Monetizing Telegram Mini Apps is now about engineered revenue design, not gimmicks: use Stars for compliant digital subscriptions, USDT-TON for real payments, TON Connect for wallet flows, and new TMA 2.0 APIs for conversion and retention. Done right, teams can move from “tap-to-earn” vanity to predictable ARPPU/LTV — even under Apple/Google constraints — while meeting procurement’s demands for predictable CAC and payout ops.

Monetizing Telegram Mini Apps: Beyond “Click-to-Earn”

Hook — The technical headache slowing real revenue

You shipped a viral mini app, but your revenues are capped by three hard constraints:

Apple/Google fees on in‑app digital goods via Stars squeeze margins; in the EU, fee schedules are changing again in 2026, and the default 30% math can still wreck ARPPU unless you design around it. (theverge.com)
Telegram now requires blockchain functionality in Mini Apps to run on TON with TON Connect — migrations were mandated in early 2025. If you’re still bridging from Sui/Solana or using legacy wallet-connectors, your roadmap is at risk. (core.telegram.org)
Your acquisition mix is under-optimized: Telegram Ads and AdsGram CPMs vary widely; without a proper funnel (view→open→authorize→pay), CAC balloons and “click-to-earn” users won’t convert. (ads.telegram.org)

Miss those realities and you’ll burn Q2 budget on low-intent traffic, miss your June 2026 launch KPI, and face rework to pass Telegram’s blockchain guidelines. (core.telegram.org)

Agitate — The real risks (missed deadlines, bad unit economics)

Stars-only monetization without offsets can erase 15–30% of digital revenue depending on platform rules and region, shrinking your bid range on Telegram Ads and choking distribution. The EU’s 2026 changes add a 5% Core Technology Commission outside the App Store, complicating procurement forecasts if you sell cross‑channel. (theverge.com)
Non‑TON blockchain features in TMAs violate Telegram’s 2025 guidelines; apps that didn’t migrate by February 21, 2025 lost compliant access paths — a non‑starter for enterprise governance and risk sign‑off. (core.telegram.org)
UA waste: Ads may run at low CPM floors in channels, but without conversion instrumentation and LTV models tied to Stars and USDT events, your “cheap traffic” produces negative ROAS. Even basic ad setup still settles/withdraws in TON; finance needs this in your payouts SOP. (ads.telegram.org)

Solve — 7Block Labs methodology to turn TMAs into profit centers

We implement a monetization stack purpose‑built for Telegram in 2026 — bridging Solidity/FunC and ZK‑friendly design with procurement‑grade economics.

Stars for digital subscriptions (compliance-first)

Implement Mini Apps 2.0 subscriptions with the Bot API’s “bot subscriptions” and exportInvoice over business connections; wire Stars as the default for digital goods. This satisfies Apple/Google policy while giving you predictable take rates. (core.telegram.org)
Reinvest Stars into discounted Telegram Ads to neutralize platform fees; Telegram adds a 30% ad credit when you fund ads from Stars — a real lever to claw back margin. (telegram.org)

Engineering specifics:

Use @telegram-apps/sdk v2 viewport APIs to mount/expand and requestFullscreen on open; lockOrientation during paywalls to cut abandonment.
Example (TypeScript):

import { init, isTMA, viewport } from '@telegram-apps/sdk';
(async () => {
  if (await isTMA()) {
    init();
    if (viewport.mount.isAvailable()) { await viewport.mount(); viewport.expand(); }
    if (viewport.requestFullscreen.isAvailable()) { await viewport.requestFullscreen(); }
  }
})();

Full-screen and homescreen APIs are shipped in TMA 2.0 (requestFullscreen, addToHomeScreen). (core.telegram.org)

USDT‑TON for payments tied to real-world value

Use USDT on TON for:
- Physical goods or off‑app services (not covered by Stars rules).
- B2B payouts, affiliate rewards, creator rev‑shares, and international settlement.
- Wallet in Telegram has promoted zero‑fee USDT purchases in 60+ countries (withdrawal/network fees still apply) — useful for customer top‑ups and influencer payouts. (forklog.com)
Implement TON Connect as the only wallet bridge and support Jetton decimals correctly (USDT is 6 decimals vs TON 9) to avoid under/over‑charging. (docs.ton.org)
Architecture:
- Custodial (@wallet / TON Wallet) for instant P2P and fiat ramps; non‑custodial via TON Wallet/TON Connect for ownership and DeFi paths. US rollout (July 22, 2025) means your U.S. growth squads can now test native flows. (cnbc.com)

Token design that won’t eat your margins

For loyalty/points, use Jettons (TEP‑74) and Mintless Jettons (TEP‑176/177) to airdrop at scale using Merkle proofs — a massive gas and ops saver for seasonal events. (docs.ton.org)
For cross‑chain liquidity, integrate the TON–LayerZero bridge for USDT lanes (ETH/TRON/Arbitrum) to support non‑TON treasuries without clunky multisigs. (ton.org)

