diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c775fbe..d2cdb73 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ make down      # Stop
 
 - Async IRC over plain TCP or TLS (SASL PLAIN auth, IRCv3 CAP negotiation)
 - Microsoft Teams support via outgoing webhooks (no SDK dependency)
+- Telegram support via long-polling (no SDK dependency, SOCKS5 proxied)
 - Plugin system with `@command` and `@event` decorators
 - Hot-reload: load, unload, reload plugins at runtime
 - Admin permission system (hostmask patterns + IRCOP detection + AAD IDs)
diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
index 3d9286e..dac1f81 100644
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
 - [x] Plugin command unit tests (encode, hash, dns, cidr, defang)
 - [x] CI pipeline (Gitea Actions, Python 3.11-3.13, ruff + pytest)
 
-## v2.1.0 -- Teams Integration
+## v2.1.0 -- Teams + Telegram Integration
 
 - [x] Microsoft Teams adapter via outgoing webhooks (no SDK)
 - [x] `TeamsBot` class with same plugin API as IRC `Bot`
@@ -139,6 +139,13 @@
 - [x] IRC-only methods as no-ops (join, part, kick, mode, set_topic)
 - [x] Incoming webhook support for `send()` (proactive messages)
 - [x] Paste overflow via FlaskPaste (same as IRC)
-- [ ] Adaptive Cards for richer formatting
-- [ ] Graph API integration for DMs and richer channel access
+- [x] Teams `send()` routed through SOCKS5 proxy (bug fix)
+- [x] Telegram adapter via long-polling (`getUpdates`, no SDK)
+- [x] `TelegramBot` class with same plugin API as IRC `Bot`
+- [x] `TelegramMessage` dataclass duck-typed with IRC `Message`
+- [x] All Telegram HTTP through SOCKS5 proxy
+- [x] Message splitting at 4096-char limit
+- [x] `@botusername` suffix stripping in groups
+- [ ] Adaptive Cards for richer formatting (Teams)
+- [ ] Graph API integration for DMs and richer channel access (Teams)
 - [ ] Teams event handlers (member join/leave)
diff --git a/TASKS.md b/TASKS.md
index aa8c43d..bc3fe3d 100644
--- a/TASKS.md
+++ b/TASKS.md
@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
 # derp - Tasks
 
-## Current Sprint -- v2.1.0 Teams Integration (2026-02-21)
+## Current Sprint -- v2.1.0 Telegram Integration (2026-02-21)
+
+| Pri | Status | Task |
+|-----|--------|------|
+| P0 | [x] | Fix `src/derp/teams.py` -- route `send()` through SOCKS5 proxy |
+| P0 | [x] | `src/derp/telegram.py` -- TelegramBot, TelegramMessage, long-polling |
+| P0 | [x] | `src/derp/config.py` -- `[telegram]` defaults |
+| P0 | [x] | `src/derp/cli.py` -- conditionally start TelegramBot |
+| P0 | [x] | All Telegram HTTP through SOCKS5 proxy (`derp.http.urlopen`) |
+| P0 | [x] | Permission tiers via user IDs (exact match) |
+| P0 | [x] | @botusername suffix stripping, message splitting (4096 chars) |
+| P1 | [x] | Tests: `test_telegram.py` (75 cases) |
+| P2 | [x] | Documentation update (USAGE.md, CHEATSHEET.md, API.md, README.md, ROADMAP.md) |
+
+## Previous Sprint -- v2.1.0 Teams Integration (2026-02-21)
 
 | Pri | Status | Task |
 |-----|--------|------|
diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 499b74a..f8ac86c 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -88,10 +88,23 @@ is preserved in git history for reference.
 - [x] TeamsBot + TeamsMessage (duck-typed with IRC Message)
 - [x] HMAC-SHA256 webhook validation
 - [x] Permission tiers via AAD object IDs
+- [x] Route `send()` through SOCKS5 proxy (bug fix)
 - [ ] Adaptive Cards for richer formatting
 - [ ] Graph API integration for DMs
 - [ ] Teams event handlers (member join/leave)
 
