Have you ever heard of a super-app?
Also known as everything apps, these multifunctional mobile applications combine various services into one platform, enhancing efficiency and user experience. Because of these benefits, super apps have seen a significant surge in adoption recently. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.9%, the global super app market is expected to reach 918.41 billion by 2033.
Telegram is entering this space, transforming from a messaging app into a super app for its over 500 million users. By partnering with TON (The Open Network) blockchain, Telegram users can now shop, play games, or even manage their money using mini apps. Additionally, the integration of TON blockchain networks means that users enjoy fast, reliable, and secure services while using these Mini Apps.
It is indeed the dawn of a new era.
Are you interested in learning more about Telegram’s and TON blockchain’s partnership and how you can benefit from it?
In this article, we will discuss these and lots more, including the TON blockchain network, key features of Mini Apps, the Mini Apps store, tools for building a Mini App on Telegram, and best practices for building a Mini App.
What are Telegram Mini Apps?
Telegram Mini Apps are lightweight web applications that run directly inside Telegram chats. These apps are typically built with web technologies like HTML, CSS, and Javascript to deliver rich, interactive experiences without requiring users to leave the Telegram app. Access to several features within the Telegram app allows users to perform several tasks within one platform, increasing convenience and efficiency.
What is TON Blockchain?
Originally known as Telegram Open Network, The Open Network (TON) is a decentralized computing network built on a layer-1 blockchain. Nikolai Durov, the co-creator of the Telegram app, developed it with the intent of serving as Telegram’s own closed-source blockchain. However, after encountering various regulatory hurdles, it was ultimately transferred to the open-source community.
Today, the TON blockchain supports Telegram’s mini apps, making them more secure, efficient, and versatile while enabling seamless interactions with digital assets. This makes the platform ideal for DeFi development and other blockchain-dependent applications
What’s The Difference Between Telegram Mini Apps And Telegram Bots?
You may have heard these buzzwords recently. TMAs and Telegram Bots differ significantly in how they work, what they do, and the complexity of integration and development.
Telegram Bots are automated programs that interact with users via chat. They perform simple tasks like weather updates or reminders. TMAs, on the other hand, are full-fledged web applications within Telegram. They offer Telegram users immersive experiences such as games and productivity tools.
Additionally, Telegram Bots function as separate entities limited to chat-based commands, while TMAs integrate well with Telegram, allowing seamless access across various chats and Bots.
Regarding development, a blockchain development company only needs web technologies like HTML, CSS, and Javascript to build a TMA, while Telegram Bots are built using the Telegram Bot API. Because of their rudimentary design, Bots are more suited for simple tasks, while TMAs provide robust capabilities like rich media handling, enhanced user engagement, and complex applications.
Finally, cross-platform compatibility and user authorization are areas where both tools differ significantly. Regarding cross-platform compatibility, Bots function only within the Telegram chat interface, while Mini Apps are accessible on any Telegram-supported platform.
Why integrate Telegram mini apps with TON?
Integrating telegram mini apps with The Open Network (TON) offers many benefits that address common challenges with traditional apps. The most notable ones include:
1. Better security and transparency
Ironically, while it’s called The Open Network, it is far from being a security risk. Integrating TON with Telegram mini apps not only improves security but also improves transparency.
Here’s how it works.
The TON blockchain uses decentralized technology to validate and authorize transactions. Unlike centralized networks, where a single entity controls all your data—thereby increasing vulnerability to hacks—TON distributes data across multiple nodes (computers), ensuring your information remains safe from hacks and data breaches.
Additionally, with data distributed across multiple nodes, any attempt to alter information would immediately be detected across the network, significantly improving transparency and ensuring data integrity.
2. Faster and more efficient transactions
The TON blockchain can process over 100,000 transactions per second, making it one of the fastest blockchains. Integrating TON into Telegram Mini Apps enables them to perform transactions swiftly, reducing wait times and enabling real-time interactions. This advantage is particularly useful for activities like gaming that require rapid processing for enhanced user experience.
3. Improved user experience with seamless integration
Integrating TON with Mini Apps allows you to enjoy several services all in one app. As such, you enjoy the convenience of having everything you need on one platform or interface without having to sign up for different services individually. This experience improves user satisfaction considerably.
