Telegram is deepening their bet on crypto and digital assets as the future of payments.

‍What’s happening:

• Popular encrypted messaging app Telegram has launched a new payment technology known as Stars to enable instant global transactions between users
  

Why it matters:‍

• Telegram is one of the fastest growing encrypted messaging apps in the entire world and has been a foundational aspect of many crypto focused communities
  

How it works:‍

• Stars will allow for seamless borderless payments to be made inside of Telegram for both individuals and businesses
  
• Payments made through Stars can be withdrawn and converted into Telegram’s crypto coin TON
  

By the numbers:‍

• Telegram has approximately 900M users on their messaging app
  

The intrigue:‍

• Telegram’s native digital asset recently got their very own Exchange Traded Product listed on the Nordic Growth Market, which was launched by DeFi Technologies (CBOE: DEFI)

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