Telegram reaches 900 million users and is close to profitability, founder considers IPO

The number of Telegram users reached 900 million, and the company is approaching profitability, paving the way for a possible large-scale stock market listing. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, revealed in an interview with the Financial Times that since the introduction of advertising and premium subscription services two years ago, this Dubai-based social media application has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with revenue reaching "hundreds of millions of dollars". Durov said, "We hope to achieve profitability this year or next." This is his first public interview since 2017. Durov also mentioned that although potential investors, including the "Global Late-Stage Technology Fund," have offered valuations of more than $30 billion, he ruled out the possibility of selling the platform while exploring the possibility of an initial public offering (IPO) in the future. Durov emphasized that the main reason for launching a profitable model is to maintain independence and believes that IPOs can democratize access to the value of Telegram. Telegram plans to launch a revenue-sharing plan with channel creators this month, promising to give them 50% of marketing dollars. In addition, the company will also introduce commercial accounts and "social discovery" features to help users meet or date nearby people. Telegram's advertising business attempts to form a sharp contrast with its reputation as a platform that takes a laissez-faire attitude towards content regulation. The platform has recently come under scrutiny for allowing some Hamas-related content to remain on the platform.