Web3 Watch: Telegram launches browser, ‘mini app store’

The encrypted messaging app Telegram rolled out a browser and “mini app store” this week, the latest salvo in what has been a busy few months for Telegram and the associated TON blockchain.

Telegram’s browser gives users more streamlined access to the mini apps, such as “Hamster Combat” and “Catizen,” which have captured users’ attention in recent weeks following the TON-based airdrop carried out by the “Notcoin” tap-to-earn game.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov first announced the new features on July 19. Three days later, he announced the app had reached 950 million active users (although it’s unclear how this figure was calculated. And with the airdrop fever surrounding TON mini-apps, it’s fair to assume that at least some of these users are duplicates).

Newsletter

Subscribe to Blockworks Daily

The mini app store and browser are linked, with the app store redirecting users to mini app sites on the browser. Users can have several “tabs” open at once.

As part of the same update, Telegram enabled users to gift stars — an in-app currency that can be exchanged for TON tokens — to their friends, who can then use the stars for in-app purchases on Telegram.

Telegram has long been the go-to messaging app for crypto-natives. Durov and Co. — who have long been associated with Web3 — appear to be in the process of formalizing that connection.

6th Man Ventures’ Mike Dudas wrote on X that Telegram is “by far the most crypto-friendly global social platform” following the announcement.

DraftKings the latest to end NFT initiative

The sports betting platform DraftKings became the latest US-based company to cease its NFT activities, vaguely citing “recent legal developments” in a website pop-up announcing the shuttering.

DraftKings had formerly offered NFTs as part of Reignmakers, a fantasy sports game that let users acquire digital collectibles of NFL, UFC and PGA Tour athletes. In the game, users would build lineups with NFTs to try earning rewards including cash and digital packs of cards.

DraftKings’ move is the latest in a growing trend of NFT initiatives shutting down, following similar moves from Meta, X, GameStop, and Starbucks.

One interesting stat:

Crypto-based travel booking platform TravelSwap saw hundreds of thousands in volume during June and July after only doing a few thousand in monthly revenue last summer, its CEO reported.

Also of note:

Doodles released “Super Pass” NFTs on Base to give users access to the digital premier of “Dullsville and the Doodleverse,” an animated film with music led by Pharrell Williams.
Restaurant loyalty app Blackbird shipped Blackbird Pay, which lets users pay for their meals with FLY tokens.
Crypto exchange OKX launched a digital collectibles “treasure hunt” in the cities hosting Premier League soccer club Manchester City’s US preseason matches.

Start your day with top crypto insights from David Canellis and Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter.

Explore the growing intersection between crypto, macroeconomics, policy and finance with Ben Strack, Casey Wagner and Felix Jauvin. Subscribe to the On the Margin newsletter.

The Lightspeed newsletter is all things Solana, in your inbox, every day. Subscribe to daily Solana news from Jack Kubinec and Jeff Albus.