This article explores the advantages and disadvantages of Telegram, Discord, and the recently emerging Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), as well as their potential for capturing traffic.
TLDR:
Telegram has emerged as a potential crypto traffic entry point and has garnered significant attention. This article summarizes crypto-related applications on Telegram, analyzes their strengths and areas for improvement, and explores the potential of Discord and browser-based Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) as traffic entry points. Key points include:
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Crypto Applications on Telegram: Telegram offers a rich array of crypto-related applications with a good user experience, making it a strong platform for crypto apps. However, the integration of the app center, various bots, and chat channels may lead to user inconvenience.
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Telegram’s Integration Capabilities: Telegram is not limited to the TON ecosystem; it facilitates the integration of various blockchains and protocols. Examples include EVM-based trading bots and multi-chain wallet tracking apps.
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Opportunities and Challenges for Discord: Discord has the potential to assume Telegram’s current role, thanks to its extensive bot capabilities. However, it has not fully embraced crypto due to user aversion, excessive crypto fraud affecting user security, and unclear regulations.
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Potential of Browser Apps:Browser applications are well-integrated with the existing crypto ecosystem, but on mobile, traffic entry points may shift from Metamask to specific apps, with Friend Tech being a notable example.
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Key Factors for Traffic Entry Points: The future traffic entry point largely depends on user experience and regulation. Applications with built-in crypto features (e.g., integrated wallets) like Telegram and Friend Tech have strong appeal. Regulatory pressure on traditional social giants creates opportunities for less regulated or native applications.
Telegram as a Traffic Entry Point
Telegram has already hosted numerous crypto applications. First, we discuss the forms and access methods of these applications. On Telegram, there are two types of “apps”: one is the Telegram bot, which interacts through the chat interface, and the other is the Telegram Web App (TWA), which uses a small web window. In the illustration below, Unibot on the left is a typical bot, while the football game and various blockchain games on Telegram are TWAs. TWAs use JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to provide various functions through a small web browser within Telegram.
There are three ways to access applications on Telegram: via links, searching for the app name, and accessing through the Telegram apps center. Links and searching for names are similar to joining a channel, while accessing through the apps center involves linking or searching for @tapps_bot. Telegram supports not only TON ecosystem projects but also applications based on other public chains, which are introduced separately.
TON Ecosystem Applications
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Wallets: Telegram has previously had several wallets, such as Tonkeeper, MyTonWallet, and Tonhub. However, the launch of the official custodial wallet Wallet and the built-in non-custodial wallet Ton Space has posed significant challenges to the previous wallets. Wallet is a custodial wallet supporting payments with USDT, TON, and BTC. It also includes the testing non-custodial wallet, TON Space. In the future, users will be able to access DeFi applications within TON Space, such as DEXs, staking, and lending protocols, as well as directly access third-party dapps on the TON blockchain. Additionally, TON Space allows wallet recovery via email, which is very user-friendly, though it may present security risks.
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DeFi: The TON ecosystem is still in its early stages, with DEXs like Megaton Finance, STON.fi, DeDust.io, and cross-chain attempts like STON, lending protocols like Evaa, and derivatives like Storm Trade. Additionally, the TON ecosystem already has a launchpad—Tonstarter—and a domain service—TON DNS.
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NFT Ecosystem: The NFT ecosystem on TON is also developing. The NFT markets include Fragment and Getgems, where users can purchase Telegram usernames and anonymous phone numbers on Fragment, and buy and sell usernames, anonymous phone numbers, and other NFT projects on the TON chain on Getgems. However, Fragment’s transaction volume still surpasses that of Getgems. As of September 25, the TON NFT market has shown good growth, with projects like TON Diamonds and TON Punks, similar to Ethereum’s ecosystem.
Additional Categories:
Another major category is games integrated with TON, such as Fanton Fantasy Football, a P2E idle football card game where you earn tokens by winning, seamlessly connecting with the TON ecosystem; Punkcity, a turn-based game where you earn tokens by winning; and Tongochi Game, also a P2E MMORPG currently in the demo stage.
There are also many auxiliary tools, such as TON Wallet Tracker and TON Notify Bot for tracking token and NFT flows in the TON ecosystem; NFT TONificator for tracking listings and sales of NFT series; Community, a tool for onboarding bounties; and Ton Gifts Bot for sending gifts to friends. Additionally, there’s the comprehensive Friends All-in-One BOT, which has many features yet to be launched. The team plans to first deliver translation, new NFT mint reminders, and NFT floor price alert functions, which will also be provided by three separate bots.
An interesting tool is Mobile, a lifestyle service tool for purchasing eSIM cards, making international travel easier. Notably, it supports payment not only with credit cards but also with TON Wallet.
Regarding Ethereum ecosystem applications, previously popular trading bots will be introduced. Essentially, trading bots act as intermediaries that take a cut. Currently, after experiencing a surge in popularity, TG bots are in a period of declining heat.
Unibot is essentially a scientific agent where users deposit tokens into an official wallet and trigger limit buy/sell orders, automatic following, and immediate purchase commands through the Telegram chat interface. Unibot creates an EOA for the user, who then deposits money into it. When a trade is initiated (e.g., selling on Uniswap), the EOA interacts with Uniswap through Unibot’s router contract. This process allows Unibot’s contracts to perform additional functions like fee collection. Similar trading bots include Banana Gun, Maestro, and DexCheck. Banana Gun requires users to input private keys or generate new addresses via the official bot, with features like trade cancellation on detected risks and block bribery optimization. Maestro offers whale tracking, token trading, and other features, while DexCheck provides wallet tracking, new token contract sniper capabilities, and token trading.
In terms of trading volume, Unibot leads, followed by Banana Gun, while Maestro has the highest DAU, slightly ahead of Banana Gun and Unibot. There are also service-oriented projects that issue tokens in the Ethereum ecosystem. For example, LootBot automates airdrop collection, and holding $LOOT tokens can participate in profit distribution. IMGNAI offers a bot that generates images from messages in channels, with token holders promised future benefits, and the tokens are on Ethereum. ChainGPT provides various services through its tele bot, including generating smart contract code and contract verification. $CGPT is used for purchasing services within ChainGPT and for staking, with the tokens also on Ethereum. This represents a broader utility for Ethereum-based tokens.