Telegram was planning to launch their own cryptocurrency named "grams". If they had launched it, it would have been massive.

Due to drama with the SEC, they shut it down.

https://telegram.org/blog/ton-gram-notice

https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/12/21256407/telegram-cryptoc...

Offering inexpensive paid plans to store conversation and file sharing history as a paid feature instead of for free.

Something like whatsapp's original plan of $1/user/yr, except for you actually get something out of it.

Another method would be offering corporate/enterprise support plans for anyone using it in a business setting or as a base for app development.

Maybe something similar to what Slack does? Or even more invasive, like files expiring after some time if you're a free user?

Social networks? :)