Telegram adds digital gifts feature
October 07, 2024
The founder of Telegram announced the launch of a new feature allowing users to send digital gifts to each other. The update, as noted by Pavel Durov, is timed for the holiday season and his own birthday.
Now, messenger users can send gifts that can be displayed in the profile or exchanged for Stars — Telegram’s in-app currency. Some gifts will be available in limited editions.
NFT and TON Blockchain Integration
Telegram also plans to integrate this feature with the TON blockchain. In the future, rare gifts can be converted into NFTs and listed for sale or auction outside the messenger. All ownership information will be recorded on the blockchain, ensuring the security and transparency of transactions.
Additionally, in August 2024, Telegram launched its own browser and mini-app store, expanding the platform’s functionality.
However, amid these updates, the company’s founder is under investigation. At the end of August, Durov was detained in France on charges related to his refusal to cooperate with authorities and suspicions of money laundering. Prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry, including Elon Musk and Justin Sun, have already expressed their support for the entrepreneur.
As a result, Telegram announced measures to disclose phone numbers and IP addresses of users who violate messenger rules.