Traditional social media platforms have long concentrated advertising revenue within the platform itself, leaving content creators with only a small share. Telegram has introduced a 50% ad revenue sharing plan for channel owners with more than 1,000 subscribers—a notably high percentage compared to mainstream social platforms.
In the crypto industry, Telegram already serves as a central hub for project communities, trading signal groups, and user discussions. When channel owners can directly earn fiat income through ad sharing, their motivation to operate and grow their channels increases significantly. More importantly, these earnings are directly tied to user engagement and ad impressions within the channel, encouraging owners to consistently produce high-quality content and expand their subscriber base. Against the backdrop of crypto market cycles, a stable content monetization channel supplements the traditional community operation model that relies on token incentives. Many crypto-focused channels—such as market analysis, DeFi tutorials, and airdrop information—now have access to more sustainable operating funds, creating a positive cycle of "content creation — user growth — ad revenue — reinvestment." This mechanism not only reduces projects’ reliance on their own tokens for community incentives but also provides new, targeted traffic sources for exchanges and other service providers.
How Channel Owner Revenue Expectations Are Reshaping the Crypto Content Ecosystem
Based on Telegram’s public data, ad revenue sharing varies significantly across regions and channels of different audience sizes. However, the core shift is not in the absolute earnings of individual channels, but in the increased predictability of those earnings. Previously, crypto content creators mainly relied on project sponsorships, token airdrops, or paid communities—methods that are highly sensitive to market sentiment. When ad revenue sharing becomes a quantifiable and stable income source, channel owners begin to focus their content strategies on increasing user dwell time and interaction rates. This means in-depth analysis, project breakdowns, and risk warnings—so-called "long-tail" content—will attract more traffic compared to short-term trading calls. From an ecosystem perspective, this mechanism is driving crypto social content from being "emotion-driven" to "information value-driven." For exchanges like Gate, users entering the market through these channels generally have a stronger knowledge base and more rational trading expectations, helping to lower the costs of user education and protection. At the same time, channel owners aiming to maximize revenue must grow their subscriber base, which naturally brings more non-crypto users into Telegram crypto channels, facilitating their transition from social engagement to trading scenarios.
Breaking Down the Factors Behind March’s $2.48 Trillion CEX Spot Trading Volume
The $2.48 trillion figure signals that CEX spot trading volumes have returned to the active range seen during the last bull market. Several factors contribute to this: First, on the market sentiment side, both Bitcoin and Ethereum showed clear trends in Q1 2026, driving higher turnover in major assets. Second, on the supply side, tokens from several new public chain ecosystems launched on CEXs, creating a complete liquidity loop from mining to trading to derivatives. Third, from a user structure perspective, dormant accounts from the previous cycle were reactivated, while the share of institutional funds entering through compliant channels also increased. It’s important to note that spot trading volume growth is not evenly distributed across all trading pairs. The top 20 assets by market cap accounted for over 60% of total volume, while meme coins and AI sector tokens saw sporadic surges in trading activity. Compared to the 2021 bull market, current trading volume volatility has decreased, indicating deeper and more balanced liquidity. Another factor worth noting is the rising share of trading bots and API-driven trades, which now account for over 45% of total volume. This high-frequency trading alters the sensitivity of spot trading volume to price swings compared to previous cycles.
How Does Social Creator Incentivization Drive CEX Trading Activity?
To analyze the relationship between Telegram ad revenue sharing and CEX trading volumes, we need a clear logical framework. The first step is traffic acquisition: Channel owners, motivated by higher ad revenue, expand their subscriber base, and some of these users are introduced to crypto trading tools through discussions, recommendations, or ad links within the channel. The second step is awareness conversion: To maintain user engagement, channel owners provide valuable market information—such as price analysis, project fundamentals, and risk warnings—lowering the decision-making threshold for new users. The third step is trading entry: Most Telegram crypto channels naturally guide users to exchanges for actual trading, creating a seamless path from simulated discussions to real trades. The fourth step is deepening engagement: After their first trade, users are kept engaged through ongoing market discussions and strategy sharing, extending their trading lifecycle and encouraging them to explore more trading products. Industry data supports this chain: Over the past two quarters, the growth rate of total Telegram crypto channel subscriptions has shown a correlation above 0.6 with the growth rate of new CEX user registrations. The ad revenue sharing mechanism acts as a positive incentive, prompting channel owners to optimize content for higher user conversion rates.
How Structural Capital Flows Are Reshaping the Relationship Between Crypto Social Platforms and Exchanges
From a capital flow perspective, the relationship between crypto social platforms and exchanges is evolving from a "loosely connected upstream-downstream" model to a "structured symbiosis." Traditionally, social platforms focused on user acquisition, while exchanges handled conversion and retention, with little alignment of interests. The deeper impact of Telegram’s ad revenue sharing plan is that it provides content creators with a monetization channel independent of projects and exchanges, making crypto social content production more diverse and sustainable. At the same time, exchanges are also changing roles. With spot trading volume reaching $2.48 trillion, exchanges now have stronger cash flow and user data, enabling them to support social ecosystem development. A current trend is that exchanges are actively collaborating with high-quality content channels—offering data interface access, exclusive event channels, and content co-creation. The typical capital flow looks like this: Exchanges earn revenue from trading fees → a portion is allocated to marketing budgets that support the social platform ad ecosystem → ad revenue is distributed to channel owners → channel owners drive users back to the exchange through their content. The stability of this loop depends on the sustainability of exchange revenues, while trading volume and market activity directly affect its strength. When spot trading volumes are high, the loop operates more smoothly, creating a positive feedback spiral.
What Measurable Impacts Does the Creator Economy Model Have on Crypto User Behavior?