Growth loops beyond ads (with credible economics)

Telegram Ads: pay in TON, buy inventory in specific public channels (CPM model; min 0.1 TON per 1,000 views). Use Stars‑funded ad credits to defray fees; finance reconciles via Fragment payouts. (ads.telegram.org)
AdsGram inside Mini Apps: integrate video/static units; CPM ranges roughly $3.8–$16 equivalent in TON — strong for games/utilities when paired with first‑party events. (cointelegraph.com)
Product instrumentation:
- Define events: open_tma → expand_fs → add_to_homescreen → tonconnect_auth → stars_checkout_succeeded → usdt_transfer_succeeded.
- Tie paid cohorts to ARPDAU/ARPPU and D1/D7 retention. Use the App Bar and homescreen shortcuts to reduce reopen friction. (telegram.org)

Security, audits, and procurement readiness

Smart contracts (Jettons, minters, airdrop claimers) audited for integer/decimal mishandling, replay in payloads, and allowance drift.
Wallet flows: enforce TON Connect proof payload verification; rate‑limit signing; show human‑readable amounts with correct decimals to cut support tickets. (docs.ton.org)
Policy conformance: structuring catalogs so “digital” routes Stars and “physical/off‑app” routes USDT; document the logic for procurement. Tether’s official TON launch underpins treasury policy for USDT reserves. (tether.io)

Where we plug in:

Strategy to deployment with our web3 development services and blockchain development services.
Contract reviews with our security audit services.
Cross‑stack integration (wallets, payments, analytics) via blockchain integration.
Monetization launch support and investor readiness via fundraising.

Prove — The GTM metrics that matter in 2026 (and how we anchor them)

Your CFO doesn’t care about “taps.” They want predictable CAC→LTV. We baseline with platform‑level facts, then engineer your funnel.

Anchor facts (why Telegram/TON is monetizable now):

500M+ users interact with Mini Apps monthly; Mini Apps 2.0 unlocked full‑screen UX, subscriptions, homescreen shortcuts — all conversion levers. (telegram.org)
USDT is native on TON; fee‑free USDT purchases (on‑ramp) rolled out via Wallet campaigns across 60+ countries (network withdrawal fees still apply). (forklog.com)
Telegram Ads pays/settles in TON and supports channel‑level placements (CPM with min 0.1 TON); channel owners receive 50% revenue share, expanding ad supply. (ads.telegram.org)
TON is the mandated chain for blockchain‑enabled Mini Apps; TON Connect is the exclusive wallet protocol — migration was required in Feb 2025. (core.telegram.org)

How we model ROI (inputs you control):

CPM inputs:
- Telegram Ads: set by inventory/channel; tested against your cohorts.
- AdsGram in‑app: typical CPM range ~$3.8–$16 in TON terms; we choose formats by geography. (cointelegraph.com)
Conversion ladder we instrument:
1. Impression → TMA open rate (by placement and creative)
2. Open → Full‑screen expand rate (viewport APIs)
3. Expand → TON Connect authorize (first‑session vs returning)
4. Authorize → Checkout (Stars) or Transfer (USDT)
5. Payment → Retention (D1/D7/D30) and ARPDAU/ARPPU
Unit economics we track:
- Stars ARPPU vs USDT AOV by cohort; refund/chargeback handling (Stars routes vs off‑app).
- Effective take rate after Stars→ads reinvestment credit.
- LTV sensitivity to homescreen shortcut adoption (Add to Home Screen event). (core.telegram.org)

Practical examples (with precise, current patterns)

Subscription utility mini app (Knowledge/Pro tools)

What we build:
- Stars‑based tiered subscriptions (Starter/Pro/Team) using “bot subscriptions” and exportInvoice; full‑screen paywall, orientation lock during payment. (core.telegram.org)
- Homescreen shortcuts prompt after D1 usage to harden habit loops.
- USDT‑TON payouts for creators/affiliates with TON Connect auth.
Why it works in 2026:
- Stars stays policy‑compliant on iOS/Android; reinvest Stars into Telegram Ads to offset fees. (telegram.org)
- For off‑app services (e.g., B2B reports), route USDT, avoiding Stars constraints.
Services we bring in: smart contract development, dApp development, and blockchain integration.

Remittance/marketplace flows

What we build:
- USDT‑TON checkout with correct 6‑decimal handling, plus TON Connect; custodial/non‑custodial paths depending on KYC tier. (docs.ton.org)
- Creator/merchant rev‑share in Toncoin or USDT; finance settles via Fragment/Wallet. (theblock.co)
Why it works in 2026:
- Wallet in Telegram’s fee‑free USDT purchase campaigns reduce top‑up friction; off‑app settlements avoid Stars commissions. (forklog.com)
Services: asset management platform development, asset tokenization.

