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A messaging platform succeeded where tech giants failed by leveraging crypto infrastructure and tap-to-earn gaming to create a super app ecosystem. While executives spent billions trying to replicate Asian models, this platform attracted hundreds of millions through mini apps and blockchain integration, completing in 18 months what took others over a decade.A messaging platform succeeded where tech giants failed by leveraging crypto infrastructure and tap-to-earn gaming to create a super app ecosystem. While executives spent billions trying to replicate Asian models, this platform attracted hundreds of millions through mini apps and blockchain integration, completing in 18 months what took others over a decade.

How Telegram Built the Super App Silicon Valley Couldn't

2025/10/19 04:17

For a better part of the last decade, American tech companies have tried long and hard to come up with an effective super app. But, despite pouring billions of dollars into these efforts, Telegram did the impossible through the crypto unlock.

Even serial innovators like Elon Musk struggled to convert X (formerly Twitter) into a super app rivalling the Chinese WeChat that can handle everything from messaging to booking appointments. The same happened with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, as they already had popular apps built around messaging and ride-hailing, respectively.

They all struggled to create super apps.

However, the past 18 months or so have been a major turning point as Telegram, a once obscure messaging app, has quietly achieved Silicon Valley’s dream. Using crypto-based applications it has helped develop functioning super-app ecosystems. With hundreds of millions of active users, there is genuine utility within its offering.

Why Asia Took a Lead in Super-Apps?

Telegram isn’t the first major super-app in the world, as Chinese platform WeChat has been successfully doing this for a better part of the last decade. But it didn’t start its life as a super-app. Launched back in 2011, it was a rudimentary messaging app that did its job well enough.

Fast forward 14 years, WeChat has over 1.4 billion users worldwide. It is the single largest digital platform in China with 850 million users, representing 57.86% of the entire population. App engagement numbers are among the highest in the world, with 30% of online screen time spent within the WeChat ecosystem, as they use it for all kinds of daily activities.

From wealth management to splitting restaurant bills, the app offers a real “super app” experience.

WeChat’s expansive playbook was clever, yet rudimentary: Dominate different facets of daily activities and then expand laterally.

The Chinese app started with messaging and then added payments that instantly enabled 930 million of its users, which caught on as well. When it was able to integrate payments, the company opened its doors to mini apps-lightweight programs that can be run within the main WeChat app.

Now, over 1 million mini apps are available on WeChat and are steadily growing.

Another Asian super app success story is Grab, a ride-hailing company. It started with ride-hailing in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Thailand. Once it was able to capture this market, it swiftly expanded into digital payments, food delivery, and finance. Now, the app has a 55% share of the $375 billion market across the region.

Silicon Valley tried to copy this model, but failed because it tried to skip steps. Uber never owned the payment side of things, while Zuckerberg forced Meta into business and payments before users trusted it with their money. Musk tried to force app integrations into Twitter, even though he failed to settle on one sticky user behavior.

The Accidental Super App

Telegram was able to appeal to users with two unique capabilities: privacy and decentralization. The TON blockchain, native crypto infrastructure, and executives are long aligned with decentralization, lending credence to its efforts.

While other aspiring apps struggled with getting users to adapt to new features, Telegram got lucky as it identified a crucial vector: viral gaming.

The Tap-to-earn (T2E) phenomenon became extremely popular in 2024, including games like Hamster Combat, and Notcoin brought with them millions of addicted gamers with zero-friction gameplay.

Users didn’t need to download individual apps to take advantage of the T2E gold rush, as their mini apps were available on Telegram. They spent hours and hours on the messaging app. There was no need for complex wallet setups, seed phrases, and heavy graphics slowing systems down.

While the P2E games were often dismissed as petty cash grabs, for the most part, critics were right about sustainability, but they did benefit Telegram immensely. They were never the endgame for Telegram, but a useful means to funnel millions of users into the Telegram ecosystem.

The T2E Playbook

The mini apps within the Telegram ecosystem were themselves instrumental in the growth of the platform. Blum was among these breakout gaming apps as it managed to make the best of the rising sensation.

