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Version: 2.2

Automated Blockchain Telegram Bot

Introduction

This tutorial teaches you how to create an automated web3 telegram bot that listens to blockchain events and sends real-time notifications.

We will use node-telegram-bot-api, express and Moralis Streams API.

YouTube Tutorial

Project Setup

This section is split in multiple steps that you can follow. Let's dive in.

You can find the repository with the final code here: Github.

  1. Create a folder and initiate a project using the package manager of your choice.

npm init -y

This will initiate the project and create a package.json file containing the following:

{
"name": "backend",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "",
"main": "index.js",
"scripts": {
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
},
"keywords": [],
"author": "",
"license": "ISC"
}
  1. Install the required dependencies.

npm install express node-telegram-bot-api dotenv nodemon
  1. Create an index.js file containing our express endpoint.

require("dotenv").config();
const express = require("express");
const TelegramBot = require("node-telegram-bot-api");
const app = express();
const port = 5001;

const TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN = process.env.TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN;

const bot = new TelegramBot(TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN, { polling: true });

app.use(express.json());

app.post("/webhook", async (req, res) => {
const webhook = req.body;

for (const nftTransfer of webhook.nftTransfers) {
const fromAddress = `From address: ${nftTransfer.from.slice(
0,
4
)}...${nftTransfer.from.slice(38)}`;
const toAddress = `To address: ${nftTransfer.to.slice(
0,
4
)}...${nftTransfer.to.slice(38)}`;
const tokenItem = `Token Item: ${nftTransfer.tokenName} #${nftTransfer.tokenId}`;
const transactionHash = `Transaction Hash: ${nftTransfer.transactionHash}`;

const chatId = "ADD-CHAT-ID-FROM-LATER-STEPS";
const text = `${fromAddress}, ${toAddress}, ${tokenItem}, ${transactionHash}`;

bot.sendMessage(chatId, text);
}

return res.status(200).json();
});

app.listen(port, () => {
console.log(`Listening for NFT Transfers`);
});
  1. Setup an ngrok tunnel to our express app that will be running locally

  • Install ngrok.
npm i -g ngrok
  • In a new terminal window run ngrok http to create a tunnel to our express app using the same port that we specified inside index.js
ngrok http 5001

This will give us an address where out express app will be running and where we can setup webhooks for streams api.

  1. Start our express server.

Back inside package.json add a start script that will start our express app and reload when we make changes.

{
"name": "backend",
"version": "1.0.0",
"description": "",
"main": "index.js",
"scripts": {
"start": "nodemon index.js",
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
},
"keywords": [],
"author": "",
"license": "ISC",
"dependencies": {
"dotenv": "^16.0.3",
"express": "^4.18.2",
"ngrok": "^4.3.3",
"node-telegram-bot-api": "^0.60.0",
"nodemon": "^2.0.20"
}
}

Run the start command.

npm run start

Streams Setup

We will use Moralis Streams API to get real-time events and send notifications

Inside our admin panel access streams section and create a new stream.

Select Create It From Admin

For this example we will use the Doodles NFT smart contract, but you can use any smart contract of your choice:

  • Contract Address : 0x8a90CAb2b38dba80c64b7734e58Ee1dB38B8992e
  • Abi:
    [
    { "inputs": [], "stateMutability": "nonpayable", "type": "constructor" },
    {
    "anonymous": false,
    "inputs": [
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "address",
    "name": "owner",
    "type": "address"
    },
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "address",
    "name": "approved",
    "type": "address"
    },
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "uint256",
    "name": "tokenId",
    "type": "uint256"
    }
    ],
    "name": "Approval",
    "type": "event"
    },
    {
    "anonymous": false,
    "inputs": [
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "address",
    "name": "owner",
    "type": "address"
    },
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "address",
    "name": "operator",
    "type": "address"
    },
    {
    "indexed": false,
    "internalType": "bool",
    "name": "approved",
    "type": "bool"
    }
    ],
    "name": "ApprovalForAll",
    "type": "event"
    },
    {
    "anonymous": false,
    "inputs": [
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "address",
    "name": "previousOwner",
    "type": "address"
    },
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "address",
    "name": "newOwner",
    "type": "address"
    }
    ],
    "name": "OwnershipTransferred",
    "type": "event"
    },
    {
    "anonymous": false,
    "inputs": [
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "address",
    "name": "from",
    "type": "address"
    },
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "address",
    "name": "to",
    "type": "address"
    },
    {
    "indexed": true,
    "internalType": "uint256",
    "name": "tokenId",
    "type": "uint256"
    }
    ],
    "name": "Transfer",
    "type": "event"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "MAX_PUBLIC_MINT",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "uint256", "name": "", "type": "uint256" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "MAX_SUPPLY",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "uint256", "name": "", "type": "uint256" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "PRICE_PER_TOKEN",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "uint256", "name": "", "type": "uint256" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "PROVENANCE",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "string", "name": "", "type": "string" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "to", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "uint256", "name": "tokenId", "type": "uint256" }
    ],
    "name": "approve",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "owner", "type": "address" }
    ],
    "name": "balanceOf",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "uint256", "name": "", "type": "uint256" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "uint256", "name": "tokenId", "type": "uint256" }
    ],
    "name": "getApproved",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "address", "name": "", "type": "address" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "isAllowListActive",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "bool", "name": "", "type": "bool" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "owner", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "operator", "type": "address" }
    ],
    "name": "isApprovedForAll",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "bool", "name": "", "type": "bool" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    {
    "internalType": "uint256",
    "name": "numberOfTokens",
    "type": "uint256"
    }
    ],
    "name": "mint",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "payable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "uint8", "name": "numberOfTokens", "type": "uint8" }
    ],
    "name": "mintAllowList",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "payable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "name",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "string", "name": "", "type": "string" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "addr", "type": "address" }
    ],
    "name": "numAvailableToMint",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "uint8", "name": "", "type": "uint8" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "owner",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "address", "name": "", "type": "address" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "uint256", "name": "tokenId", "type": "uint256" }
    ],
    "name": "ownerOf",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "address", "name": "", "type": "address" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "renounceOwnership",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [{ "internalType": "uint256", "name": "n", "type": "uint256" }],
    "name": "reserve",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "from", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "to", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "uint256", "name": "tokenId", "type": "uint256" }
    ],
    "name": "safeTransferFrom",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "from", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "to", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "uint256", "name": "tokenId", "type": "uint256" },
    { "internalType": "bytes", "name": "_data", "type": "bytes" }
    ],
    "name": "safeTransferFrom",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "saleIsActive",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "bool", "name": "", "type": "bool" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    {
    "internalType": "address[]",
    "name": "addresses",
    "type": "address[]"
    },
    { "internalType": "uint8", "name": "numAllowedToMint", "type": "uint8" }
    ],
    "name": "setAllowList",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "operator", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "bool", "name": "approved", "type": "bool" }
    ],
    "name": "setApprovalForAll",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "string", "name": "baseURI_", "type": "string" }
    ],
    "name": "setBaseURI",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "bool", "name": "_isAllowListActive", "type": "bool" }
    ],
    "name": "setIsAllowListActive",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "string", "name": "provenance", "type": "string" }
    ],
    "name": "setProvenance",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "bool", "name": "newState", "type": "bool" }
    ],
    "name": "setSaleState",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "bytes4", "name": "interfaceId", "type": "bytes4" }
    ],
    "name": "supportsInterface",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "bool", "name": "", "type": "bool" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "symbol",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "string", "name": "", "type": "string" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "uint256", "name": "index", "type": "uint256" }
    ],
    "name": "tokenByIndex",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "uint256", "name": "", "type": "uint256" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "owner", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "uint256", "name": "index", "type": "uint256" }
    ],
    "name": "tokenOfOwnerByIndex",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "uint256", "name": "", "type": "uint256" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "uint256", "name": "tokenId", "type": "uint256" }
    ],
    "name": "tokenURI",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "string", "name": "", "type": "string" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "totalSupply",
    "outputs": [{ "internalType": "uint256", "name": "", "type": "uint256" }],
    "stateMutability": "view",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "from", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "to", "type": "address" },
    { "internalType": "uint256", "name": "tokenId", "type": "uint256" }
    ],
    "name": "transferFrom",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [
    { "internalType": "address", "name": "newOwner", "type": "address" }
    ],
    "name": "transferOwnership",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    },
    {
    "inputs": [],
    "name": "withdraw",
    "outputs": [],
    "stateMutability": "nonpayable",
    "type": "function"
    }
    ]

For the webhook url have to use the url provided previously by ngrok, followed by our /webhook endpoint from our express app

Our contract is deployed on Ethereum mainnet, so here you will select the network that your smart contract is deployed on: And also select contract interactions.

Next we check Event Emittance, then we have to add the ABI and select the topic we want to stream.

Telegram Bot Setup

We will now begin to setup our bot to send notifications to our telegram channel.

  1. Open Telegram and start a new chat with BotFather.

  1. Create e new bot by clicking the /newbot.

  1. Add a name and username for your bot. Copy the access token and paste that in your .env file.

  1. Create a new channel and add your bot as an Administrator.

  1. Open up your browser and go to this endpoint https://api.telegram.org/bot/YOUR-TELEGRAM-BOT-API-KEY/getUpdates, but replace the sample text with the access token we previously copied. If you see this message:
{
"ok": true,
"result": []
}

It means you should shut down your server, send a message in the newly created channel, and then refresh this page and get this view instead.

{
"ok": true,
"result": [
{
"update_id": 596287107,
"channel_post": {
"message_id": 3,
"sender_chat": {
"id": -1001828021353,
"title": "Doodle NFT Bot Channel",
"type": "channel"
},
"chat": {
"id": -1001828021353,
"title": "Doodle NFT Bot Channel",
"type": "channel"
},
"date": 1673428599,
"text": "Hello"
}
}
]
}
  1. Add the chat id from the object above into your code and then let's test our bot.

Testing the bot

  1. Run your bot by having 2 terminals opened in the backend folder.

In the first one run

ngrok http 5001

In the second one run

npm run start
  1. Open up the Telegram channel we created and wait for notifications.