Telegram has kicked off 2025 with a big 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 Feature
Historically, Telegram has supplied verification for public figures and organizations to authenticate their presence on the platform. The newest 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 additional verification will help prevent scams and reduce misinformation — with a unique proactive solution that sets a new safety standard for social platforms.” Verified accounts will now characteristic a definite brand beside their names, changing the traditional blue checkmark, thereby distinguishing them extra clearly.
Entities serious about acquiring verification should endure a stringent software course of. “People or organizations that want to be authenticated will need to first undergo verification and complete an application to become eligible to receive the verified mark,” Telegram detailed in a weblog submit.
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). Users should purchase Telegram Stars both instantly by the app or through the Fragment web site by linking their TON crypto wallets. These Stars can then be used to ship personalised presents that includes customized backgrounds and icons, which might subsequently be minted as NFTs.
“Users would be able to trade these NFTs on different platforms,” Telegram introduced, emphasizing the interoperability of this new characteristic. To facilitate the blockchain transactions required for NFT creation, Telegram imposes a price for upgrading items to collectibles. This initiative not solely enhances the consumer expertise by including a novel, tradable aspect to gifting but in addition 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% improve 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
