While the initial excitement around TON-based mini-games has faded, the TON ecosystem is re-entering the spotlight—this time through a resurgence in NFT activity. Surprisingly, it’s the often-overlooked concept of NFTs that is driving renewed interest and engagement within the TON network.
On January 1st of this year, Telegram introduced its first major update, which rebranded in-app “Gifts” as “Collectibles.” These Collectibles are, in essence, NFTs. They incorporate classic NFT traits such as randomness and rarity and can be transferred to other Telegram users or traded on NFT marketplaces.
Transaction volumes for these Telegram Gifts began gaining noticeable traction around mid-May and have recently experienced exponential growth. Social media discussions, particularly on Twitter, reflect this rapid expansion and broadening audience reach.
Between June 7 and June 9, the daily trading volume of Telegram Gifts nearly doubled each day, climbing from nearly $3 million to over $9 million.
Since mid-May, TON has consistently outperformed Solana in NFT sales volume, securing its position as the second-largest blockchain by NFT transactions.
In recent days, TON even surpassed Ethereum in daily NFT sales volume, reaching close to $10 million in a single day—roughly three times Ethereum’s volume for the same period.
On June 9, Telegram founder Pavel Durov publicly endorsed Telegram Gifts via Twitter, highlighting several collections that saw significant price appreciation over the past month. He also celebrated TON's milestone of exceeding Ethereum’s daily NFT trading volume.
Among NFT marketplaces, TONNEL—the largest NFT marketplace on TON—outpaced OpenSea in daily trading volume over a two-day period. Other TON-based platforms like Portals and Getgems also performed comparably to established markets like Blur and Magic Eden. Considering that TON NFT platforms are single-chain while others are multi-chain, TON’s current dominance in NFT trading is particularly impressive.
Data from Getgems, an on-chain marketplace, indicates that one collection—Plush Pepes—is the clear market leader. With a floor price of 5,100 TON (approximately $16,800) and the highest weekly trading volume, it exemplifies the “premium attracts demand” trend.
All the Telegram Gifts collections appearing on the weekly volume leaderboard are shown in green—indicating price increases. The second-place contender is currently Durov's Caps, though other collections may still climb the ranks.
The current NFT trend on TON is largely driven by Telegram Gifts. How did this emerge? How do these NFTs differ from traditional non-fungible tokens? And what do established NFT investors think?
The Evolution of TON NFTs
On January 24, Telegram integrated TON blockchain support for Gifts, enabling users to send and trade them on-chain. This move marked the beginning of Gifts as a fundamental component of the TON ecosystem.
Telegram further enhanced these NFT-like Gifts by adding social features. Users could now display a Gift like a badge next to their name in their Telegram profile.
On February 14, Telegram released nine new limited-edition Gift collections, which sold out within hours and generated over $5 million in sales.
By March 7, Telegram had expanded these social features, allowing users to showcase up to six Gifts on their profile cover in addition to the one beside their name.
A significant update arrived on May 8, when Telegram enabled in-app Gift trading using “Stars,” Telegram’s internal currency.
Finally, on June 9, Pavel Durov’s tweet brought mainstream attention to the phenomenon, reinforcing the viability and growing influence of TON-based NFTs.
How TON NFTs Differ from Traditional NFTs
1. Primary Use Case
Most traditional NFTs function as profile pictures (PFPs), airdrop tokens, access passes, or in-game assets. In contrast, the recent activity on TON is dominated by Telegram Gifts. A more accurate Web2 analogy would be QQ Show—a popular avatar customization feature in China.
Beyond Gifts, other top-performing NFTs on Getgems include “Anonymous Telegram Number” (a phone-free Telegram account) and “Telegram Usernames” (unique handles). These are essentially digital status symbols—comparable to owning a rare license plate or a coveted social media username.
Notably, these high-demand assets are issued by Telegram itself and have tangible utility within the platform. Community-created NFTs, such as PFP projects, have yet to gain similar traction.
2. Transaction Models
New Gift collections are released officially and unexpectedly by Telegram. Participants use Stars—an in-app currency—to acquire them. This is markedly different from the traditional minting process common in the NFT space.
