Telegram Founder Proposes NFT-Based Username System for 700,000,000 Users

The founder and CEO of cross-platform messaging service Telegram is proposing a blockchain-based marketplace for usernames and addresses used on the messaging app.

Pavel Durov said on his Telegram channel that the idea was inspired by the success of a domain name and wallet auction conducted by the Open Network (TON) blockchain.

According to Telegram's CEO, Telegram is likely to have more success with a market for highly sought-after usernames and addresses based on its large user base.

“If TON can achieve these results, imagine how successful Telegram with 700 million users could be if we put the @ reserved username, group link and channel into the auction price. In addition to millions of hot t.me addresses like @storm or @royal, all four-letter usernames can be offered for sale (@bank, @club, @game, @gift, etc.) . ”

The Open Network Blockchain (TON) was designed by the founders of Telegram, Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov. The token is currently being developed by the TON Foundation, a community of open source developers.

Durov says that the platform envisioned for auctioning Telegram usernames and addresses will allow the exchange of digital properties similar to how non-fungible tokens (NFTs) work. ).

“This will create a new platform where username holders can pass them on to interested parties in protected transactions – with ownership secured on the blockchain via smart contracts. like NFT. Other elements of the Telegram ecosystem, including channels, stickers or emojis, could later become part of this market as well.”

According to Durov, the Open Network is the most suitable blockchain to host the proposed Telegram market because it has the advantage of key performance indicators.

“When it comes to scalability and speed, TON probably has the best technology to hold such decentralized sales. Our team can write bulletproof smart contracts for TON (because we invented its smart contract language), so we are inclined to try TON as the underlying blockchain for our future market.

Let's see if we can add a little Web 3.0 to Telegram in the coming weeks. "

Aug 24, 2022