Telegram Reaches 1 Billion Users, Durov Slams WhatsApp

Telegram Surpasses 1 Billion Active Users

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, announced today that the messaging service has exceeded 1 billion active users. This represents a significant increase compared to the 950 million monthly active users reported in the previous year.

Financial Performance

Durov further revealed that Telegram generated $547 million in profits during the last year. While the company’s profitability was initially disclosed in December, specific financial figures were not released until now.

Competitive Landscape

Following his recent return to Dubai after receiving clearance in France, Durov criticized WhatsApp, a competitor owned by Meta, characterizing it as a low-quality imitation.

He stated, “Telegram has experienced growth, achieved profitability, and, unlike its competitor, maintained its autonomy, despite WhatsApp’s persistent attempts to replicate our innovations and hinder our progress through substantial investments in lobbying and public relations.”

Legal Challenges

Durov had been the subject of a French investigation concerning potential criminal activities facilitated through Telegram.

These allegations included the facilitation of organized fraud, illicit transactions, and the dissemination of CSAM (child sexual abuse material). He was briefly detained by police in August as part of this investigation.

Market Position and Competition

Excluding the Chinese market, WhatsApp remains the dominant chat platform globally, boasting over 2 billion monthly active users.

Both Telegram and WhatsApp are actively vying for the engagement of businesses and content creators by introducing features like business accounts and channels.

Telegram's Innovations

Telegram has also attracted users interested in cryptocurrency by integrating the TON blockchain. This integration includes wallets and a decentralized application ecosystem.

These features enable users to unlock content, provide tips to creators, and make in-app purchases for mini-applications and games.

Furthermore, in January, the company launched a decentralized verification system utilizing a network of independent third-party accounts.