+## Telegram
+
+- [x] Telegram adapter via long-polling (no SDK)
+- [x] TelegramBot + TelegramMessage (duck-typed with IRC Message)
+- [x] All HTTP through SOCKS5 proxy
+- [x] Message splitting at 4096-char limit
+- [x] @botusername suffix stripping in groups
+- [x] Permission tiers via user IDs
+- [ ] Inline keyboard support for interactive replies
+- [ ] Markdown/HTML formatting mode toggle
+- [ ] Webhook mode (for setWebhook instead of getUpdates)
+
 ## Testing
 
 - [x] Plugin command unit tests (encode, hash, dns, cidr, defang)
diff --git a/docs/API.md b/docs/API.md
index 7a55eef..99fd567 100644
--- a/docs/API.md
+++ b/docs/API.md
@@ -288,6 +288,75 @@ Same stable attributes and methods as `Bot`:
 
 ---
 
+## `derp.telegram` -- Telegram Adapter
+
+Alternative bot adapter for Telegram via long-polling (`getUpdates`).
+All HTTP routed through SOCKS5 proxy. Exposes the same plugin API as
+`derp.bot.Bot` so protocol-agnostic plugins work without modification.
+
+### `TelegramMessage` dataclass
+
+Duck-typed compatible with IRC `Message`:
+
+| Field | Type | Description |
+|-------|------|-------------|
+| `raw` | `dict` | Original Telegram Update |
+| `nick` | `str \| None` | Sender first_name (or username fallback) |
+| `prefix` | `str \| None` | Sender user_id as string (for ACL) |
+| `text` | `str \| None` | Message body (stripped of @bot suffix) |
+| `target` | `str \| None` | chat_id as string |
+| `is_channel` | `bool` | `True` for groups, `False` for DMs |
+| `command` | `str` | Always `"PRIVMSG"` (compat shim) |
+| `params` | `list[str]` | `[target, text]` |
+| `tags` | `dict[str, str]` | Empty dict (no IRCv3 tags) |
+
+### `TelegramBot`
+
+Same stable attributes and methods as `Bot`:
+
+| Attribute | Type | Description |
+|-----------|------|-------------|
+| `name` | `str` | Always `"telegram"` |
+| `config` | `dict` | Merged TOML configuration |
+| `nick` | `str` | Bot display name (from `getMe`) |
+| `prefix` | `str` | Command prefix (from `[telegram]` or `[bot]`) |
+| `state` | `StateStore` | Persistent key-value storage |
+| `registry` | `PluginRegistry` | Shared command and event registry |
+
+**Sending messages** -- same signatures, Telegram API transport:
+
+| Method | Behaviour |
+|--------|-----------|
+| `send(target, text)` | `sendMessage` API call (proxied, rate-limited) |
+| `reply(msg, text)` | `send(msg.target, text)` |
+| `long_reply(msg, lines, *, label="")` | Paste overflow, same logic as IRC |
+| `action(target, text)` | Italic Markdown text via `sendMessage` |
+| `shorten_url(url)` | Same FlaskPaste integration |
+
+**Message splitting**: messages > 4096 chars split at line boundaries.
+
+**IRC no-ops** (debug log, no error):
+
+`join`, `part`, `kick`, `mode`, `set_topic`
+
+**Plugin management** -- delegates to shared registry:
+
+`load_plugins`, `load_plugin`, `reload_plugin`, `unload_plugin`
+
+**Permission tiers** -- same model, exact user_id string matching:
+
+`_get_tier(msg)`, `_is_admin(msg)`
+
+### Helper Functions
+
+| Function | Signature | Description |
+|----------|-----------|-------------|
+| `_strip_bot_suffix` | `(text: str, bot_username: str) -> str` | Strip `@username` from command text |
+| `_build_telegram_message` | `(update: dict, bot_username: str) -> TelegramMessage \| None` | Parse Telegram Update into message |
+| `_split_message` | `(text: str, max_len: int = 4096) -> list[str]` | Split long text at line boundaries |
+
+---
+
 ## Handler Signatures
 
 All command and event handlers are async functions receiving `bot` and
diff --git a/docs/CHEATSHEET.md b/docs/CHEATSHEET.md
index f9f8d98..c0ef64e 100644
--- a/docs/CHEATSHEET.md
+++ b/docs/CHEATSHEET.md
@@ -504,6 +504,23 @@ Teams endpoint: `POST /api/messages`. HMAC-SHA256 auth via `Authorization: HMAC
 Replies returned as JSON in HTTP response. IRC-only commands (kick, ban, topic) are no-ops.
 ~90% of plugins work without modification.
 
