Pavel Durov is the founder of Telegram. He has revealed that the social media platform has reached 900 million users. It marked an 80% increase from its 500 million user base in 2021. Durov also hinted at nearing profitability while stating plans for an IPO or initial public offering.
Durov credits Telegram’s notable revenue growth to the introduction of its advertising and premium subscription services in 2022. Investors have valued Telegram at $30 billion, with 800 million active users worldwide. Investors are seeking to buy out the company.
However, in spite of the interest from investors, Durov has stated that he has no plans in selling the company. Rather, he wants to further explore a future initial public offering to democratize access to the platform’s value.
Moreover, Pavel Durov is contemplating a potential stock market listing, most likely on Wall Street. Many often dub him “The Mark Zuckerberg of Russia.” The Telegram founder anticipates the messaging company will become profitable next year. This prospective listing could also draw significant interest with Reddit’s impending IPO capturing investor attention.
The app’s monthly active users have rushed from 500 million in early 2021 to 900 million. Despite its roots in cryptocurrency community, its rapid growth and limited staff have led to concerns about its role in facilitating criminal activity and spreading extremist content. It contrasts with its utility for global communication, as well as the safety in conflict zonesCritics have also speculated possible ties or influence from Kremlin. Durov has dismissed this allegation and called it inaccurate.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp boasts 1.8 billion monthly active users. It is a messaging competitor owned by Meta. Encrypted communications app Signal had 30 million users as of February of this year. It’s worth noting that this data specifically elates to mobile app usage.
