• Telegram’s revenue surpassed $1 billion in 2024, marking a major financial turnaround.
• Premium subscriptions and crypto ventures helped drive Telegram’s profitability growth.
• Legal scrutiny persists as Telegram intensifies efforts to moderate illicit content.

Telegram has hit a significant milestone in 2024 by becoming profitable, a feat it had struggled to achieve in previous years. Founder and CEO Pavel Durov pointed out that after facing financial challenges, legal scrutiny, and growing debts, the messaging platform has finally crossed the $1 billion revenue mark. 

This achievement is a dramatic turnaround from its previous revenue of approximately $350 million in 2023. So, how did they do it? Telegram’s profitability is the outcome of a combination of new monetization strategies and improved financial management, despite its ongoing challenges.

Telegram is now profitable 🏆

📈 This year, the number of Telegram Premium subscribers tripled, exceeding 12 million. Our ad revenue also increased a few times. Telegram’s total revenue in 2024 surpassed $1 billion, and we are closing the year with more than $500 million in cash…

— Pavel Durov (@durov) December 23, 2024

Revenue Growth and Subscriber Base Expansion

One of the key drivers of Telegram’s success is its premium subscription service. Launched two years ago, Telegram Premium has seen a dramatic increase in subscribers, now more than 12 million. This growth, coupled with an aggressive advertising strategy, has significantly increased Telegram’s revenue.

Also, the platform has introduced additional paid features, like content within channels, video services, and an ad-supported experience. These new monetization channels have been crucial in Telegram’s rise to profitability.

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Cryptocurrency Ventures Support Financial Growth

Beyond traditional revenue sources, Telegram has looked into cryptocurrency ventures to support its finances. The platform developed its own digital currency, Toncoin, which it has sold in significant quantities to generate revenue. This move has not only improved Telegram’s cash flow but also helped the company reduce its debt, which had previously reached nearly $2 billion.

In the future, Telegram is looking at more ways to integrate cryptocurrency into its platform. Plans include letting users mine and exchange digital currencies through third-party applications. This could provide Telegram with additional revenue streams in the future.   

Debt Reduction and Navigating Legal Challenges

Still, Telegram’s journey to profitability has not been without challenges. The platform has been under intense legal scrutiny for its lenient content moderation policies, which have led to its use for illicit activities, like drug dealing and extremist content.

Telegram has faced criticism for its slow response to takedown requests from governments and regulators worldwide. In August 2024, the situation escalated when founder Pavel Durov was arrested in France on charges related to illegal content on the platform. Despite this, Telegram has stepped up its efforts to address these issues by hiring over 750 contractors to monitor and remove harmful content.