Telegram launches an in-app browser that supports decentralized websites

Crypto-friendly social messaging platform Telegram has launched a new in-app browser that supports decentralized websites.

The decentralized sites — called “TON Sites” — are now available on mobile and desktop, the Telegram team said in a July 31 post.

This makes Web3 instantly accessible to our nearly one billion monthly users.

“The browser allows users to switch between browsing web pages and messaging,” Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said in a July 31 post.

Tons of sites allow Telegram users to host a web server on their website and make it available on the Open Network.

Meanwhile, Telegram has announced a mini app store, which the company previously promised would launch before the end of July.

Telegram users can now also send “stars” – parts of the mini-app's payment system – to friends.

More than 500 million of Telegram's 950 million users interact with mini apps every month.

Among the most popular Telegram apps, four-month-old Hamster Kombat recently surpassed 300 million players.

Hamster Kombat is a crypto game where players touch hamsters to earn tokens and improve their virtual crypto exchange. Telegram claims to be the third fastest app to reach 150 million players.

Web3 social entertainment platform Katizen is another Telegram-based app that has seen massive adoption.

Durov said in a statement on July 23 that since its launch in March, Katizen has attracted 26 million players and generated $16 million in revenue from in-app purchases.

Of this, $160,000 was donated to rescue stray cats.

According to CoinGecko data, Hamster Combat and Catizen use the Open Network's kriptovalyutnoy, Toncoin (TON), which has risen 467% to $6.78 in the past 12 months.

RELATED: TON Network TVL Exceeds $760 Million – Is This Big for TON?

Developments are also being made on the Open Network blockchain.

The Toon Core Group recently launched its W5 smart wallet standard in partnership with Toon Guard to offer gas-free transactions.

The feature was implemented as part of an additional effort to bring crypto to the masses, ToneGuard CEO Oleg Andreev told Cointelegraph on July 25.

“New users can now engage with the Ton ecosystem without having to acquire TonCoin, significantly lowering the barriers to entry.”

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