Build it step by step
0 / 8 done-
Create the bot and copy its token
Open @BotFather in Telegram, send /newbot and answer the two questions: a display name and a username ending in bot. BotFather replies with an access token — a long string with a colon in the middle. That token is the bot.
Where: Telegram → @BotFatherThe token is the only credential your bot has. Anyone holding it controls the bot, so never paste it into a group, a screenshot or a support ticket.
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Open Mini Empire and start a referral bot
Open the builder in Telegram and go to My Bots. Choose Bots, then New referral bot. The wizard opens on its own screen, before asking for anything technical.
Where: Mini Empire → My Bots → Bots🤖My Bots📣Global Broadcast✅Global Tasks🚀Promote -
Pick what your bot does with a reward
Step one of the wizard is the template. Refer and Earn pays fixed rewards the instant they are earned. Deep Mine gives the same rewards, but each one opens a vein users dig out over days, so they come back daily to collect. You can switch later from the panel without losing users or balances.
Where: Wizard → step 1 of 2 -
Paste the token and confirm the bot
Step two takes the BotFather token. The wizard checks it and shows you the bot photo, name and username before creating anything, so a wrong paste is caught before it becomes a live product.
Where: Wizard → step 2 of 28848210878:AAG8MJkdK4S7_pEour… -
Lay out the keyboard your users will tap
The panel opens on a grid of apps. Menu is the keyboard editor: drag keys to reorder them, drop one beside another to pair them on a row, tap a key to rename it, and pick its colour. What you see there is exactly what Telegram renders.
Where: Panel → Menu💰 12.5 GRAM🎁 Bonus💸 Withdraw👥 Referrals🏆 Leaderboard -
Set the money: bonus, referral levels and minimum withdrawal
Rewards holds the whole economy. The bonus is a fixed amount with a cooldown between claims. Referral payouts run up to five levels deep, so a referral pays their sponsor, their sponsor's sponsor, and so on. The withdrawal minimum is what a user must reach before they can cash out.
Where: Panel → RewardsEvery reward is paid from your own wallet. Set amounts you can actually fund at the number of users you expect, not at the number you hope for.
0.00010.001 · 0.0005 · 0.00020.01 -
Require the channels you want to grow
Inside the Tasks folder, Channels holds the join gate: users must be members before they can use the bot, and membership is rechecked on every key, not only at start. Add your bot as an admin of each channel first, or it cannot verify anyone.
Where: Panel → Tasks → Channels🔒 To use this bot you must first join our channel(s). Join and then tap ✅ Verify. -
Fund the wallet, then share your link
Withdrawals are paid from the bot wallet, so connect it in Wallet and fund it before you promote anything. Then open your bot, press start and share the referral link it gives you. The first payout that lands on time is what turns a curious user into a recruiter.
Where: Panel → WalletA bot that takes referrals and cannot pay them burns the audience you just paid to acquire. Fund first, promote second.
Your referral bot is live
Keys, economy, join gate and wallet are set. Open the builder to launch the next one, or switch this bot to Deep Mine and see how daily collection changes retention.
Build yours free ↗Create the bot in BotFather, connect its private token to a referral bot builder, define the action that makes an invite valid, configure rewards and required channels, fund and test payouts, then launch to a small cohort. The most important decision is not the welcome message; it is exactly when the referral becomes payable.
Before BotFather: write the referral contract in six lines
A referral campaign becomes much easier to build when its rules fit on one screen. Write who can participate, what the referred user must do, what the sponsor receives, when the reward becomes available, what behavior is invalid and how a withdrawal works. If any line is unknown, the interface will only hide the uncertainty.
Set a maximum campaign liability before choosing an attractive reward. Multiply the reward by the highest number of qualified referrals the budget can support, then add network fees, support, failed transactions and a fraud reserve. The bot should never promise more than the funded operating model can deliver.
- Eligible users
- Qualifying action
- Reward amount
- Qualification timing
- Invalid behavior
- Minimum withdrawal
- Campaign cap
- Support path
Step 1: create and secure the Telegram bot
- Open the verified @BotFather
Send /newbot and choose a recognizable display name.
- Choose the username
Use a unique username that users can recognize in a referral URL.
- Copy the token privately
The token controls the bot; never paste it into public chats or screenshots.