It started with a basic mobile game that gave users rewards based on the number of taps. The simple T2E game resulted in the acquisition of a whopping 95 million users, a number most crypto exchanges haven’t been able to court in many years of operations.

But the Blum executives didn’t stop there. They wanted to build an ecosystem on top of this enchanting gaming experience. They used this daily engagement-based incentive to build trust and goodwill around the company.

The next stage came in September 2025 when it launched an integrated futures trading feature within the Telegram ecosystem. The platform leveraged the goodwill of the last year or so and now offers a complete crypto derivatives experience in addition to the T2E game. Rather than downloading separate apps that are a hassle to use, the game’s users could trade crypto derivatives directly through the mini game within Telegram.

Platforms like Blum help transition Telegram into a payments-enabled platform and unlike WeChat, which spent years and years doing this, Telegram was able to pull off this major transition in a matter of months.

"The Web3 revolution clearly illustrates the paradigm shift in trading operations where the importance of trading apps is receding and the divide between social life and financial access is disappearing,", CEO Gleb Kostarev noted.

By embedding simplified trading experience within apps that many users already spend hours and hours on a daily basis, Blum and many other Telegram mini apps were able to reduce the distance between interest and actual usage. This nature of super apps is a crucial aspect of the Web3 experience.

The Telegram Ecosystem Play is Working

Blum is by no means the only successful long-term application to come out of the T2E revolution. There are multiple useful apps that are tapping entry points into the Web3 universe.

Notcoin is another popular tap-to-earn initiative that is pivoting to an economic engine that draws interest towards other Web3 projects.

Built within the useful TON ecosystem, Notcoin landed over 35 million users through its rudimentary Tap-to-earn game. It has since shifted to an explore-to-earn model that may allow it to become a marketplace/broker of future Web3 projects.

HOT wallet, another successful Telegram mini app, took a different route towards success. After gaining traction on the messaging app, it proceeded to create browser extensions and dedicated iOS and Android apps. It has moved beyond Telegram constraints to become a powerful app that supports 150 blockchain networks.

The pattern is quite well-defined here, as it starts with a viral game/experience that attracts a large number of users. Then, these platforms expand laterally and offer related online experiences. Telegram is enabling this considerable advancement because of the underlying TON blockchain infrastructure and a commitment to privacy.

Telegram’s success may go on to mirror or exceed even WeChat’s, as the latter has to satisfy extensive Chinese censorship and government control. Telegram is largely free from these concerns and is being accepted on a global level.

The $6 Billion Present and Trillion Dollar Future

Web3 infrastructure is set to reach as high as $6.15 billion in 2025, representing a healthy 38.9% annual compound growth. While these are encouraging figures, the tap-to-earn boom is now officially over, as it was unsustainable to begin with.

The challenge for these viral gaming platforms is user retention and growth. Many of them were able to get millions of users piggybacking on the success of the tap-to-earn phenomenon. They need to find a way to become useful by offering them the Web3 experience they require.

The more these apps become useful, the more indispensable Telegram becomes with time. WeChat’s model gives us crucial lessons, as the Chinese cannot function without the app, as their daily lives are so intertwined with it.

If Telegram’s model proves its resilience with time, it can become the biggest success in Web3 and position itself for the future in a way no competitor has been able to achieve to date.

