Instant messaging app Telegram  is “approaching” 500 million users and plans to generate revenue starting next year to keep the business afloat, its founder said last week The service, which topped 400 million active users in April this year, will introduce its own ad platform for public one-to-many channels. Some analysts were hoping that Telegram would be able to monetize the platform through its blockchain token project. But after several delays and regulatory troubles, Telegram said in May that it had decided to abandon the project.

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