Once Signal Removes The Phone, Telegram's Niche Collapses

1. The Phone Number Is The Last Lock-In

Messaging solved content privacy with end-to-end encryption. It never solved identity privacy.

WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal all required a phone number to register. Signal added usernames in 2024, so you no longer have to show your number to contacts, but you still needed one to sign up. The number stays the root of account.

That number is a password you cannot change.

It ties you to a telecom account, enables SIM swap attacks, and prevents pseudonymous use.

For journalists, activists and anyone needing separation of identities, it is the original sin.

2. Signal Login: No Phone Number Required

Signal is testing a long-requested option that lets users create accounts without providing a phone number, with the feature arriving in the Android 8.28 beta.

For the first time ever, you can sign up for Signal without handing it your phone number.

The private messaging app started rolling out Signal Login in its Android 8.28 beta this week, an option that lets users create accounts without providing a phone number.

Until now, users still needed a phone number to register, even though Signal already lets them hide that number from others and communicate through usernames.

Signal now offers usernames, which allow users to connect without sharing their phone number.

And with the introduction of Signal Login, Signal has taken the next step: you can now create a Signal account without providing a phone number.

That means the phone number is no longer a fundamental requirement for everyone who wants to use Signal, although it remains the main way to register and connect with existing contacts.

According to Signal's lead Android developer Greyson Parrelli, the app's beta version for Android now supports the option to register without a phone number by paying a one-time fee of about $3, a payment that is not linked to your Signal account.

Because you do not have a phone number, you will need to use a username. No one will be able to look you up in their contact list through a phone number.

Usernames in Signal do not function like social media handles. They are simply a quick way to connect without sharing a phone number.

Your profile name remains whatever you set it to.

Someone needs your exact unique username to start.

3. WhatsApp Usernames: Same Direction, Different Motive

WhatsApp announced usernames on June 29, 2026, and started switching on active usernames from July 17, 2026.

Username reservation opened that week, full messaging by username still rolling out. You claim a username in Settings by tapping your profile, then Create username.

Usernames must contain between three and 35 characters, include at least one letter, and may only use lowercase letters, numbers, periods and underscores.

The first rollout begins on July 7, 2026, in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Ghana, Libya and Nepal. A second wave follows on July 20, 2026, with remaining countries scheduled to receive the feature from September 2026.

First-time contacts will no longer automatically see your phone number. Phone number is still needed to create a WhatsApp account, but not shared when you connect via username.

Motive is different. Meta says broader effort to give users more control while maintaining end-to-end encryption. Businesses and creators can reserve usernames aligning with Facebook and Instagram identities.

With more than three billion users, competition for handles is high. Global rollout continues throughout 2026.

This is defensive. WhatsApp copying Telegram's best feature to prevent churn to Telegram.

4. Why Telegram Is Most Vulnerable

Telegram positioned as privacy messenger but architecture says otherwise.

End-to-end encryption is only in Secret Chats, opt-in.

Cloud chats are not E2E and stored on Telegram servers. Clients are open source, server code is not fully open. Phone number required to sign up.

Signal is fully open source, E2E on by default via Signal protocol, now no phone required via Signal Login for about $3.

WhatsApp is 3 billion users, E2E encrypted by default on all chats, now usernames hide phone number, businesses can reserve, network effect is strongest defensive moat.

Telegram is squeezed from both sides.

Signal privacy, WhatsApp ubiquity.

5. Market Share Tank

Telegram takes lead as WhatsApp alternative in moments of crisis.

In Russia, Telegram had 95.978 million active users in January 2026, while WhatsApp registered 89.418 million.

In February, Telegram's user base shrank by 286,000 to 95.692 million. During same period, WhatsApp saw much larger decline, down by 9.1 million to 80.301 million users.

Analysts believe Telegram's reign will not last long, amid indications privacy messenger may be fully blocked like WhatsApp next month.

Pattern repeats globally. Spike after privacy scares, then taper.

Signal daily active users rising again due to second brain use cases and privacy first reputation.

Telegram short-term spike now reversing.

Privacy theater exposed, security concerns raised.

Signal eats Telegram privacy niche. WhatsApp keeps mainstream. Telegram squeezed middle.

6. Conclusion: Identity Moves From Phone To Handle

Usernames are new phone numbers.

Phone hidden from contacts by default. Phone number is no longer fundamental requirement although remains main way.

Signal model: quick way to connect without sharing phone number, profile name separate, username not displayed on profile details, someone needs exact unique username to start, phone number privacy controls who can see number and who can find you by searching.

WhatsApp model: unique handles let people reach you without phone number, reservation opened June 29, full messaging still rolling out, first-time contacts no longer automatically see phone, claim in Settings by tapping profile to Create username.

Future: phone number required for registration optional, phone hidden yes by default, identity shift biggest since launch, reshape how billions engage.

Once Signal rolls out sign ups without phone number, Telegram niche shrinks further. WhatsApp rolled usernames for same reason.