Games moving past “click-to-earn”

What we build:
- Core loop with Stars‑gated season passes and cosmetic unlocks; AdsGram for rewarded views; optional Jetton economy for tradable in‑game items. (cointelegraph.com)
- Mintless Jettons for large‑scale airdrops (TEP‑176/177) to cut chain load; atomic‑swap roadmap compatibility on TON’s L2 payment network. (docs.ton.org)
- Use Mini Apps 2.0 full‑screen + device motion APIs for gameplay genres that were impossible in early TMAs. (theverge.com)
Why it works in 2026:
- You rely less on pure “tap” mechanics and more on subscription cosmetics + ad yields; CPMs are known; retention rises with homescreen placement. (core.telegram.org)
Services: blockchain game development, cross-chain solutions.

Technical specs you should implement now

Mini Apps 2.0:
- requestFullscreen, exitFullscreen, lockOrientation, addToHomeScreen; safe area handling via safeAreaInset/contentSafeAreaInset. (core.telegram.org)
Wallet integration:
- TON Connect only; verify proof payload; show “human amounts” for 6/9 decimals (USDT/TON). (docs.ton.org)
Tokens:
- Jettons (TEP‑74) for on‑app currency; Mintless Jettons (TEP‑176/177) for proof‑based airdrops. (docs.ton.org)
Ads:
- Telegram Ads: CPM bidding (min 0.1 TON/1K views); channel whitelists; TON‑based settlement. (ads.telegram.org)
- AdsGram SDK for rewarded placements; expect CPM dispersion by geo. (cointelegraph.com)
Payments:
- Route digital entitlements via Stars; off‑app/physical via USDT‑TON; plan treasury ops for TON/USDT, including withdrawal fee tables (e.g., 1 USDT on TON for withdrawals from Wallet). (coinglass.com)

Target audience and their must‑have keywords

Heads of Product/Growth at Telegram‑first gaming studios
- Keywords you care about: ARPDAU, D1/D7/D30 retention, rewarded ads fill rate, CPM dispersion, homescreen shortcut adoption, Stars→ads reinvestment rate. (cointelegraph.com)
PMs/Monetization leads at consumer fintech and remittance apps
- Keywords you care about: USDT‑TON on‑ramp acceptance, TON Connect auth rate, payout reconciliation (Fragment/Wallet), decimals safety (6 vs 9), refund windows for Stars content. (theblock.co)
Marketplace/community leads in media and creator economies
- Keywords you care about: paid posts with Stars, channel ad revenue share (50%), CPM floors, creator rev‑share in TON/USDT. (telegram.org)

Where 7Block Labs fits:

Build: custom dApp development, token development services, smart contract development.
Ship: defi development services, dex development services, blockchain bridge development.
Harden: security audit services.

Brief emerging best practices (Q1 2026)

Default to Stars for digital entitlements, but auto‑offer USDT for anything with off‑app value. Make the policy distinction explicit in your UI so support doesn’t drown in refunds. (t.me)
Always prompt “Add to Home Screen” on session ≥2; it’s the cheapest D7 retention lever available in TMAs. (core.telegram.org)
Use Mintless Jettons for seasonal airdrops; back it with an off‑chain Merkle service and on‑chain proofs to avoid bloated minters. (docs.ton.org)
For UA, blend Telegram Ads (channel‑level intent) with in‑app AdsGram (monetize non‑payers). Route Stars proceeds back into Ads to neutralize commissions. (telegram.org)
If you’re entering the U.S., assume TON Wallet availability and design user journeys that don’t require seed phrases; leverage split‑key/self‑custody onboarding patterns already live. (techcrunch.com)

Why now?

Telegram’s Mini Apps have 500M+ monthly users and are finally “full‑screen native.” USDT on TON plus wallet availability in the U.S. make real payments mainstream. And Telegram’s rules have settled: TON Connect is the path; TON is the chain. Put together, 2026 is the first year you can forecast LTV/CAC for Telegram at enterprise standards instead of hoping virality saves the P&L. (telegram.org)

Work with 7Block Labs — CTA

If you’re the PM or Growth lead responsible for turning your Telegram Mini App into a real business before June 30, 2026, we’ll scope, build, and launch a two‑track monetization stack (Stars subscriptions + USDT‑TON checkout) in 6–8 weeks, instrumented for ARPDAU/ARPPU and audited for decimals safety — then train your finance team on TON/Stars reconciliations. Start by selecting the pathway you need most today: custom blockchain development services for build‑out, or security audit services if you’re about to ship and want us to harden revenue‑critical contracts.

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