KeyTakeaways:
- Telegram introduces third-party verification to enhance user safety and transparency.
- New NFT gift feature allows users to send and trade customized NFTs across platforms.
- Toncoin (TON) price rises following Telegram’s blockchain-focused update.
Telegram has launched an update for 2025, introducing two innovative features to improve user safety and enhance the overall experience. The new third-party verification system and NFT gift features are part of the platform’s ongoing efforts to incorporate blockchain technology and address ongoing issues like scams and misinformation.
The integration of these features is already impacting the market, with Toncoin (TON) seeing a notable price increase following the announcement.
One of the update’s key highlights is the introduction of third-party account verification. This feature allows trusted organizations, such as regulatory bodies or educational consortiums, to verify accounts on Telegram.
Verified accounts will be marked with a unique icon that distinguishes them from the traditional blue checkmark typically used by Telegram to verify public figures. This new system aims to reduce misinformation and scams on the platform by providing greater transparency and security.
Organizations wishing to verify their accounts must go through a thorough approval process, including identity verification and submitting application materials. Once approved, the organizations can manage verification for their affiliates through Telegram’s Bot API, allowing them to assign or remove verification statuses as necessary.
NFT Gifts: Transforming Digital Gifts into Tradable Assets
In addition to the third-party verification feature, Telegram has introduced a way for users to turn digital gifts into NFTs. These gifts can now be customized with unique icons and backgrounds, giving them more value and uniqueness.
Users can send these NFTs as gifts using Telegram’s Star feature, available for purchase within the app or via the Fragment platform using Toncoin (TON) wallets. Once sent, the gifts become tradeable across various platforms, allowing users to exchange them in the broader NFT marketplace.
Telegram has implemented a small transaction fee to cover blockchain costs associated with these transfers. This feature further demonstrates the platform’s commitment to incorporating blockchain technology into its user experience, making it more versatile for crypto enthusiasts and users interested in the growing NFT space.
