store approval (with no guarantee)
Massive marketing budgets just to get discovered
30% platform fees to Apple and Google

And after all that? 49% of users use apps more than 11 times per day, but they’re fighting for attention among 2+ million other apps.

The Telegram Mini Apps Advantage

Compare that to Telegram Mini Apps:

No app store approval needed—launch immediately
No downloads required—users access instantly
Cross-platform by default—works on all devices
Built-in distribution—tap into 1 billion users
Higher engagement rates—28% vs 1-3% on other platforms
Lower development costs—Telegram Mini Apps usually cost 3–5 times less and can be launched in just 2 to 8 weeks

But the biggest advantage? You’re early.

The Historical Parallel That Should Wake You Up

The iPhone App Store Parallel

In 2008, when the iPhone App Store launched:

500 total apps
$206 million market
“Experts” said it was a fad
Early developers became millionaires

In 2025, Telegram Mini Apps:

Thousands of apps (still early)
Billions in potential market
“Experts” calling it a crypto gaming fad
Early developers becoming millionaires

The Facebook Platform Parallel

In 2007, when Facebook opened its platform:

50 million users
Simple games like FarmVille
Early developers made fortunes
Most people waited and missed out

In 2025, Telegram Mini Apps:

1 billion users (20x bigger than early Facebook)
Simple games reaching 300 million users
Early developers making fortunes
Most people are waiting and missing out

The pattern is identical. The scale is 20x bigger.

The Business Models That Actually Print Money

Gaming and Gamification: The $25 Million Playbook

Gaming continues to be a dominant use case for Telegram Mini Apps, with games like Hamster Kombat and Catizen achieving viral success. The integration of gamified elements—like rewards and challenges—keeps users coming back.

But here’s what’s different: They’re still Web3 games based on blockchain and giving users a chance to earn. Web2 games—even the most Telegram-friendly ones—are still not so popular among TMA users: they don’t reward you for sharing, so they don’t go viral.

The formula: Simple mechanics + Blockchain rewards + Social sharing = Viral growth

E-commerce: The Untapped Goldmine

Popular deliveries and stores begin opening their shops in Telegram – these are still early experimental efforts, but with more solutions emerging — like marketplace builder bots for TMAs — this has all chances to become the next major trend.

Consider this: over 30% of Spanish internet users used the app to shop online. In one country alone, that’s millions of people already shopping through Telegram.

The opportunity: Telegram supports universal payment method – Telegram stars, a native payment token available across the world. This means your users can pay you even if they don’t have traditional banking tools or cards.

AI and Automation: The Next Wave

AI-powered apps (like character chatbots), Mini Apps with AI integrations, communication tools, and — especially — health and education projects are now surging in popularity.

From personalized content recommendations to smarter chatbots, AI enables apps to deliver highly tailored experiences. Businesses benefit from increased user engagement and satisfaction, while users enjoy relevant content with minimal effort.

Financial Services: The Crypto-Native Advantage

As blockchain adoption grows, Telegram Mini Apps are leveraging Web3 capabilities to provide secure and decentralized solutions. Whether it’s enabling cryptocurrency transactions or offering NFTs, Web3 integration enhances user experiences and creates new opportunities for businesses.

This isn’t just about crypto enthusiasts—it’s about accessing global markets where traditional banking is limited.

Why 99% of People Will Miss This (And How You Can Be in the 1%)

The Development Barrier

Here’s the harsh reality: Even though Telegram Mini Apps are easier to build than traditional mobile apps, most no-code platforms can’t handle them.

You need:

Cross-platform development (web, mobile, desktop, Telegram)
Native Telegram API integration
Blockchain/Web3 capabilities
AI-powered features
Real-time collaboration tools

Most platforms force you to choose: Build for one platform well, or build for multiple platforms poorly.

The Time Window

Most experts and Mini App users today (at least, all of those we actually asked) agree that tapping games are almost dead now. However, games are still a leading niche of TMA.

The market is evolving fast. The simple tap-to-earn games that made headlines are already getting saturated. The next wave will be more sophisticated business applications.

The window for easy wins is closing. The window for serious opportunities is just opening.

Enter AppStruct: The Platform Built for This Exact Moment

This is where AppStruct becomes not just useful, but essential.

While everyone else struggles with complex development processes, AppStruct gives you a complete cross-platform solution purpose-built for the Telegram Mini Apps opportunity.

