Telegram’s exclusivity policy forces blockchain projects to migrate or adapt. A Mini App with over 80 million users chose Solana as its new home.
Telegram recently introduced a policy mandating all Mini Apps and third-party crypto wallets on its platform to exclusively operate on TON, sparking debates about decentralization and preventing multichain expansion. Under this arrangement, Telegram Mini Apps that operated across multiple blockchains had to choose between running solely on TON or leaving the ecosystem altogether.
Among the apps that faced this dilemma is PAWS, a SocialFi project rewarding users for engagement. Rather than remaining confined to a closed ecosystem, PAWS made the decision to migrate to Solana.
Boosting the Solana ecosystem
Moving PAWS’ quickly-amassed user base of 80 millions to Solana resulted in significant additional traffic and boosted the ecosystem. Since the migration, users downloaded over 9 million Phantom crypto wallets and funded more than 1 million new Solana addresses, all happening before PAWS’ token generation event (TGE).
Non-fungible token (NFT) vouchers offered by PAWS also became a significant presence on Solana-based NFT marketplace Magic Eden, sparking more than 100,000 transactions in two weeks. Such developments showcase that a committed community can follow a project through migration to a different chain if the underlying product remains accessible and engaging.
Value extraction versus value injection
The migration revived a long-standing debate revolving around value extraction and value injection. Many blockchain initiatives rely on short bursts of liquidity or speculative token trading, often resulting in value extraction from underlying ecosystems. These models can drive abrupt capital inflows and outflows, intensifying market volatility and exposing ecosystem participants to sudden risks.
The trend is especially relevant for Solana, where high volatility memecoins and recent rug pulls caused significant capital flight. In contrast, PAWS put emphasis on sustained user participation rather than relying solely on speculative token gains. By presenting a model that focuses on consistent engagement, the project seeks to build an ever-growing community growth.
Building an intellectual property
The Solana migration involves a rebranding process to turn the project into an intellectual property and position it as a long-lasting Web3 brand. Moving forward, PAWS aims to evolve from a viral Telegram application into a full-fledged Web3 brand with multiple revenue streams and strong community loyalty.
To achieve this, the project plans to grow its ecosystem through DeFi integrations, gaming partnerships and social engagement tools. Realizing the multichain possibility is on the radar as well, with plans to expand across Ethereum, layer-2 chains and beyond.
Beyond the crypto space, PAWS seeks to establish itself as a recognizable brand through real-world activations, strategic partnerships and mainstream media presence. A key part of this vision is a sustainable token economy, where holders and community members actively participate in governance and ecosystem development.
The transition from a highly engaged Mini App to a sustainable Web3 brand can set a large-scale example of how meme culture can evolve into a legitimate business model within the crypto space.
The broader significance of PAWS’ transition lies in its potential to set a precedent: Can Telegram’s retail-heavy user base become active participants in permissionless blockchain ecosystems? If successful, PAWS may serve as a model for future Web3 projects looking to bridge the gap between closed platforms and decentralized networks.
