Telegram, which started as a messaging app back in 2013, is now poised to become the world’s first super-app, offering Web3 features to over one billion active users. Over the last 10 years, Telegram has constantly evolved, and in 2024, if you were to ask if Telegram is just a messaging app, the answer would be, “No, it is much more than that.”
From mini-apps to bots to tap-to-earn Telegram games, you name it—today, Telegram is not just about sending messages or exchanging documents and pictures. Combining gaming, blockchain technology, and social media, Telegram has created a unique ecosystem where users can earn, trade, and even learn about cryptocurrencies.
In particular, Telegram games, which have become extremely popular over the last year, have played a significant role in making Web3 services accessible to the masses, propelling crypto adoption, especially in developing countries and regions like Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These are places where financial inclusion is limited, and traditional banking services are often out of reach for many.
How Telegram Games Are Propelling Crypto Adoption in Developing Countries
As of April 2024, Telegram reported having over 950 million active users. The majority of Telegram users are from developing countries, with India leading the chart. Reportedly, India had over 104 million downloads, followed by Russia with 34.4 million. Among the top five countries in terms of active Telegram app downloads, India, Indonesia, and Brazil are developing economies.
One of the key factors driving the popularity of Telegram in these countries is Telegram Games, many of which are based on blockchain technology and have given users an accessible entry point to crypto.
Of the top 10 countries reporting highest total Telegram app downloads, 7 are developing countries. Source
What Makes Telegram Games Appealing in Developing Countries?
The unique appeal of Telegram games comes from how developers have integrated cryptocurrency into these games. Players get opportunities to earn tokens, trade them, or use them for in-game purchases. This setup provides a fun, engaging, and practical introduction to cryptocurrency. It also makes it less intimidating for users who may be new to blockchain technology.
Moreover, the tokens earned in a game can then be stored in wallets, exchanged for other cryptocurrencies, or even converted into local currency through exchanges. In regions where traditional financial systems are underdeveloped or inaccessible, the ability to earn and trade cryptocurrency through these games provides a valuable alternative. Many people in developing countries don’t have access to bank accounts or credit cards, but they do have access to mobile phones.
For this reason, games like Hamster Kombat, TapSwap, Catizen, and many others have become increasingly popular in developing countries like India, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Brazil. These games allow people to have fun while also earning incentives in cryptocurrency. In 2024, Catizen, one of the most popular play-to-earn games on Telegram that incentivizes players with crypto, reported a weekly growth rate of 1.5 million new users. This clearly indicates how Telegram games are driving more and more people toward crypto.
There are also some Telegram games that offer crypto education. These games often reward users with tokens for completing tasks, achieving goals, or participating in events. This gamified learning approach breaks down the barriers to understanding complex concepts like blockchain, wallets, and tokens.
Financial Inclusion and Crypto Adoption Through Telegram Games
Telegram games are not just fueling crypto adoption but are also serving a larger goal of promoting financial inclusion in developing countries. According to the World Bank, despite serious efforts, over 1.4 billion adults globally still don’t have access to banking and essential financial services. The majority of this unbanked population lives in developing countries.
With Telegram’s ease of use and its integration with blockchain technology, all one needs is a mobile phone to get connected with modern payment systems. Telegram games that offer cryptocurrency rewards provide users with an entry point to financial systems that were previously out of reach.
In countries like Nigeria and Kenya, where mobile payment systems like M-Pesa have made it easy for people to make online payments, Telegram crypto games are becoming another way for people to participate in the digital economy. In these regions, users can play games, earn tokens, and use those tokens for everyday transactions, such as paying for goods and services or transferring money to family members.
Stablecoins to Beat Inflation
Another important aspect of cryptocurrency adoption through Telegram games is the integration of stablecoins. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to a stable asset, such as the US dollar. They provide the benefits of cryptocurrency—such as fast, low-cost transactions—without the volatility often associated with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
In developing countries, where currency instability and inflation can be major problems, stablecoins offer a way for people to store value. For example, in countries like Venezuela and Zimbabwe, where hyperinflation has rendered local currencies nearly worthless, people have turned to stablecoins as a more reliable store of value.
Telegram games that reward users with stablecoins are particularly attractive in these regions. Players can earn stablecoins and then use them for everyday transactions, or they can convert them to local currency when needed. This provides a level of financial security that traditional banking systems in these countries do not offer.
Are Telegram Games the Most Impactful Crypto Enabler in Developing Countries?
While governments and leading financial institutions in developing countries still struggle to bring people into mainstream financial systems, Telegram is operating at a different level. Telegram games are not only fun but also allow people to earn cryptocurrency. Imagine how impactful these games are for demographics where people don’t have a basic bank account but can still earn cryptocurrency on their mobile devices using Telegram.
This is what makes Telegram games more than just a product — they are a tool serving the larger goal of bringing the most financially marginalized closer to the modern digital economy. In conclusion, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim that, in the past 10 years of crypto history, we haven’t seen a more potent tool than Telegram games for enabling people to earn and use cryptocurrency in the simplest way possible.
