How to Improve Telegram: BitOrbit client with micro-apps and a crypto wallet

In December 2020, Pavel Durov announced the monetization of Telegram, while the messenger’s functionality hardly changed over the past year. The most notable enhancements were comments and group calls.

The Velas project considers that the future of the messenger lies in expanding features. Velas developers plan to turn Telegram into a super app (SuperApp): adding a video feed, as well as support for cryptocurrency payments and micro-apps.

Here’s how the super app built on Telegram will work.

About Velas

Velas is the blockchain project of Velas Network AG. Since 2019, the project team has been developing the Velas blockchain, which runs on the AI Delegated Proof-of-Stake consensus algorithm. The size of transaction fees in Velas is determined by artificial intelligence.

In December 2020 the project team launched the Velas 3.0 blockchain ecosystem and entered into a partnership with the Travala hotel booking platform.

The Velas 3.0 ecosystem includes the multi-currency wallet Velas Wallet, Velas Vault decentralized key storage, the Velasphere cloud computing network, and the Telegram client BitOrbit.

What will be in the BitOrbit client

Velas believes the future belongs to universal apps like WeChat and Alipay, used by 1.2 billion and 1.3 billion people respectively.

“We believe that users will install BitOrbit for chatting with friends, news, entertainment channels, but then they will become acquainted with the cryptocurrency industry. The Chinese app WeChat uses the same approach: a person installs a social network and then learns about mobile payments and makes purchases in micro-apps”, — explains Velas’ Chief Technology Officer Roman Cherednik.

The Velas team is developing the BitOrbit super app with open-source code based on the Telegram API. In addition to messenger features, developers will add to the modified client:

• a multi-currency Velas Wallet with support for the native Velas VLX token, BTC and ETH;
• a video feed with public, private, and paid content;
• tools for monetising content — paid channels and groups;
• micro-apps with unique interfaces and cryptocurrency payments.

Telegram users interact with bots in chats: they issue commands or tap buttons. BitOrbit will extend bot customization using the React Native framework. It will enable creating micro-apps — bots with websites and mobile app interfaces that open inside the messenger. This is the principle behind Telegram’s built-in browser.

Ordering and paying for a pizza using a microapplication in BitOrbit.

Custom micro-apps interact with the Velas blockchain without a centralized backend. Nevertheless, developers added content moderation to BitOrbit. Users will flag unwanted content, and a committee of validators will remove it if rules are breached.

The majority of user complaints will be processed by an AI module. According to Velas, by the time of the app’s release it will be able to recognise up to 95% of unwanted content.

Why Velas chose Telegram as the base

According to Velas, the modified Telegram client will attract a larger audience than a new app: BitOrbit runs on the Telegram API and does not store user data. After installation, the app will display contacts and chats from Telegram.

“In creating BitOrbit we pursued two goals — to elevate dapps to a new level and to improve existing solutions. To use BitOrbit you don’t need to understand how blockchain works, while users get a familiar and convenient Telegram interface”, — explains Velas’ Chief Technology Officer Roman Cherednik.

Velas developers are convinced that BitOrbit will become a bridge between decentralized services and popular centralized solutions.

“We aim to provide developers and users with a convenient, transparent, and decentralised ecosystem built on the principles of Web 3.0. BitOrbit will unite the best of centralized and decentralized applications, provide broad access to cryptocurrencies and foster their mass adoption”, — comments Roman Cherednik.

Another reason for choosing Telegram is the company’s monetization strategy. Velas is building services that will use VLX and increase its value.

“The BitOrbit monetization strategy is based on the token VLX’s utilitarian value. Our task is to create a product and attract as many services as possible that use it. This will increase the token’s value”, — notes Roman Cherednik.

Velas plans to release an early version of BitOrbit in spring 2021 and to ramp up the app’s functionality.

Conclusions

The Velas developers are building a multifunctional decentralized application based on Telegram. BitOrbit will be a messenger, social network, payment system and e-commerce platform.

The release of BitOrbit could accelerate the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies: users will gain infrastructure for crypto payments, and channel owners and content creators will be able to receive payments in the messenger.

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