The company had launched a digital currency referred to as Stars, which users could utilize in the app last month. Now, it is handing over to paid content uses. In this connection, the message application now allows channels to cash out the stars they have into Toncoin, which is the cryptocurrency used by Telegram on the Open Network TON blockchain. Alternately, they can be redeemed with a discount on channel promotions.

The company first presented Stars as a way to spend money on digital goods sold by bots and apps inside Telegram. Nowadays, such content providers can post content that users can then redeem with Stars.

Additionally, the app is also offering channel owners to withdraw Stars and convert them into Toncoin through the Fragment platform. If you possess Toncoin, you can trade crypto on different exchanges and then transfer the funds into your account. Worth mentioning here is that Telegram has also been conducting auctions of usernames through this portal on its TON blockchain.

Channel owners may also use Stars to avail discounts on advertisements through which they could promote their channels.

To make things even more convenient, the company is introducing, with this update, a Mini App bar at the bottom, from where users can easily access mini apps without having to reload them again.

The company has brought in some new features whereby users can now discover stories. Now, users can tap on a hashtag and view all public stories that have that particular hashtag included in the caption. The app already features a hashtag search function for your chats and messages on public channels.

Users can add a location tag to their stories also, and from the same tag, now see all the public stories coming from that place, when tapped on.

Telegram added very business-centric features, such as the ability for small businesses to add location and opening hours, to help get to the goal of one billion active users while being profitable; April, for example, brought features like customizable start pages, predefined greeting and away messages, and support for chatbots for businesses.