Why AppStruct is Different (And Why It Matters)

1. True Cross-Platform Development

AppStruct follows a true cross-platform philosophy, allowing you to build a single app and publish it instantly as a web app, native mobile app, desktop app, and even a Telegram mini-app.

What this means: Build once, deploy everywhere. While your competitors are rebuilding their app for each platform, you’re already scaling across all of them.

2. AI-Powered Development

AppStruct includes an AI-assisted component generator that allows you to create UI elements using natural language. Just describe what you need — for example, “a payment card with a shadow and a hover highlight effect” — and the platform will generate a component directly in the builder.

What this means: You can build professional-grade apps without a development team. The AI does the heavy lifting while you focus on strategy.

3. Native Telegram Integration

AppStruct offers native access to Telegram’s API — including user IDs, bot interactions, message controls, inline launches, payment integrations, and more. Your mini app will feel seamless and fully native inside Telegram.

What this means: Your app won’t feel like a website crammed into Telegram. It will feel like it was built for Telegram from the ground up.

4. Speed to Market

Thanks to our intuitive builder, you can go from idea to live app in just a few hours. No dev team.

What this means: While others are still planning their MVP, you can be testing real products with real users.

The Technical Advantage

AppStruct includes built-in one-click publishing to the Apple App Store and Google Play, with no need for third-party services or external tools.

But more importantly for this opportunity: Most no-code tools lock you into rigid templates. AppStruct is the only Telegram app builder that gives you full visual control over your front-end.

This is crucial. In a market where everyone’s racing to build the next viral Mini App, design differentiation is everything.

The Business Logic Advantage

AppStruct supports complex business logic, data flows, and conditional workflows — all with a simple visual interface.

Why this matters: As the Telegram Mini Apps market matures, the winners won’t be the simplest apps—they’ll be the most sophisticated apps that are still easy to use.

The Real-World Applications That Could Make You Rich

The E-commerce Play

Build a shopping experience that works seamlessly inside Telegram, with Telegram’s universal payment method – Telegram stars, a native payment token available across the world.

The opportunity: Access global markets where traditional payment processing is limited or expensive.

The SaaS Tool Play

Launch a productivity app that users can access without leaving their favorite messenger.

The advantage: Unlike browser-based WebApps, Telegram Mini Apps support native integrations that give users a smoother, more immersive experience.

The Gaming/Entertainment Play

Develop the next viral tap-to-earn game with built-in blockchain integration.

The potential: Hamster Kombat reached 300 million users. The next one could be bigger.

The AI-Powered Service Play

Create AI-driven personalization tools, chatbots, or automation services.

The timing: AI-powered apps (like character chatbots), Mini Apps with AI integrations, communication tools, and — especially — health and education projects are now surging in popularity.

The Success Framework: How to Win in Telegram Mini Apps

1. Start with Market Research, Not Product Development

Look at what’s working: Games like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat reached over 300 million players combined at their peak, demonstrating that Web3 does not need Web3-native users.

The lesson: Simple concepts with strong incentives beat complex technology.

Your app won’t feel like “just a site.” It will feel like a native experience inside Telegram.

The strategy: Build sharing and referral mechanics into everything. Telegram users are accustomed to forwarding and sharing content.

3. Think Global from Day One

Telegram supports universal payment method – Telegram stars, a native payment token available across the world. This means your users can pay you even if they don’t have traditional banking tools or cards. It opens the door to truly global monetization.

The opportunity: Access markets that traditional payment processors can’t serve effectively.

4. Focus on Retention Through Gamification

The use of gamification elements such as challenges, rewards, and progress tracking keeps users engaged and encourages them to return.

The implementation: Even B2B productivity apps should include progress tracking and achievement systems.

5. Build for the Network Effect

Web3 games based on blockchain and giving users a chance to earn… they reward you for sharing, so they go viral.

The principle: Every feature should make the app more valuable when more people use it.

The Risks (And Why They Don’t Matter)

“What if Telegram Gets Banned?”

Telegram has survived bans in multiple countries and continues growing. Telegram has raised more than $4 billion since its launch in 2013 and has repeatedly demonstrated resilience against regulatory pressure.

More importantly: With AppStruct, your app works on web, mobile, and desktop too. You’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.

“What if the Mini Apps Trend Dies?”

