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

Plus, DraftKings is done with NFTs and a Web3 travel app takes off

article-image

tovovan/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share

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.

Read more: Telegram tap-to-earn is the new crypto gaming trend

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). 

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. 

Read more: Lightspeed Newsletter: Solana transactions can now happen directly within X

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.

Read more: Web3 Watch: Starbucks shutters its ‘Odyssey’ NFT program

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.

Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Unlocked by Template (10).png

Research

Innovations on Aptos’ technical design through Raptr, Shardines, and Zaptos approach near-optimal latency and throughput by unlocking 100% utilization of network resources, with the capacity to settle 260k transactions per second with latencies less than 800ms. The original Move language was revamped with the launch of Move 2, supporting more expressivity in smart contract logic and a scalable ability to interact with high volume datasets. The ecosystem has benefitted from strong asset inflows, now hosting over $1.3B in stablecoins, $450M in bridged BTC, and $530M in RWAs. Activity in the Aptos ecosystem has grown notably over the past year, with monthly application revenue reaching ~$835k and monthly DEX volumes growing to over $5B, both at new all time highs.

article-image

The Stripe-acquired firm has big plans for a streamlined, multi-wallet future

article-image

Both founders of the former crypto lender have now landed in new crypto industry roles

article-image

Bitcoin’s recent peak is a victory lap for curvers left and right

article-image

Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo says institutions are eager to get exposure to tokenization

article-image

Trade isn’t war and prosperity isn’t a contest