The TON (The Open Network) blockchain, once in the shadows after the fade-out of the “TON mini-games” trend, is now surging back into the spotlight—this time, not through games, but through a surprisingly revitalized NFT ecosystem. At the heart of this resurgence lies Telegram’s innovative integration of NFTs as “gifts,” rebranded as Telegram Collectibles, turning digital gifting into a thriving on-chain economy.
What started as a subtle feature upgrade has evolved into a full-blown market phenomenon. In early January, Telegram officially transformed its in-app “gifts” into NFTs—digital collectibles with rarity, transferability, and real utility within the app. These aren’t just static artworks; they’re wearable badges that users can display on their profiles, adding a social layer that traditional NFTs often lack.
From June 7 to June 9, daily trading volume for Telegram gifts nearly doubled each day, jumping from nearly $3 million to over $9 million.
This explosive growth isn’t just a flash in the pan. Since mid-May, TON has consistently outperformed Solana in NFT trading volume and, in a landmark moment, surpassed Ethereum—the long-time NFT leader—with a single-day volume approaching $10 million, roughly three times Ethereum’s at the time.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov publicly celebrated this milestone on June 9, highlighting top-performing gift collections and confirming TON’s dominance in daily NFT transaction volume. The momentum is real, and it’s reshaping how we think about digital ownership in mass-market messaging platforms.
The Evolution of TON NFTs: A Timeline of Growth
The transformation of Telegram gifts into a robust NFT ecosystem didn’t happen overnight. It was built through a series of strategic updates that gradually enhanced functionality, accessibility, and user engagement.
- January 24: Telegram enabled users to migrate their gifts to the TON blockchain, officially anchoring them as NFTs. This marked the beginning of TON’s integration with Telegram’s massive user base.
- February 14: Nine new limited-edition gift series were launched and sold out within hours, generating over $5 million in sales—proof of strong demand even before full NFT functionality was live.
- March 7: Telegram expanded the social utility of gifts by allowing users to display up to six collectibles on their profile cover, turning them into status symbols and digital fashion statements.
- May 8: Telegram introduced an in-app trading feature using “Stars”—its internal virtual currency—enabling seamless peer-to-peer gifting and trading without requiring users to hold crypto wallets.
- June 9: Pavel Durov’s public endorsement amplified visibility, driving even more attention to high-performing collections like Plush Pepes and Durov’s Caps.
Each update has deepened user engagement, blending Web2 ease-of-use with Web3 ownership—making NFTs accessible to millions who’ve never touched a blockchain before.
How TON NFTs Differ from Traditional NFTs
While built on blockchain principles, TON’s NFT model diverges significantly from conventional approaches in three key areas: project type, transaction model, and user experience.
1. Project Type: Utility Over Speculation
Traditional NFT markets are dominated by PFPs (profile pictures), gaming assets, or membership passes. In contrast, Telegram gifts are digital status items—closer in spirit to QQ Show or TikTok virtual gifts than CryptoPunks or Bored Apes.
Even non-gift NFTs on TON follow this theme. For example:
- Anonymous Telegram Number: A privacy-focused account without phone binding.
- Telegram Usernames: Unique, tradable handles akin to premium Twitter usernames.
These are officially issued digital identities with real utility inside Telegram. Community-driven PFP projects exist but haven’t gained traction—highlighting that official backing and functional use cases are driving adoption.
2. Transaction Model: Hybrid On-Chain and Off-Chain Markets
TON supports both on-chain and off-chain NFT trading, creating a unique dual-market ecosystem.
- Off-chain (e.g., TONNEL): Uses Telegram bots as intermediaries. Users trade directly within the app via Mini Apps. Faster and more user-friendly for casual users.
- On-chain (e.g., Getgems): Fully decentralized marketplace where all TON NFTs are listed. Appeals to crypto-native users who prefer transparency and self-custody.
Historically, off-chain volume dwarfed on-chain by nearly 10x—indicating strong adoption among Telegram’s mainstream audience. But recently, on-chain activity has surged, suggesting growing interest from the broader crypto community.
3. User Experience: Frictionless Onboarding
One of TON’s biggest advantages is accessibility. Users don’t need wallets or seed phrases to receive or display gifts. They can be sent directly within chats—just like emojis or stickers.
Only when users want to trade on-chain do they need to upgrade their gift to an NFT and wait 21 days (a cooldown period to prevent bots). This hybrid model lowers barriers while preserving decentralization for those who want it.
The Whale Perspective: Why Investors Are Paying Attention
To understand the market sentiment behind this trend, we looked at insights from prominent NFT collectors like @BitCloutCat, a well-known figure in the space.
He first noticed Telegram gifts in March when Plush Pepes were trading around $1,000. Initially skeptical, he missed the early wave—until he realized these weren’t just collectibles, but social tokens with real visibility.
“It’s like QQ Show,” he said. “You wear your wealth. And now even Snoop Dogg, Pavel Durov, and Luca Netz are showing theirs.”
He points out that:
- The primary buyers appear to be Russian-speaking users and experienced NFT traders.
- There's a noticeable price gap between on-chain (higher) and off-chain (lower) markets due to liquidity differences.
- Series with limited supply and appealing designs have seen broad-based price increases.
- If Telegram opens up creator tools for custom gifts, the ecosystem could explode further.
While the Chinese-speaking community is still catching up, @BitCloutCat believes there’s still room for early adoption—especially if the platform continues expanding its utility.
👉 See how top collectors are navigating the TON NFT boom—click to uncover smart entry strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Are Telegram gifts really NFTs?
A: Yes. Once upgraded via the Telegram interface, gifts become verifiable NFTs on the TON blockchain, fully transferable and tradable on supported marketplaces.
Q: Can I buy Telegram gifts without owning cryptocurrency?
A: Absolutely. You can purchase them using “Stars,” Telegram’s in-app currency bought with fiat. No wallet required for basic use.
Q: What happens during the 21-day cooldown period?
A: After upgrading a gift to an NFT, it cannot be traded for 21 days. This prevents bot farming and speculative flipping.
Q: Which TON NFT marketplace should I use?
A: For ease of use, try TONNEL (off-chain). For full control and transparency, go with Getgems (on-chain).
Q: Is this just a short-term hype cycle?
A: While speculative interest exists, the integration with Telegram’s 800M+ user base gives it staying power. Unlike past NFT trends, this one has built-in utility and network effects.
Q: Can I create my own Telegram gift collection?
A: Not yet. All current gifts are officially issued by Telegram. However, rumors suggest creator tools may launch in the future—potentially unlocking massive growth.
The Bigger Picture: NFTs Reborn Through Real Utility
The resurgence of TON isn't just about trading volume—it's a sign of NFTs evolving beyond speculation. After years of hype cycles and crashes, we’re finally seeing digital collectibles fulfill their promise: enhancing identity, status, and interaction in digital spaces.
Projects like Telegram gifts and recent TON-based games such as MapleStory show that when NFTs solve real problems—like social expression or seamless gifting—they gain mass appeal.
As more users interact with NFTs without even realizing they're using blockchain technology, the line between Web2 and Web3 blurs. And that may be the most powerful shift of all.
👉 Join the next wave of Web3 adoption—see how TON is bridging communities through innovation.