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The post Shocking OpenVPP Partnership Claim Draws Urgent Scrutiny appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. The cryptocurrency world is buzzing with a recent controversy surrounding a bold OpenVPP partnership claim. This week, OpenVPP (OVPP) announced what it presented as a significant collaboration with the U.S. government in the innovative field of energy tokenization. However, this claim quickly drew the sharp eye of on-chain analyst ZachXBT, who highlighted a swift and official rebuttal that has sent ripples through the digital asset community. What Sparked the OpenVPP Partnership Claim Controversy? The core of the issue revolves around OpenVPP’s assertion of a U.S. government partnership. This kind of collaboration would typically be a monumental endorsement for any private cryptocurrency project, especially given the current regulatory climate. Such a partnership could signify a new era of mainstream adoption and legitimacy for energy tokenization initiatives. OpenVPP initially claimed cooperation with the U.S. government. This alleged partnership was said to be in the domain of energy tokenization. The announcement generated considerable interest and discussion online. ZachXBT, known for his diligent on-chain investigations, was quick to flag the development. He brought attention to the fact that U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Hester Peirce had directly addressed the OpenVPP partnership claim. Her response, delivered within hours, was unequivocal and starkly contradicted OpenVPP’s narrative. How Did Regulatory Authorities Respond to the OpenVPP Partnership Claim? Commissioner Hester Peirce’s statement was a crucial turning point in this unfolding story. She clearly stated that the SEC, as an agency, does not engage in partnerships with private cryptocurrency projects. This response effectively dismantled the credibility of OpenVPP’s initial announcement regarding their supposed government collaboration. Peirce’s swift clarification underscores a fundamental principle of regulatory bodies: maintaining impartiality and avoiding endorsements of private entities. Her statement serves as a vital reminder to the crypto community about the official stance of government agencies concerning private ventures. Moreover, ZachXBT’s analysis…

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The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems

The gaming industry is in the midst of a historic shift, driven by the rise of Web3. Unlike traditional games, where developers and publishers control assets and dictate in-game economies, Web3 gaming empowers players with ownership and influence. Built on blockchain technology, these ecosystems are decentralized by design, enabling true digital asset ownership, transparent economies, and a future where players help shape the games they play. However, as Web3 gaming grows, security becomes a focal point. The range of security concerns, from hacking to asset theft to vulnerabilities in smart contracts, is a significant issue that will undermine or erode trust in this ecosystem, limiting or stopping adoption. Blockchain technology could be used to create security processes around secure, transparent, and fair Web3 gaming ecosystems. We will explore how security is increasing within gaming ecosystems, which challenges are being overcome, and what the future of security looks like. Why is Security Important in Web3 Gaming? Web3 gaming differs from traditional gaming in that players engage with both the game and assets with real value attached. Players own in-game assets that exist as tokens or NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), and can trade and sell them. These game assets usually represent significant financial value, meaning security failure could represent real monetary loss. In essence, without security, the promises of owning “something” in Web3, decentralized economies within games, and all that comes with the term “fair” gameplay can easily be eroded by fraud, hacking, and exploitation. This is precisely why the uniqueness of blockchain should be emphasized in securing Web3 gaming. How Blockchain Ensures Security in Web3 Gaming?

Immutable Ownership of Assets Blockchain records can be manipulated by anyone. If a player owns a sword, skin, or plot of land as an NFT, it is verifiably in their ownership, and it cannot be altered or deleted by the developer or even hacked. This has created a proven track record of ownership, providing control back to the players, unlike any centralised gaming platform where assets can be revoked.
Decentralized Infrastructure Blockchain networks also have a distributed architecture where game data is stored in a worldwide network of nodes, making them much less susceptible to centralised points of failure and attacks. This decentralised approach makes it exponentially more difficult to hijack systems or even shut off the game’s economy.
Secure Transactions with Cryptography Whether a player buys an NFT or trades their in-game tokens for other items or tokens, the transactions are enforced by cryptographic algorithms, ensuring secure, verifiable, and irreversible transactions and eliminating the risks of double-spending or fraudulent trades.
Smart Contract Automation Smart contracts automate the enforcement of game rules and players’ economic exchanges for the developer, eliminating the need for intermediaries or middlemen, and trust for the developer. For example, if a player completes a quest that promises a reward, the smart contract will execute and distribute what was promised.
Anti-Cheating and Fair Gameplay The naturally transparent nature of blockchain makes it extremely simple for anyone to examine a specific instance of gameplay and verify the economic outcomes from that play. Furthermore, multi-player games that enforce smart contracts on things like loot sharing or win sharing can automate and measure trustlessness and avoid cheating, manipulations, and fraud by developers.
Cross-Platform Security Many Web3 games feature asset interoperability across platforms. This interoperability is made viable by blockchain, which guarantees ownership is maintained whenever assets transition from one game or marketplace to another, thereby offering protection to players who rely on transfers for security against fraud. Key Security Dangers in Web3 Gaming Although blockchain provides sound first principles of security, the Web3 gaming ecosystem is susceptible to threats. Some of the most serious threats include:

