This Friday, Telegram commemorates 13 years since its inception, a milestone characterized by unprecedented user growth and escalating legal and political tensions surrounding its founder, Pavel Durov.
The messaging app made its debut on August 14, 2013, initially launching for iOS, and has since evolved into one of the world's most widely used communication platforms.
In celebration of the anniversary, Durov shared on his official Telegram channel that "an entire generation has grown up with it."
He also emphasized that for more than half of the platform's existence—the past 7.5 years—Telegram has consistently ranked among the top ten most downloaded mobile applications globally.
By March 2025, Telegram surpassed the milestone of 1 billion active monthly users, as noted by Durov himself.
The platform's growth trajectory is remarkable: from 35 million users in 2014, it soared to 100 million in 2016, climbed to 400 million in 2020, reached 700 million in 2022, and ultimately hit the 1 billion user mark last year.
To mark the occasion, Durov announced a giveaway of limited edition non-fungible digital assets, featuring items like "Durov's Sunglasses," "Resistance Dog," and "Pink Flamingo."
The 13th birthday, however, arrives amid significant pressure on Durov from multiple fronts.
In August 2024, Durov was arrested in France upon landing near Paris, under investigation for alleged connections to organized crime and accusations of non-cooperation with authorities. He was released on a €5 million bail and prohibited from leaving France.
Adding to his challenges, at the end of July 2026, Moscow launched a fresh offensive. The Russian security service initiated a case against Durov for alleged "terrorism complicity" and issued an international search warrant.
The following day, Russia's state agency Rosfinmonitoring added him to its official list of "terrorists and extremists," resulting in the freezing of his assets in Russia.
Durov publicly denounced this designation, asserting that Russia labeled him a terrorist for refusing to comply with demands for mass surveillance and censorship on the platform.
Telegram was founded by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai, who previously created VKontakte, Russia's largest social network.
After losing control of VKontakte due to Russian government pressure, they left the country and developed Telegram with a strong focus on privacy and security. The company's headquarters are based outside Russia, and Durov typically resides in Dubai.
"For more than half of that time—7.5 years—we've been among the top ten most downloaded mobile apps worldwide," Durov reiterated in his anniversary message, encapsulating the magnitude of what began 13 years ago as a venture for free and private communication.
FAQs on Telegram's Growth and Challenges
How has Telegram grown since its launch?
Telegram has seen significant growth, starting from 35 million users in 2014 to surpassing 1 billion active monthly users by 2025.
What legal challenges has Pavel Durov faced?
Pavel Durov has faced legal challenges including arrest in France for alleged organized crime connections and charges from Russia for purported terrorism complicity.
Why was Pavel Durov labeled a terrorist by Russia?
Russia labeled Durov a terrorist due to his refusal to comply with demands for mass surveillance and censorship on Telegram.