4. Access to a diverse range of decentralized services
With TON, you can enjoy a diverse range of decentralized services, whether you are a user or a developer.
For developers, the TON blockchain allows you to incorporate decentralized services such as DeFi applications and NFTs into Telegram. This makes it easier for them to build more robust applications and makes the development process more efficient and effective.
Conversely, Telegram users can also explore decentralized finance and manage digital assets in a familiar environment, which helps increase their adoption of blockchain technology.
Key features of Telegram Mini Apps (TMAs)
Here are some of the most popular features that make Telegram Mini Apps so useful:
- Decentralized financial services: With TMAs, you can trade, lend, stake, or manage digital assets all within Telegram. TMAs make Telegram a powerful hub for managing your cryptocurrencies and accessing decentralized services.
- NFT marketplaces: With the integration of TON, you can now buy, sell, or trade Non-Fungible Tokens on Telegram. This makes it easier for users interested in NFTs to engage with them. Additionally, it allows a broader audience to access NFTs, thus increasing their allure.
- Gaming and entertainment: The integration of TON facilitates an interactive gaming experience within Telegram. With this partnership, you can earn digital assets by playing your favorite games on Telegram. This is a great way for Telegram users to get familiar with cryptocurrency and Web3 concepts.
- E-commerce and payment solutions: TON integration with TMAs allows you to buy and sell products in the Telegram app and access payment solutions. If you are a business person, this is a great opportunity to reach a new audience and sell directly to them.
- Social networking and community tools: TMAs bring a whole new perspective to building and managing online communities. The integration of the TON blockchain helps organize group activities, polls, or events directly in chat groups.
Popular Telegram mini apps in 2024
If you’re considering trying out mini apps on Telegram, these are a great place to start—these apps have quickly become crowd favorites:
- Hamster Kombat: This is a great place to start if you are a gamer. Hamster Kombat is a play-to-earn game that rewards you with tokens for participating in battles.
- Notcoin airdrop: Even if you know nothing about cryptocurrency, there is a high chance you’ve heard about Notcoin–that’s how popular it is. Notcoin’s tap-to-earn game rewards you with TON-based tokens.
- Catizens: This is another favorite within the mini app store. Catizen uses a combination of social gaming and community building to enrich virtual interactions with friends on Telegram.
The Mini App Store
The mini app store is a one-stop shop for all Telegram mini apps. It was launched in August 2024 to facilitate mini-app discovery and exploration using a simple search function. The mini app store allows developers to create enhanced bot profiles with screenshots, video demos, and detailed descriptions, making it easy for users to understand how the app works before engaging with it.
Additionally, you can access the Telegram browser from the Mini App store, which allows you to manage multiple Mini App sites simultaneously using tab functionality. This feature allows you to move seamlessly from one Mini App to the other.
Tools for Building Telegram Mini Apps
TMAs can offer several benefits for businesses, including a broad audience reach, better customer service, interactive marketing campaigns, and social networking.
If you are interested in developing a TMA, here are some tools that you can take advantage of:
- Telegram Bot API: The Telegram Bot API ensures an efficient Bot integration within Telegram. This allows developers to create applications that interact directly with users in the Telegram chat environment.
- TON development tools and SDKs: With TON’s SDK, you can easily integrate blockchain into TMAs. This gives your customers access to Blockchain features such as secure transactions and wallet connectivity.
You can also take advantage of third-party development tools to build the perfect TMA better. However, if you want all aspects of the development and launching process handled without hiccups, you should reach out to a Blockchain development company like Debut Infotech to help you create the perfect Mini App.
Conclusion
The integration of the TON blockchain with Telegram allows Telegram users to enjoy a more wholesome experience on the Telegram app using Mini Apps. These offer several benefits to users and businesses alike: for the users, a more efficient, interactive, and secure experience, while for the businesses, access to more customers and better marketing tools.
As more businesses and developers adopt the TON blockchain, Telegram will likely evolve into a comprehensive ecosystem where users can access a wide range of services in one place. With TMAs, Telegram not only sets itself apart from competitors but also becomes a frontrunner in bringing Web3 to mainstream audiences.