Smart Contract Vulnerabilities: Smart contracts that are poorly written or lack auditing will leave openings for exploitation and thereby result in asset loss. Phishing Attacks: Unintentionally exposing or revealing private keys or signing transactions that are not possible to reverse, under the assumption they were genuine transaction requests. Bridge Hacks: Cross-chain bridges, which allow players to move their assets between their respective blockchains, continually face hacks, requiring vigilance from players and developers. Scams and Rug Pulls: Rug pulls occur when a game project raises money and leaves, leaving player assets worthless. Regulatory Ambiguity: Global regulations remain unclear; risks exist for players and developers alike. While blockchain alone won’t resolve every issue, it remediates the responsibility of the first principles, more so when joined by processes such as auditing, education, and the right governance, which can improve their contribution to the security landscapes in game ecosystems. Real Life Examples of Blockchain Security in Web3 Gaming Axie Infinity (Ronin Hack): The Axie Infinity game and several projects suffered one of the biggest hacks thus far on its Ronin bridge; however, it demonstrated the effectiveness of multi-sig security and the effective utilization of decentralization. The industry benefited through learning and reflection, thus, as projects have implemented changes to reduce the risks of future hacks or misappropriation. Immutable X: This Ethereum scaling solution aims to ensure secure NFT transactions for gaming, allowing players to trade an asset without the burden of exorbitant fees and fears of being a victim of fraud. Enjin: Enjin is providing a trusted infrastructure for Web3 games, offering secure NFT creation and transfer while reiterating that ownership and an asset securely belong to the player. These examples indubitably illustrate that despite challenges to overcome, blockchain remains the foundational layer on which to build more secure Web3 gaming environments. Benefits of Blockchain Security for Players and Developers For Players: Confidence in true ownership of assets Transparency in in-game economies Protection against nefarious trades/scams For Developers: More trust between players and the platform Less reliance on centralized infrastructure Ability to attract wealth and players based on provable fairness By incorporating blockchain security within the mechanics of game design, developers can create and enforce resilient ecosystems where players feel reassured in investing time, money, and ownership within virtual worlds. The Future of Secure Web3 Gaming Ecosystems As the wisdom of blockchain technology and industry knowledge improves, the future for secure Web3 gaming looks bright. New growing trends include: Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): A new wave of protocols that enable private transactions and secure smart contracts while managing user privacy with an element of transparency. Decentralized Identity Solutions (DID): Helping players control their identities and decrease account theft risks. AI-Enhanced Security: Identifying irregularities in user interactions by sampling pattern anomalies to avert hacks and fraud by time-stamping critical events. Interoperable Security Standards: Allowing secured and seamless asset transfers across blockchains and games. With these innovations, blockchain will not only secure gaming assets but also enhance the overall trust and longevity of Web3 gaming ecosystems. Conclusion Blockchain is more than a buzzword in Web3; it is the only way to host security, fairness, and transparency. With blockchain, players confirm immutable ownership of digital assets, there is a decentralized infrastructure, and finally, it supports smart contracts to automate code that protects players and developers from the challenges of digital economies. The threats, vulnerabilities, and scams that come from smart contracts still persist, but the industry is maturing with better security practices, cross-chain solutions, and increased formal cryptographic tools. In the coming years, blockchain will remain the base to digital economies and drive Web3 gaming environments that allow players to safely own, trade, and enjoy their digital experiences free from fraud and exploitation. While blockchain and gaming alone entertain, we will usher in an era of secure digital worlds where trust complements innovation. The Role of Blockchain in Building Safer Web3 Gaming Ecosystems was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story