+## Telegram Integration
+
+```toml
+# config/derp.toml
+[telegram]
+enabled = true
+bot_token = "123456:ABC-DEF..."     # from @BotFather
+poll_timeout = 30                    # long-poll seconds
+admins = [123456789]                 # Telegram user IDs
+operators = []
+trusted = []
+```
+
+Long-polling via `getUpdates` -- no public endpoint needed. All HTTP
+through SOCKS5 proxy. Strips `@botusername` suffix in groups. Messages
+split at 4096 chars. IRC-only commands are no-ops. ~90% of plugins work.
+
 ## Plugin Template
 
 ```python
diff --git a/docs/USAGE.md b/docs/USAGE.md
index ffba4a6..0cb215f 100644
--- a/docs/USAGE.md
+++ b/docs/USAGE.md
@@ -1400,3 +1400,77 @@ The bot returns a JSON response:
 ```
 
 Multiple reply lines are joined with `\n`.
+
+## Telegram Integration
+
+Connect derp to Telegram via long-polling (`getUpdates`). All outbound HTTP
+is routed through the SOCKS5 proxy. No public endpoint required, no Telegram
+SDK dependency.
+
+### How It Works
+
+The bot calls `getUpdates` in a loop with a long-poll timeout (default 30s).
+When a message arrives with the configured prefix, it is dispatched through
+the shared plugin registry. Replies are sent immediately via `sendMessage`.
+
+### Configuration
+
+```toml
+[telegram]
+enabled = true
+bot_token = "123456:ABC-DEF..."    # from @BotFather
+poll_timeout = 30                   # long-poll timeout in seconds
+admins = [123456789]                # Telegram user IDs (numeric)
+operators = []                      # Telegram user IDs
+trusted = []                        # Telegram user IDs
+```
+
+### Telegram Setup
+
+1. **Create a bot** via [@BotFather](https://t.me/BotFather):
+   - `/newbot` and follow the prompts
+   - Copy the bot token and set `bot_token` in config
+
+2. **Add the bot** to a group or send it a DM
+
+3. **Configure permissions** using Telegram user IDs. Use `!whoami` to
+   discover your numeric user ID.
+
+### Permission Tiers
+
+Same 4-tier model as IRC, but matches exact Telegram user IDs (numeric
+strings) instead of fnmatch hostmask patterns:
+
+```toml
+[telegram]
+admins = [123456789]
+operators = [987654321]
+trusted = [111222333]
+```
+
+### Plugin Compatibility
+
+Same compatibility as Teams -- ~90% of plugins work without modification.
+
+| Feature | IRC | Telegram |
+|---------|-----|----------|
+| `bot.reply()` | Sends PRIVMSG | `sendMessage` API call |
+| `bot.send()` | Sends PRIVMSG | `sendMessage` API call |
+| `bot.action()` | CTCP ACTION | Italic Markdown text |
+| `bot.long_reply()` | Paste overflow | Paste overflow (same logic) |
+| `bot.state` | Per-server SQLite | Per-server SQLite |
+| `bot.join/part/kick/mode` | IRC commands | No-op (logged at debug) |
+| Event handlers (JOIN, etc.) | Fired on IRC events | Not triggered |
+| Hostmask ACL | fnmatch patterns | Exact user IDs |
+| Message limit | 512 bytes (IRC) | 4096 chars (Telegram) |
+
+### Group Commands
+
+In groups, Telegram appends `@botusername` to commands. The bot strips
+this automatically: `!help@mybot` becomes `!help`.
+
+### Transport
+
+All HTTP traffic (API calls, long-polling) routes through the SOCKS5
+proxy at `127.0.0.1:1080` via `derp.http.urlopen`. No direct outbound
+connections are made.