Telegram’s fastest growth in 2025 is marked by achieving 1 billion MAUs and developing monetization channels, making Telegram a promising platform for advertisers.

The trend isn’t dying—it’s institutionalizing. Major companies are building Telegram presence, advertising budgets are shifting, and the ecosystem is maturing.

“What if I’m Too Late?”

According to Vladislav Pomogaev, the SEO of Swift Agency, major categories like crypto apps and games might lose traction slightly as users grow tired of repetitive offerings and demand fresh experiences.

This is actually good news. The obvious opportunities are getting saturated, which means there’s more room for sophisticated business applications.

The Bottom Line: This is Your iPhone App Store Moment

Let’s be brutally honest about what’s happening:

The Platform: 1 billion users growing by 2.5 million daily The Engagement: 28% engagement rates vs 1-3% elsewhere
The Success Stories: Apps reaching 300+ million users and generating $25+ million The Market: Moving from simple games to sophisticated business applications The Timing: Early enough to matter, late enough to have proven models The Barrier: Most people can’t build these apps effectively The Solution: AppStruct gives you everything you need

Even “Notcoin” founder Sasha Plotinov told The Block in June that he didn’t believe the clicker model, where users chase token rewards, would last. “From my perspective, only the games that have sustainable models will survive,” he said at the time.

The survivors will be the apps that solve real problems for real people.

The Historical Context You Can’t Ignore

Every major platform shift creates a small window where early movers capture disproportionate value:

iPhone App Store (2008): Early developers became millionaires
Facebook Platform (2007): Simple games generated hundreds of millions
Google AdWords (2000): Early advertisers bought traffic for pennies
Amazon Marketplace (1999): Early sellers dominated categories

Telegram Mini Apps (2025): ???

The question isn’t whether this opportunity exists—the numbers prove it does.

The question is whether you’ll be one of the few who acts on it.

Your Decision Point

Right now, you have three options:

Option 1: Do Nothing
Watch from the sidelines as others build the next generation of billion-dollar apps inside Telegram. Kick yourself in 2027 when Telegram Mini Apps are mainstream and the early opportunities are gone.

Option 2: Try to Build it Yourself
Spend months learning to code, hiring developers, or struggling with platforms that weren’t built for this opportunity. Watch your competitors launch while you’re still in development.

Option 3: Use AppStruct
Get access to the only platform purpose-built for this exact opportunity. Launch your first Telegram Mini App in hours, not months. Test, iterate, and scale while others are still planning.

The Strategic Advantage

The reality: Traditional cross-platform app development with Telegram Mini Apps support costs a lot of money

The opportunity: AppStruct gives you everything you need to build professional Telegram Mini Apps in hours, not months

The timing: You’re getting access to a cutting-edge platform before it becomes mainstream and competition intensifies

The calculation: If you build even one moderately successful Telegram Mini App, you’ll generate more value than most people see in years.

If you build the next Hamster Kombat? You’ll look back at this as the moment everything changed.

The Call to Action (Because Opportunities Don’t Wait)

The growth of gaming on Telegram clearly had a positive impact on the TON blockchain. In roughly one year, the number of accounts on the TON network increased from approximately 4 million to 128 million.

3,100% growth in one year.

That’s not happening in traditional mobile apps. That’s not happening on web platforms. That’s not happening anywhere else.

It’s happening in Telegram Mini Apps. Right now.

The early iPhone developers didn’t wait for “more data.” The early Facebook app builders didn’t wait for “better timing.” The early Amazon sellers didn’t wait for “proof of concept.”

They saw the opportunity and they moved.

Get AppStruct Lifetime Deal on Earlybird →

The Reality Check

By the time this opportunity becomes “obvious” to everyone:

Development costs will be 10x higher
User acquisition will be 100x harder
Competition will be 1000x fiercer
AppStruct will be priced like the valuable platform it is

The window is open now. It won’t stay open forever.

Every day you wait is another day for your competition to build what you’re thinking about building.

The difference is, with AppStruct, you can build it faster, cheaper, and better than they can.

The question isn’t whether you should act.

The question is whether you’ll act fast enough.

Remember: In 2008, there were 500 apps on the iPhone App Store. The developers who moved fast became millionaires. The ones who waited got breadcrumbs.

Don’t let history repeat itself while you watch from the sidelines.