Telegram messenger founder Pavel Durov has announced that it has become profitable for the first time in three years of monetization.
“This year, the number of Telegram Premium subscribers has tripled, exceeding 12 million. Our advertising revenue has also increased several times,” he said.
He noted that several monetization updates were launched this year: stars, mini-apps, gifts, Telegram Business, Telegram Gateway, etc.
Durov says, “Social media platforms can achieve financial sustainability while remaining independent and respecting users’ rights.”
The Financial Times reported, citing Telegram’s financial statements, that last year, the platform’s revenue amounted to $342 million, operating expenses to $108 million, and total loss to about $173 million after taxes.
The FT wrote that Telegram demonstrated financial success in the first half of this year due to the Toncoin cryptocurrency. Telegram’s revenues from the sale of digital assets amounted to $353 million, of which $348 million came from Toncoin sales.
Telegram Premium, a paid subscription service, was launched in June 2022. In September of this year, subscribers exceeded 10 million users for the first time.
Telegram Stars appeared on the platform in June last year. They are an internal currency for paying for services in mini-apps.