Telegram Surpasses One Billion Users, Founder Takes Aim at WhatsApp

elegram founder Pavel Durov has announced that the messaging platform has crossed the milestone of one billion active users, marking a significant increase from 950 million users last year. The report was published by TechCrunch.

Durov also revealed that in 2024, Telegram generated a profit of $547 million. Although he had previously declared the company’s profitability in December, he had not disclosed any specific financial figures at that time.

During his return to Dubai, Durov took the opportunity to criticize rival WhatsApp, owned by Meta, calling it a "cheap imitation."

He stated, "In front of us stands WhatsApp—a cheap, weaker imitation of Telegram. For years, they have made unsuccessful attempts to copy our innovations while spending billions on lobbying and PR campaigns to hinder our progress. Yet, they have failed. Telegram has grown, become profitable, and—unlike our competitor—has maintained its independence."

Legal Troubles in France

Durov recently returned to Dubai after navigating legal challenges in France. He was under investigation for allegations related to criminal activities, illicit transactions, and child exploitation content shared on Telegram. In August last year, he was held in police custody for a few days as part of the inquiry.

Rising Competition in Messaging Market

Despite Telegram's rapid growth, WhatsApp remains one of the world’s most popular messaging apps, with over two billion active users. Both platforms are now engaged in a competitive race to capture market share by introducing special features targeted at businesses and content creators.

Telegram has also taken major steps to attract crypto users, launching the TON blockchain, digital wallets, and a decentralized app ecosystem. These features enable content unlocking, tipping, and in-app purchases. In January, the platform introduced decentralized verification through third-party accounts.