How Telegram Became the Underground Hub of Crypto Degens

Introduction: The App That Runs Crypto’s Dark Corner

While X (formerly Twitter) gets the headlines and Discord hosts DAOs and governance threads, Telegram is where the real action happens.

In 2025, it’s the unofficial HQ for every memecoin launch, stealth presale, alpha leak, and pump group in crypto. It’s chaotic, unfiltered, and encrypted — the perfect recipe for degens looking to play the edge of legality and meme-driven finance.

This isn’t just a messaging app anymore. It’s a crypto-native jungle — run by bots, ruled by whales, and animated by the wildest parts of Web3 culture.

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1. Origins: Anarchists, Cypherpunks, and Bitcoiners

Telegram’s roots in crypto culture run deep. Long before the world knew about NFTs or memecoins, early Bitcoiners, privacy-maximalists, and cypherpunks were already using Telegram to:

• Share code and cyphertexts
• Organize meetups and pitch ICOs
• Build whisper networks for OTC deals

The app’s encrypted chats, minimal moderation, and pseudonymous handles made it ideal for underground communication. It was Signal, but more open. Discord, but more direct.

By 2017, every ICO had a Telegram group. By 2020, every DeFi farm had one too.

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2. Bots, Not Bros: The Rise of Telegram Automation

Telegram didn’t just win because of its community — it evolved into crypto’s most powerful bot platform.

Bots now drive everything from:

• Sniping tokens at launch (MEV-style)
• Whale wallet tracking alerts
• Private sale access
• Airdrop farming automation
• Multi-wallet trade execution

Want to track on-chain buys by Andrew Kang or discover a stealth launch via a presale whitelist? There’s a bot for that.

You don’t follow charts — you follow bots.

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3. Memecoin HQ: The Heart of the Degeneracy

During the 2024–2025 memecoin explosion, Telegram became the command center for degens worldwide.

Whether it’s:

• $FART, $BROCCOLI, or $CHILLGUY
• Launched on Pump.fun, Solana, or Base
• Backed by influencers, artists, or anonymous whales

… the first leaks, the first pump calls, and the first memes all originate on Telegram.

These groups are:

• Fast
• Ruthless
• Unapologetically speculative

And they don’t care if you make it. They care if they do.

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4. Alpha Groups = New-Age Insider Networks

There are two types of Telegram users in 2025:

• Observers, who lurk in 10+ meme groups waiting for the next pump
• Operators, who pay ETH to join “alpha groups”

These paid groups — often gated by NFTs or monthly fees — promise:

• Presale access
• Undervalued token picks
• Leveraged trading setups
• Whale alerts
• “Gem hunter” tips

Some are legit — run by former VCs, devs, or whales. Others are outright scams — group owners dump on their own members. Still, thousands flock to them daily, hoping to catch the next 100x before it hits X.

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5. Scams, Spoofs, and Slippage: The Risks of Telegram Life

Telegram’s openness is both its magic and its curse.

For every real opportunity, there are:

• Fake airdrops
• Rugpull groups
• Impersonator admins
• Phishing bots disguised as tip bots

You don’t just DYOR on the token — you DYOR on the entire group.

Veteran degens now run:

• Bot-based verification layers
• Whitelist-only stealth communities
• “Proof-of-voice” audio checks to confirm identities

But for most, the rule is simple: Trust no one. Profit fast. Exit faster.

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6. Telegram > Discord: Why the Culture Thrives Here

Why has Telegram eaten Discord’s lunch when it comes to crypto speculation?

• Speed: Telegram is lighter, faster, and easier to navigate
• Anonymity: You don’t need roles or usernames
• Mobility: Most action happens on mobile, not desktop
• Tone: Less governance, more chaos

Discord is for DAOs and long-form community building.

Telegram is where degeneracy scales.

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7. Telegram as Infrastructure: The Underground Rails of Web3

At this point, Telegram is part of the crypto stack — just like MetaMask, TradingView, and Etherscan.

It hosts:

• Launch coordination for meme coins
• Community chats for NFT mints
• Whale intel for day traders
• Deal flow for angel syndicates
• Support groups for failed leverage addicts

There’s even a thriving underground network of Telegram-based crypto wallets and on-chain tipping systems.

If Telegram ever rugged the crypto world, the cultural damage might be worse than Mt. Gox.

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Conclusion: If It Didn’t Drop on Telegram, Did It Even Drop?

In 2025, Telegram is more than a chat app. It’s a culture layer, a meme factory, and a financial underground rolled into one.

If you’re not watching Telegram:

• You missed the presale
• You bought the top
• You got the X thread 12 hours late

Love it or hate it, Telegram runs crypto — and degens wouldn’t have it any other way.