Matrix doesn’t report daily active users. IRC only reports people who are connected right this moment. Those are two entirely different numbers.

> Matrix doesn’t report daily active users

It does, if you opt in.

Can you show me where to opt in, and where this is documented? The only stats I can find that are close to the number provided are for total registered users.

I'd guess that many of those irc users connect through a matrix service these days

I wouldn't be so sure. If you create a Matrix account and join an IRC channel, your username[m] will never leave the channel, even if you never use Matrix again. I made a few test accounts and it was rather difficult to figure out how leave IRC channels properly if you decide not to use Matrix anymore.

If you part the matrix room, you’ll part the IRC channel.

You can also disconnect from IRC entirely from the bridge admin room.

Finally, if someone joins a channel via Matrix and then disappears without parting or disconnecting, then after 30d we’ll boot them off IRC anyway.

IRC was 28 million, I take it?

Nope, it's Matrix. IRC is dying.