News Summary

Telegram, founded by Pavel Durov, has surpassed one billion active monthly users, marking a significant milestone for the messaging platform. This achievement places Telegram as the second most popular messaging app globally, behind WeChat. Durov announced that the company registered $547 million in profits last year, asserting Telegram’s profitability and independence. He criticized Meta-owned WhatsApp as a ‘cheap, watered-down imitation’ and highlighted Telegram’s innovations and growth despite attempts by WhatsApp to slow them down through lobbying and PR campaigns. Telegram has also engaged the crypto community by integrating the TON blockchain and offering various features to appeal to businesses and creators.