Introducing the creator economy model to crypto brings two measurable changes to user behavior. First, the weighting of information sources shifts. Traditionally, crypto users relied mainly on top KOLs and news media for decision-making. The ad revenue sharing mechanism, however, has fostered a large number of mid-tier and niche channels. These channels provide in-depth content for specific segments (such as particular public chains, DeFi strategies, or NFT liquidity), prompting users to diversify their trusted information sources. Second, the conversion path is shortened. When content quality is directly linked to ad earnings, channel owners guide users to complete trades more precisely and efficiently. Data shows that users entering exchanges via Telegram channel links take an average of 2.3 days from registration to their first spot trade, compared to 4.1 days for organic search channels. User retention rates also differ: Users from content channels have a 30-day retention rate about 18 percentage points higher than those from social media ads. This indicates that users filtered through the creator economy model are more motivated to learn and participate long-term. For exchanges, this means optimized customer acquisition—while per-user acquisition cost may not drop significantly, user lifetime value rises noticeably.
Which Leading Indicators Should Be Tracked for Ongoing Market Activity?
Given the current evolution of the Telegram creator economy and the structure of CEX trading volumes, several leading indicators should be monitored to assess the sustainability of market activity. First, track the rollout of Telegram’s ad system in more regions and changes in eCPM (effective cost per thousand impressions). Ad pricing directly impacts channel owner revenue, which in turn determines the quality and quantity of content production. Second, monitor the ratio of new capital inflows to turnover of existing funds within CEX spot trading volumes. If volume growth is mainly driven by high-frequency trading of existing funds, sustainability is weaker than if new funds are entering. Third, watch the "scissors gap" between the growth rate of crypto channel subscribers and the number of new channel owners. If channel growth outpaces subscriber growth, content supply may exceed demand, diluting average channel earnings. Fourth, compare the number of active on-chain addresses across major public chains with CEX withdrawal volumes. Higher on-chain activity usually means users are moving from trading to on-chain applications, which may temporarily divert spot trading volume but is a sign of long-term ecosystem health. Fifth, monitor the total supply of stablecoins and their proportion held on CEXs. As of May 7, 2026, Gate market data shows that the total market cap of major stablecoins remains high, but the proportion held on CEXs is fluctuating, indicating a need to closely watch capital flow preferences across different scenarios.
How Are User Identity Evolution and Platform Value Capture Mechanisms Being Reshaped?
Bringing these analyses together, we see that crypto user identities are shifting from "pure traders" to a hybrid role of "content creator + trading participant." Telegram channel owners are both content creators and traders, and their followers are both content consumers and potential traders. This blending of roles is changing how platforms capture value. Previously, exchanges primarily captured value through trading fees. Now, user activities like content creation, community building, and discussion also generate value for the platform. While this value isn’t directly reflected in trading fees, it manifests through higher user engagement, lower acquisition costs, and increased brand trust. As a result, exchanges need to rethink their value capture models—simply improving the trading experience is no longer enough to build a competitive moat. The ability to form a positive interaction with the social content ecosystem is becoming a new differentiator. Looking further ahead, if Telegram’s ad sharing model proves successful, other social platforms may follow with similar mechanisms, further expanding the supply of crypto social content. At that point, the structural support for CEX spot trading volume will shift from being solely price-driven to a multi-factor model of "price + social content + creator incentives." This will have far-reaching implications for exchange operations, product design, and even asset listing strategies.
Summary
Telegram’s 50% ad revenue sharing plan for channel owners with over 1,000 subscribers provides crypto content creators with a stable fiat income stream, driving a shift from emotion-driven to information value-driven social content. This mechanism, through the chain of "traffic acquisition — awareness conversion — trading entry — deepened engagement," creates a positive correlation with CEX spot trading activity. In March 2026, CEX spot trading volume reached $2.48 trillion, reflecting the combined effects of renewed market sentiment, abundant asset supply, and increased institutional participation. From a capital flow perspective, social platforms and exchanges are forming a structured symbiotic relationship, and the creator economy model has significantly shortened the path from user engagement to trading while boosting retention rates. Sustained market activity in the future will depend on leading indicators such as Telegram ad eCPM, proportion of new capital, and on-chain activity. The evolution of user identity toward a "content creator + trading participant" hybrid is reshaping how platforms capture value.
FAQ
Q1: What are the specific requirements for Telegram’s ad revenue sharing plan for crypto channels?
Channels must have more than 1,000 subscribers and comply with Telegram’s content policies. Ad revenue is split 50/50 with channel owners, and payments are currently settled in fiat currency.
Q2: Does the $2.48 trillion trading volume mean a bull market is confirmed?
A single month’s record trading volume reflects increased market activity but is not sufficient on its own to confirm a bull market. Multiple indicators—such as stablecoin supply, on-chain activity, and funding rates—should be considered together.
Q3: Are users acquired through ad revenue sharing higher quality than those from traditional channels?
Current data shows that users entering exchanges via content channels make their first trade more quickly and have a higher 30-day retention rate, indicating they generally possess better knowledge and stronger trading intent.
Q4: Will Gate provide additional support for Telegram channel owners?
Gate continues to seek collaboration opportunities with quality content creators in the ecosystem. For specific support measures, please refer to official announcements. Channel owners are encouraged to follow Gate’s official channels for the latest updates.
Q5: On which other social platforms might the creator economy model appear in the future?
Telegram’s ad revenue sharing mechanism demonstrates the potential for integrating social platforms with the crypto economy. In theory, any social platform with large crypto discussion groups could adopt a similar model, though actual implementation will depend on platform policies and regulatory environments.
