Telegram adds new ways for content creators to make money on its platform

Content is king, and Telegram is making its move to crown creators. The messaging app, known for its privacy-first approach, is targeting the lucrative creator economy—a market projected to reach $528.39 billion by 2030, growing at a 22.5% CAGR, per Exploding Topics.

Announced Wednesday, Telegram's latest update introduces a Patreon-like subscription model. Creators can now offer exclusive content via invite links, charging monthly fees in Telegram's digital currency, Stars. This clever strategy keeps users within the Telegram ecosystem while unlocking new revenue streams for content creators.

The platform is also rolling out Star Reactions, allowing fans to directly support creators, akin to YouTube's "Super Thanks" or X's Tips. In a creator-friendly move, 100% of these Star Reactions go directly to the content makers.

These new tools complement Telegram's existing monetization features, including paid content sharing and ad revenue sharing. Creators can convert Stars into Toncoin cryptocurrency or use them for subsidized ads, although Telegram takes an undisclosed commission on Star transactions, says TechCrunch.

For Telegram, with its 950 million active users and ambitions to surpass 1 billion this year, these features could be pivotal for profitability—a goal founder Pavel Durov has set for 2025, with potential plans to go public.

As messaging apps transform into content hubs, Telegram's investment in the creator economy could be its differentiator. For creators, it offers a new frontier with a vast, engaged audience. For users, it promises more diverse content. And for Telegram? It may well be the key to long-term viability in a fiercely competitive market.