Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced on Monday that the platform is now profitable, with revenue exceeding $1 billion in 2024. The instant messaging service, which launched its premium subscription in 2022, now boasts over 12 million paid users.
Durov revealed that Telegram is ending the year with over $500 million in cash reserves, excluding its cryptocurrency holdings. He shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), attracting praise from Elon Musk, who responded, “Well done.”
Highlighting the company’s growth, Durov credited innovations like Stars, Gifts, Giveaways, Mini Apps, Telegram Business, and the Affiliate Platform for driving monetization while maintaining user rights.
However, Telegram’s success comes amid criticism over content moderation failures. Accusations of enabling extremist activities led to Durov’s arrest in France in August 2024. He was later released on €5 million bail under strict conditions, including biweekly police reporting.
In response to mounting pressure, Telegram intensified its crackdown on harmful content, blocking 15.4 million groups and channels this year. Its latest moderation report details efforts to remove millions of pieces of content, including material inciting violence, terrorism, and illegal activities. The app, which now has over 900 million users, aims to balance financial growth with its responsibility to combat misuse.
