Big day today, we’re launching Telegram Stars ⭐️ – a way to pay for digital services in mini-apps.

Unlike old-school apps, Telegram mini apps like Notcoin don’t need to be installed for use. That’s why they grow so quickly. In addition, Telegram’s social nature allows mini apps to spread virally, so they reach tens of millions of users within weeks ⚡️

⭐️ With Telegram Stars, mini apps can now accept payments for digital services using the simplest payment method possible – in-app purchases on Android and iOS 💳

Mini app developers can withdraw their Stars via Fragment using TON. They can also use Stars to further promote their apps on Telegram — on preferential terms! 👛

Apple and Google take a 30% cut when users buy Stars from them, but Telegram will subsidize ads purchased with Telegram Stars. So if developers reinvest Stars in promoting their app, the overall commission will be nearly 0%! As a result, launching apps on Telegram makes more economic sense than launching traditional mobile apps  📈

The recent mini app boom has already made Telegram the main destination to launch new apps. Stars and ad subsidies bring this to a new level – unprecedented in the history of social media 😏

🧠 Last week, Microsoft introduced its Copilot AI bot on Telegram.

😌 I am not surprised to see big tech launching their apps on Telegram. Telegram is the only platform that is friendly to all AI developers and doesn’t impose its own competing chatbots on users.

⭐️ The new Stars payments, where Telegram takes almost no commission (less than 5%) and subsidizes ads, are not only lucrative for developers but also compliant with Apple’s and Google’s rules. That’s why we will recommend bots and mini apps that accept Stars in relevant parts of the Telegram apps.

📬 For example, we will start showing an AI section of our upcoming “Mini App Store” to businesses that are adding bots to process customer feedback. Or suggest bots that help create stickers to the users who try our Sticker Maker ⭐️

And so on. The possibilities are endless ⭐️

💔 My phone got “unlocked” by the Dubai heat 🫠

👴 I’ve been using this $180 Samsung as my primary device for the last two years. I chose it because it’s one of the most widely used phones among Telegram users. I wanted to understand their experience to serve them better 🫡

But it seems I’ll have to change my phone soon 😂

🥲 It’s getting warmer in Dubai, and my friends are leaving for fancy places like the south of France. As a French citizen, I agree that France is the best holiday destination 🇫🇷

📱 As the Telegram CEO though, I don’t take holidays. Instead, I keep working while meeting our users from unusual locations. This summer I’ve decided to check out Central Asia to see what life is like there, study how people use Telegram and what their digital needs are 📞

☕️ I will keep you posted in this channel about my discoveries 🕵️‍♂️