Telegram Mini‑Apps are HTML5‑based web apps that run within the Telegram app, offering functionality far beyond bots. Built with JavaScript and Telegram’s WebApp API, they support seamless OAuth login, native payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Telegram Stars), push notifications, and secure local storage.
These apps load instantly without requiring app-store downloads, making them accessible and frictionless. As of July 2024, Telegram reports Mini‑Apps reach 500 million monthly active users.
Hot Trends Shaping TMAs in 2025
🎯 1. Gaming Still Dominates (with Real Rewards)
Gaming remains the core of the Mini‑App ecosystem—but the simple tap‑to‑earn wave (like Notcoin and Hamster Kombat) has cooled. Instead, decentralized Web3 games with token and NFT rewards reign supreme, especially those that incentivize users to share, refer, and earn.
Redditors highlight Boinkers, a highly addictive spin‑machine play‑to‑earn game, with over 11.5 million monthly players in early 2025—proof that chat‑based gaming is still exploding.
2. NFT Gifts & Collectibles
NFT‑based reward mechanics remain big. Mini‑Apps like Case, Gifts Battle, and Empty allow users to win free or upgraded NFTs via codes or raffles. These apps have recently seen explosive weekly growth in user counts, reinforcing NFT‑gifts as a powerful engagement hook.
3. Native Look & Smart Personalization
Design trends now prioritize sleek, Telegram‑like UI and minimal tapping. Apps such as Yescoin, Blum, and Catizen deliver intuitive UX, chat‑style notifications, and adaptive reward systems based on play habits—making them feel native and trusted within Telegram itself.
4. From Games to Shops
E‑commerce is becoming a key use case. Mini‑Apps are evolving into marketplaces—allowing users to buy, sell, and manage products inside Telegram. Embedded CRMs, inventory display, and payment integrations (crypto or fiat) are powering this shift.
5. AI & Web2 Utilities Emerging
Beyond blockchain and gaming, AI tools, productivity apps, education bots, and scheduling tools are surging. Mini‑Apps like StarAI (talk‑to‑earn with an AI assistant) or ADHD Diary (hourly productivity tracker) signal a move toward utility‑driven, everyday use cases.
Telegram’s April 11, 2025, Bot API 9.0 update added secure and persistent local storage, strengthening capabilities for more complex applications.
Lead Mini‑Apps (The Biggest “Crossing” Hits)
Hamster Kombat
Launched March 26, 2024, and now boasting 300 million players, this satirical hamster‑CEO game integrates viral mechanics (invite rewards, YouTube linking) and is often seen as the gateway into TON/Web3 via Telegram. It’s drawn major attention—even criticism—from Iranian officials and is expected to receive one of the largest crypto airdrops in history.
TapSwap
Mentioned by Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, TapSwap reached 56 million users just a few months after launch—achieving that explosive reach without marketing, solely via TON‑based viral mechanics.
Boinkers
A degen-style spin‑and‑earn game offering real TON rewards. With 11.5 million monthly users by early 2025, it remains one of the most active and financially interactive games in the Mini‑App arena.
Other Rising Apps
- Blum: Built-in exchange for spot trading or farming tokens.
- PAWS and Caps: games offering missions, collectables, and trading features. Caps reportedly has ~14 million users; Blum ~30 million subscribers as per recent stats (Reddit, propellerads.com).
What This Means for Telegram Users & Developers
Telegram Mini‑Apps are evolving rapidly from novelty projects into a super‑app platform rivaling WeChat. The ecosystem now supports full‑screen immersive apps (portrait and landscape), subscription monetization via Stars, media sharing, home‑screen bookmarking, and more—all since version 2.0 in late 2024 (theverge.com).
For developers and businesses, TMAs offer:
- Direct access to Telegram’s 900+ million user base
- Viral user acquisition loops built into Web3 incentive models
- Rich monetization—via in‑app purchases, NFTs, exchanges, or commerce tools
For users, the shift transforms Telegram into a hub for entertainment, finance, utility, social commerce, and even learning—without leaving your messaging ecosystem.
In Summary
Telegram Mini‑Apps have come a long way: from ultra-simple tap games to highly engaging Web3 games, NFT experiences, e‑commerce storefronts, AI utilities, and productivity tools. The biggest crossing apps—Hamster Kombat, TapSwap, Boinkers—demonstrate what’s possible when messaging meets gaming and blockchain.
With continuous updates and TON as the backbone, TMAs are positioning Telegram as a true super‑app. Expect even more innovation as developers push into new categories, and as users demand richer, more useful experiences inside the platform.