Another unique aspect is the blind box mechanism and mandatory locking period. When you acquire a new Gift, it remains an unopened blind box. Only when Telegram enables the upgrade feature can holders “open” it, a process that simultaneously reveals the item and converts it into a transferable NFT. After upgrading, the NFT must undergo a 21-day cooling-off period before it can be traded.
Secondary markets also vary in implementation. TONNEL, for example, operates off-chain using bot intermediaries to facilitate transfers, all within Telegram’s mini-app environment. Getgems, on the other hand, is a fully on-chain marketplace supporting all TON-based NFTs—likely familiar to experienced crypto users.
Currently, off-chain trading volume significantly exceeds on-chain activity. This suggests that much of the current demand is coming from native Telegram users rather than crypto natives. However, the recent increase in on-chain volume may indicate growing participation from the broader crypto community.
3. Usage and Interaction
If you acquire a Gift through an on-chain marketplace, it exists as an on-chain NFT. You must manually “import” it into Telegram to use it as a wearable item. This extra step makes off-market trading more appealing to non-technical users since bot-mediated transfers allow immediate usage without blockchain operations.
Perspectives from NFT whales
We interviewed laser cat @BitCloutCat, a well-known NFT collector. He first noticed Telegram Gifts in March when the floor price of Plush Pepe—now the most expensive collection—was around $1,000. At the time, he overlooked their social functionality and missed early opportunities.
After reassessing, he recognized the parallels with QQ Show: social visibility, bragging rights, and an in-app currency similar to Q币 (Q Coin). He also noted that influential figures like Snoop Dogg, Pavel Durov, and Luca Netz (founder of Pudgy Penguins) had adopted these Gifts, signaling broad potential appeal.
Due to the 21-day cooldown period, price discrepancies can emerge between on-chain and off-market platforms. On-chain items usually command a premium because they are liquid, while off-chain assets are locked but usable.
According to his observations, the current user base is largely composed of Russian users and NFT enthusiasts, with many discussion groups in Russian. Although Chinese-speaking communities are beginning to engage, participation is still limited. This makes it difficult to determine whether the market is still in its early stages.
Nevertheless, he believes the model has strong potential for mass adoption since Gifts can be sent to any Telegram user, even without a crypto wallet. Collections with limited supply and appealing visuals have already seen broad price increases. If Telegram eventually opens up to third-party creators, momentum could accelerate further.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are Telegram Gifts?
Telegram Gifts are digital collectibles issued by Telegram that function like NFTs. They can be displayed on user profiles, traded using in-app Stars, or sold on marketplaces. Each Gift has attributes like rarity and style, making some more desirable than others.
How do I buy a Telegram Gift?
You can acquire them during official Telegram sales using Stars, or purchase them on secondary markets like TONNEL or Getgems. Some marketplaces operate on-chain, while others use off-chain bots for faster transfers.
Can I trade Telegram Gifts outside of Telegram?
Yes. While designed for in-app use, these Gifts are built on the TON blockchain and can be traded on compatible NFT marketplaces. However, note that some may require a 21-day cooling period after being upgraded before they can be sold.
Why are Telegram Gifts becoming popular?
Their integration within Telegram gives them inherent social utility—akin to wearing digital jewelry. Celebrity endorsements and limited edition releases have also fueled demand, attracting both crypto enthusiasts and regular users.
Is now a good time to invest in TON NFTs?
Market timing is always uncertain. While some collections have appreciated significantly, the ecosystem is still evolving. Do your own research, focus on assets with clear utility, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
How do I display a Gift on my profile?
Once you own a Gift, go to your Telegram settings → Edit Profile → Add Gift. You can choose one to display beside your name and up to six on your profile cover.
Conclusion
Telegram Gifts, along with recent NFT-integrated game experiences, are reinvigorating interest in NFTs by emphasizing practical use over speculation. Nearly four years after the last major NFT bull market, the technology is finding renewed purpose through real-world applications on platforms with massive user bases.
This shift toward utility and social integration may pave the way for more sustainable NFT models. With its seamless user experience and built-in audience, TON is well-positioned to lead this transformation.