Telegram Premium Reaches 10 Million Users, Says Durov

Since January, the number of Telegram Premium users has doubled, reaching 10 million. This was announced by the messaging app’s founder, Pavel Durov, on his channel.

“This rapid growth helps Telegram develop while adhering to our monetization principles, which prioritize users and their privacy,” the blog post states.

The company thanked those who subscribed to Telegram Premium for their support, noting that with their help, they are “expanding the boundaries of communication for nearly 1 billion people.”

In July, Durov reported that the number of active monthly users of the messenger exceeded 950 million. That same month, Telegram launched a Web3 browser and app store, and also allowed gifting of the internal currency Telegram Stars.

On August 24, Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport in Paris. On August 28, he was released under judicial supervision with a €5 million bail and the obligation to report to the police twice a week. He is prohibited from leaving France.

In September, in his first post after being released, Durov thanked the community for their support and announced enhanced moderation on Telegram. He also expressed surprise at having to bear personal responsibility for the unlawful actions of third parties.

As reported in the Financial Times, Telegram’s operating loss was revealed to be $108 million in 2023. After taxes, the amount increased to $173 million. The messenger’s revenue amounted to $342 million.