TON price soars as Telegram allows conversion of gifts into NFTs on The Open Network

• Telegram
  now
  allows
  users
  to
  convert
  digital
  gifts
  into
  NFTs
  on
  the
  TON
  blockchain.
• The
  converted
  gifts
  gain
  unique
  traits
  and
  can
  be
  traded
  or
  auctioned
  as
  NFTs.
• TON
  price
  rises
  3%,
  trading
  at
  $5.79,
  with
  165%
  growth
  year-to-date.

Toncoin
(TON),
the
native
cryptocurrency
of
The
Open
Network
(TON),
is
experiencing
a
surge
in
activity
as
Telegram
rolls
out
its
latest
innovation.

The
popular
messaging
app
now
allows
users
to
transform
digital
gifts
into
tradable
NFTs
on
The
Open
Network
(TON),
a
move
that
marks
another
step
in
Telegram’s
Web3
journey.

Telegram
users
can
convert
digital
gifts
into
tradable
TON
NFTs

The
new
feature,
part
of

Telegram’s
first
major
update
of
2025,
lets
users
upgrade
over
20
existing
gifts—such
as
Jelly
Bunny,
Santa
Hat,
and
Homemade
Cake—into
unique
collectibles.
These
animated
artworks
and
custom
messages,
introduced
in
October
2024,
can
now
be
traded,
auctioned,
or
gifted
anew
within
Telegram’s
ecosystem
or
on
external
NFT
marketplaces
like
Getgems.

To
convert
a
gift
into
an
NFT,
users
need
to
spend
a
small
amount
of
Telegram
Stars,
the
platform’s
in-app
currency
tied
to
Toncoin.

Once
upgraded,
each
collectible
gift
gains
exclusive
attributes,
including
a
distinct
appearance,
background
colours,
icons,
and
a
unique
number,
ensuring
its
rarity
and
individuality.

Notably,
the
launch
of
collectible
gifts
isn’t
Telegram’s
first
foray
into
blockchain
technology.
In
recent
years,
Telegram
has
integrated
several
crypto-friendly
features,
including
TON
Space,
a
self-custody
wallet,

an
in-app
browser
for
decentralized
websites,
and
Telegram
Stars,
which
allow
users
to
purchase
digital
goods
with
fiat
and
convert
them
into
Toncoin.

These
initiatives,
alongside
a
burgeoning
ecosystem
of
mini-games
and
apps,
have
cemented
Telegram
as
a
significant
player
in
the
Web3
space.

Toncoin
(TON)
price
rises

Following
the
release
of
the
new
feature,
Toncoin’s
price
has
rebounded
after
a
slight
dip
between
December
25
and
January
1.

Despite
a
30%
retracement
from
its
all-time
high
of
$8.25
in
mid-2024,
TON
has
gained
an
impressive
165%
year-to-date,
reflecting
growing
interest
in
its
ecosystem.
The
token,
currently
ranked
the
15th
largest
cryptocurrency
by
market
capitalization,
is
trading
at
$5.79,
up
3%
over
the
last
24
hours.

Experts
believe
that
Telegram’s
integration
of
NFTs
and
its
commitment
to
enhancing
The
Open
Network
(TON)
blockchain
could
further
drive
adoption
and
market
value.

A
core
TON
developer,
pseudonymously
known
as
Dr.
Awesome
Doge,
has

expressed
optimism
about
the
platform’s
potential,
highlighting
its
massive
user
base
and
the
increasing
complexity
of
its
applications.

As
Telegram
continues
to
innovate,
Toncoin
appears
poised
for
sustained
growth,
underpinned
by
the
convergence
of
social
media
and
blockchain
technology.