In the rapidly changing world of digital investing, one platform has quickly grown as one of the main venues for forex and crypto traders: Telegram. Using the messaging app is tempting as it offers tangible benefits for users and publishers, but the wrong strategy can result in significant setbacks, as we see at FXStreet.

Telegram’s role in forex and crypto trading is increasingly essential for a growing number of investors seeking real-time analysis, insights, signals, and community engagement. According to marketing research data, Telegram is one of the main social media channels that traders use to make investment decisions, it’s at roughly the same level as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) and only behind YouTube and Discord. WhatsApp, the messaging platform that is more popular among the general public, comes in way behind the others when it comes to traders.

Telegram’s Special Appeal

Telegram has some interesting features that can explain its success among forex and crypto investors. The interface is more flexible than that of WhatsApp, with channels unmuted by default, the option of customized emojis, chat history functions, and the possibility of adding administrators who aren’t owners.

For publishers, Telegram’s API facilitates interaction with users can be directly linked to a website, a feature that isn’t available for WhatsApp channels. This makes it easier to create, manage, and edit posts.

Capitalizing on Telegram’s Potential

FXStreet recognized the potential of Telegram more than three years ago. Our aim was to arm traders with timely, accurate, and actionable information, regardless of the channel.

Forex and crypto channels on Telegram are divided into two broad categories. The first is signals, or groups with thousands of followers, mostly bots, where owners suggest full trade plans, including entry and exit prices for a specific asset. Generally, these channels are opaque and run by anonymous users with little to no accountability. The other channel is news, managed mainly by established media outlets with experience in the forex and crypto markets, giving real-time information and insightful analysis so traders can make their own decisions.

The 'Blue Check'

Things haven’t been easy in the Telegram environment. Despite the platform’s main strengths being privacy and security, scammers are seeking to illegally benefit from traders. FXStreet had to deal with tens of accounts impersonating the site and even some of its analysts. In some cases, these accounts doubled the followers of our own channel thanks to an army of bots. Efforts to take them down would result in more of them appearing in a matter of days, with complaints about fraud mounting. This has become a growing problem not only for FXStreet, but for all media focusing on forex and crypto traders.

The situation has improved since Telegram verified the account in September. This has been a game-changer. The verification not only bolsters our forex community but also acts as a vital shield against scams, a prevalent concern in this channel. Our users feel secure knowing they're part of a verified group.

FXStreet’s Telegram chat audience quickly increased after the verification. The channel has more than 56,000 followers, and if recent trends are sustained, it could exceed 80,000 followers by the end of this year. In comparison, renowned media outlets such as the New York Times or Bloomberg each have around 130,000 followers each.

With the Telegram community becoming more prominent, we have had the opportunity to monetize the channel with sponsorships.

There are several elements on how to create a successful Telegram channel: Promote the channel via newsletters, social media, push notifications, or on-site placements; fill the channel with insightful, actionable content and update it frequently; work with Telegram to obtain the blue-check or verification mark; develop a system to automate the publication through Telegram; and keep sharing content, combining manual and automated posts.

As the trading world expands to new channels, being nimble and adaptable is essential, but this should never compromise the commitment to one’s values. Offering top-quality news is always a differentiator: you need the best sources when making trading decisions. We're very proud of the interest our news generates on Telegram and are here to support traders wherever they need us.