1/ It is official: Telegram is losing the miniapps battle!
One year ago, they had everything: a billion users, $TON blockchain, and a massive head start.
But today? Farcaster is leading.
Here's what really went wrong… 🧵
2/ Last year, I remember the hype around @thenotcoin @hamster_kombat @the_yescoin and literally hundreds of tap-to-earn games on the TON blockchain.
The INSANE noise has reduced BIG time.
So what went wrong? So many things, I believe!
3/ TON blockchain is losing momentum because:
— No clear direction
— Projects with copy-paste model
— Projects with no real impact
— Millions of dead / botted users
— Bad incentives...
TON had an opportunity to dominate but it flopped and destroyed money.
4/ TON’s rise and fall has been real.
Six months ago, Hong Kong-based OGenLab published a report — revealing decline in projects, builders, and exposing the fragile ecosystem.
It is a comprehensive report that went unnoticed.
One thing was clear: $TON blockchain focussed on short-term growth tactics.
Report here: ogenlabs.substack.com/p/the-rise-and…
5/ Several crypto sites confirmed the truth!
There was a drop in active users, botted airdrop hunters, and overall struggle in going beyond these clicker games.
6/ Then came the FINAL blow: “The Closed Network”
In Feb 2025, Telegram took a closed approach. EVERY miniapp built on Telegram must integrate the TON blockchain.
There was a ton of backlash and dozens of founders left: x.com/ice_blockchain…
Existing miniapps not aligned with these new rules were suspended, which further killed the ecosystem vibe.
7/ Surely, $TON shillers won’t admit this but the truth must be said:
Telegram built an extraction machine. Not a creation machine.
Things can still turn around though — if they make good decisions going forward.
And if the chain doesn’t go down often…
8/ But what next?
Well, nothing really. People are simply moving on.
Even at The Network School run by @Balaji, builders are discussing migration from Telegram miniapps to Farcaster…
Link:
9/ Even at dTech.vision, I am seeing an increase in demand. People want to launch miniapps on Farcaster.
Why?
Because projects want REAL users and not fading bot armies.
If you ask me, TON blockchain was good for some time but it placed multiple ladders side by side — scattered efforts and no way up.
Farcaster, on the other hand, took the same ladder and built a solid one — stacked properly on top of one another.
Every piece supported the next.
That is why projects are choosing Farcaster, imo.
10/ Farcaster’s masterstroke: miniapps done right!
I have been building for 15+ months on Farcaster and let me tell you:
Things move fast here.
Quick iterations. Quick feedback. Quick adoption.
There has been a significant surge in miniapps and its usage.
People actually like building miniapps. (cc: @dwr @rish_neynar)
x.com/dwr/status/192…
11/ Chains are choosing Farcaster!
Farcaster recently added support for Solana, Celo, and Monad and even HyperEVM.
Look at what Monad received — with a simple campaign to build miniapps on Farcaster:
Or check out the recent CELO hackathon around Farcaster.
These chains are coming to Farcaster and not Telegram.
12/ In short: Farcaster has become the default choice for social + blockchain integration.
With a billion users, Telegram could have become the front door to crypto.
But Farcaster took the lead:
As @ljxie reveals, there has been a massive jump in the Farcaster developer activity.
13/ What seemed impossible a year ago is happening now!
Farcaster is winning. $TON is fading.
Every master knows: it is NOT about the piece you move. It is about the move you don't see coming.
The pawn moved and toppled the king.
And the entire empire crumbled…
14/ If you guys enjoyed this thread? Feel free to like, share, and retweet it.
As Farcaster miniapps are becoming distribution engine for chains and projects, I would be delighted to talk and add value.
If any projects wants to launch on Farcaster? Let me know. I am always down to chat.
PS: Don’t forget to follow me on Farcaster: farcaster.xyz/samuellhuber.e…
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