Key Highlights:
- Walt, formerly known as Wallet in Telegram, has officially launched as an independent, standalone application.
- New users can now create accounts using Apple or Google credentials, removing the requirement to hold a Telegram account.
- The standalone platform offers crypto trading, perpetual futures, yield-generating products, and tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs.
Walt Expands Beyond Telegram with Standalone Platform
Walt, the digital asset platform originally popularized as Wallet in Telegram, has launched as a standalone mobile application. The strategic move aims to broaden the platform’s audience and capture users outside the messaging service ecosystem that initially enabled it to accumulate tens of millions of registered accounts. By transitioning to an independent app, the platform establishes an operational footprint outside Telegram’s direct borders.
In a major shift from its original onboarding model, the new standalone app allows individuals to register and log in using their Apple or Google accounts. Previously, the service grew rapidly by enabling users to buy, store, and transfer cryptocurrencies directly inside the chat interface. Now, prospective users no longer require an active Telegram account to access the platform’s financial services, though the company faces the standard market challenge of convincing consumers to download a dedicated application.
Advanced Trading Suite and Product Differentiation
“The biggest change is access,”
Egor Danilov, chief product officer at Walt and its developer, The Open Platform, told CoinDesk in emailed comments. Danilov explained that while Telegram’s native wallet feature is designed to handle basic cryptocurrency transfers, Walt is strategically targeted at market participants who want access to a broader suite of investment mechanisms and trading instruments.
The standalone Walt app hosts a comprehensive selection of decentralized and traditional financial instruments. Its feature set includes standard spot cryptocurrency trading, yield-bearing products, and tokenized versions of U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Furthermore, the application supports perpetual futures contracts tied to crypto assets, energy, and precious metals, enabling traders to speculate on market price fluctuations using derivative contracts that feature no fixed expiration dates.
Why This Matters
The rollout of an independent application marks a defining operational pivot for Walt following its formal rebranding in September. During that transition, it was announced that Telegram’s own integrated wallet would take over the default wallet functionality inside the messaging platform’s main settings menu. While Walt continues to operate inside the chat service via its Telegram bot, launching external infrastructure powered by Google and Apple logins allows developer The Open Platform to build a resilient, cross-platform financial hub that mitigates platform-dependency risk while catering to advanced retail investors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Telegram account to use the new Walt app?
No. The standalone Walt app allows users to sign up and log in directly using standard Google or Apple accounts, eliminating the requirement to maintain a Telegram account.
What financial assets and instruments can be traded on Walt?
Walt supports cryptocurrency trading, yield-generating products, tokenized U.S. equities and ETFs, as well as perpetual futures contracts linked to cryptocurrencies, energy markets, and precious metals.
Is Walt still accessible inside Telegram?
Yes. Although Walt now operates as a standalone mobile application, all of its features and products remain accessible to Telegram users through its dedicated Telegram bot.
