Pavel Durov’s English Telegram channel recently set a new benchmark for subscriber growth, drawing attention from the editorial team of the channel known as Update. Within a single day, the channel surged past a remarkable milestone, gaining more than 300 thousand new subscribers. This explosive influx is being described as a record in the history of the messenger, underscoring the platform’s rapid reach and the magnetic pull of its founder’s updates. In response to the surge, a raffle was announced offering 10 thousand Telegram Premium subscriptions for a six‑month period, a move that amplified excitement around the promotion and the channel’s growing audience. Durov reportedly invested around 200 thousand dollars into the campaign, a substantial sum that reflects the bold nature of the initiative.
At the time of the boost, the channel was estimated to count about 1.1 million subscribers, according to Update’s reporting. Earlier, the channel reportedly stood at roughly 770 thousand followers before the drawing began, highlighting the scale of the recent growth. The spike appears to be closely tied to Telegram’s broader marketing push and the strategic use of a large‑scale giveaway to spotlight new features and attract attention from both existing users and potential new followers.
Telegram had, on November 6, 2023, rolled out a built‑in giveaway tool designed to streamline promotional activities on the platform. Pavel Durov announced the sizable distribution of Telegram Premium subscriptions as part of showcasing this new feature. The raffle results were scheduled to be announced on November 13, 2023, at 19:00 local time, marking a concrete milestone in the rollout and a public demonstration of how the tool can be used to engage a broad audience quickly. This sequence of events illustrates how platform features can be leveraged to achieve rapid visibility and signal a commitment to expanding premium options for users.
In light of this activity, some readers previously discussed practical guidance regarding online safety and user awareness, including how to guard against spam calls and account spoofing. The unfolding story around Durov’s channel emphasizes the ongoing interest in Telegram’s growth strategies, the economics of platform promotions, and the potential implications for user experience and engagement. Analysts and users alike are watching how such high‑profile campaigns influence subscriber behavior, feature uptake, and overall trust in messaging platforms as they evolve in North American markets.