- Telegram founder Pavel Durov expects profitability next year and plans for an IPO.
- The chat app, with over 900 million users, is expanding ad solutions and blockchain projects.
- Telegram aims to invest in AI for moderation and offer business account conversions.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has announced that the company expects to achieve profitability next year and has its sights set on going public in the future.
The chat app, which has surpassed 900 million users, is generating “hundreds of millions of dollars” through ads and subscriptions, according to Durov’s interview with the Financial Times.
Despite receiving offers from global investors at a valuation of over $30 billion, Telegram aims to remain independent. It views an IPO as a means to democratize access to the company’s value.
Expansion of ad solutions and blockchain
Telegram launched a premium subscription two years ago and quickly gained over one million paid users.
The company also offers ad solutions for one-to-many channels and plans to introduce ad revenue sharing with channel owners this month. Durov mentioned that ad solutions are currently limited to certain geographies, but Telegram intends to expand ad offerings globally this year and accommodate small-ticket spenders.
Additionally, the company has experimented with blockchain-based projects through the TON foundation, such as auctioning premium usernames using TON Blockchain and adding a self-custodial crypto wallet globally, except in the U.S.
Future plans
Durov has previously stated that Telegram aims to launch AI-powered chatbots for customer service for business users.
The company also plans to invest in AI to address moderation issues that often plague the platform. Earlier this month, Telegram announced that personal users can convert their accounts to business accounts by paying a subscription fee, further expanding its monetization efforts.