- Complete the profile
Add an avatar, short description and plain explanation of the referral program.
- Prepare recovery
Know how to revoke and replace the token if it is exposed.
Step 2: connect Mini Empire and choose the first loop
Open the Mini Empire builder, create a bot project and connect the BotFather token. The prepared referral engine supplies the core user state, invite flow, menu and owner controls. Begin with one loop: understand the offer, satisfy the entry requirement, copy the referral link, invite a qualified person and observe the reward.
Customize the visible menu around that loop. Secondary buttons can explain the rules, show balance, display referral status, start a withdrawal or change language. Every button should either move the user forward or resolve uncertainty; decorative options weaken the first session.
Choose the product pathSee what the Telegram bot builder launches and managesOpen the builder guide ↗Step 3: configure attribution and qualification
Telegram referral links normally use a start parameter. The bot receives the parameter when a new user starts it and can associate that account with the sponsor encoded in the link. Record the relationship once. Do not let later links silently replace the original sponsor, and do not count a user who opens their own link.
Next, define the qualification event. Mini Empire projects can use channel requirements and product activity to delay the credit until the new user has completed something meaningful. Tell both sides whether the invite is pending, qualified or rejected so a legitimate delay does not look like a missing payment.
| Trigger | Quality | Fraud exposure |
|---|---|---|
| Bot start | Low intent | Very high |
| Required channel gate | Verified membership at that moment | Medium |
| Second claim or return | Shows initial retention | Lower |
| Verified task or purchase | Closer to business value | Depends on verification |
Step 4: set rewards, levels and withdrawal rules
Choose a reward small enough to survive the least valuable legitimate cohort. Multi-level rewards can increase distribution, but each additional level creates more liability and makes the rules harder to explain. Start with one level unless there is a clear reason for a sponsor-of-sponsor commission.
Set the minimum withdrawal high enough that fees and support do not overwhelm small transfers, yet low enough that a real participant can reasonably reach it. State the address format, queue behavior, any daily limits and what happens after a failed transfer. Never describe an unfunded balance as instantly withdrawable.
- Reward per valid referral
- Maximum referrals rewarded per period
- Number of referral levels
- Minimum withdrawal
- Daily payout limit
- Project wallet reserve
- Failure and refund behavior
Step 5: run the seven-account abuse test
- Normal pair
One sponsor and one genuine new user complete the expected flow.
- Own link
The sponsor opens their own link and receives nothing.
- Repeated start
The referred user restarts the bot and no second credit appears.
- Second sponsor
A later referral link does not overwrite an existing relationship.
- Incomplete gate
A user who skips requirements remains pending.
- Rapid cluster
Several suspiciously fast accounts are visible for review or limited.
- Withdrawal edge cases
Invalid addresses, low balances and repeated taps do not lose or duplicate funds.
Step 6: launch in cohorts and operate the program
Invite 10–25 relevant testers first. Measure how many understand the offer, reach the qualifying event and can explain the withdrawal rule without assistance. Fix the most common confusion before buying traffic or announcing a large bounty.
After launch, use broadcasts for rule changes, status updates and meaningful campaigns. Use tasks when they create measurable value, not merely activity. Review reward cost and retained contribution by cohort every week. A referral program is an acquisition channel with liabilities; it should be operated with the same discipline as paid advertising.
- Activation rate
- Qualification rate
- Qualified invites per active user
- Seven-day retained referrals
- Reward cost per retained user
- Withdrawal success rate
- Support tickets per 100 users
Common questions
What do I need to create a Telegram referral bot?
You need a Telegram account, a bot created in BotFather, a secure bot token, clear referral rules, a builder or backend, and enough project balance for any real rewards.
How does a Telegram referral link work?
A deep link includes a start parameter. When a new user opens the bot through that URL, the bot receives the parameter and can attribute the arrival to a sponsor.
Can I require users to join a channel?
A bot can verify channel membership when it has the required access. Explain when the check occurs and do not credit the referral before the requirement is satisfied.
How long does setup take?
The prepared bot can be connected in minutes, but a safe launch also requires writing the rules, funding a small test, checking edge cases and running a limited cohort.
Sources and further reading
Technical and product claims were checked against these primary sources.