Telegram has kicked off 2025 with a major replace that deepens its integration with the crypto ecosystem. As reported by TechCrunch, the messaging service has launched NFT gifting capabilities alongside third-party verification.
Telegram Launches New Crypto Characteristic
Historically, Telegram has supplied verification for public figures and organizations to authenticate their presence on the platform. The most recent replace broadens this scope by enabling third-party entities—comparable to meals high quality regulators or instructional our bodies—to confirm consumer accounts. This transfer goals to bolster belief and mitigate the unfold of misinformation.
In Telegram’s personal phrases, “This decentralized platform for extra verification will assist stop scams and cut back misinformation — with a singular proactive answer that units a brand new security customary for social platforms.” Verified accounts will now characteristic a definite brand beside their names, changing the standard blue checkmark, thereby distinguishing them extra clearly.
Entities inquisitive about acquiring verification should bear a stringent software course of. “Individuals or organizations that need to be authenticated might want to first bear verification and full an software to develop into eligible to obtain the verified mark,” Telegram detailed in a weblog publish.
The platform’s Bot API facilitates the administration of verification statuses, permitting organizations to assign or revoke verification with ease. Verified profiles below these third-party authorities will show the respective group’s brand, enhancing their credibility and making certain customers can reliably establish genuine accounts.
In an progressive fusion of crypto and social engagement, Telegram has additionally unveiled the flexibility to transform items into Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). Customers can buy Telegram Stars both straight by way of the app or by way of the Fragment website by linking their TON crypto wallets. These Stars can then be used to ship customised gifts that includes customized backgrounds and icons, which might subsequently be minted as NFTs.
“Customers would be capable to commerce these NFTs on completely different platforms,” Telegram introduced, emphasizing the interoperability of this new characteristic. To facilitate the blockchain transactions required for NFT creation, Telegram imposes a charge for upgrading items to collectibles. This initiative not solely enhances the consumer expertise by including a singular, tradable aspect to gifting but additionally reinforces Telegram’s dedication to integrating crypto functionalities seamlessly into its platform.
Past the core options of verification and NFT gifting, the replace introduces emoji reactions for service messages—comparable to welcoming new group members—and improved search filters tailor-made for personal chats, group discussions, and channels.
Notably, Telegram has been proactive in leveraging crypto for varied platform functionalities, together with monetization for creators and facilitating funds for video games and mini-applications. The introduction of third-party verification and NFT gifting additional cements Telegram’s position within the evolving crypto panorama.
Telegram’s native cryptocurrency, Toncoin (TON), has seen a 5% enhance over the previous 24 hours, though it has skilled a -22% decline over the previous 29 days. The cryptocurrency maintains a market capitalization of $14.3 billion and a buying and selling quantity of $165 million (24 hours).
Featured picture created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
