Meanwhile, Telegram has come under scrutiny on several fronts. The platform has been criticized for facilitating communication between groups involved in illegal activities, leading to temporary bans in some countries.
Highlights
- Telegram founder Pavel Durov has launched three special gifts to celebrate his 40th birthday.
- Telegram will allow users to tokenize their gifts into NFTs on the open network (TON) before the end of 2024.
Pavel Durov, founder of the popular encrypted messaging platform Telegram, has launched a special edition “Gift” to celebrate his 40th birthday. Digital stickers allow users to purchase, send and receive stars from friends and family on special occasions.
On Friday, Durov announced the launch of this new limited-edition gift set via Telegram, saying it was inspired by the popular BirthdayCollection emoji pack. The new set includes three exclusive characters designed to commemorate his personal milestones while also providing a fun and interactive experience for Telegram users.
Telegram limited edition gift sold out in one day
Telegram first introduced its “gifting” feature on October 5, 2024, and it quickly became popular. The first two limited-edition gifts, 500,000 lollipops and 100,000 cherry blossom icons, sold out of their entire inventory in just 24 hours.
In a follow-up post on October 6, Durov acknowledged the overwhelming demand for the new items. “I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly,” he said, adding that the Telegram team was already working on an update to better handle sold-out products.
Durov also hinted at Telegram’s plans to expand the capabilities of its “gifting” feature. He said that by the end of the year, users will be able to convert limited-edition gifts into non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on The Open Network (TON) blockchain. It allows users to tokenize digital gifts, which can then be traded or auctioned on external blockchain platforms.
Achievements and challenges of Durov’s career
As Durov celebrates his 40th birthday, his personal milestone coincides with Telegram’s 11th anniversary and marks an important chapter for both the founder and the platform. Launched in 2013, Telegram has grown to become one of the world’s most widely used messaging apps, with over 950 million active users worldwide.
The platform’s consistent commitment to privacy, security, and encrypted communications has earned it a loyal following, especially in regions where freedom of expression is under threat.
But Durov’s journey was not without difficulties. Before founding Telegram, he made a name for himself as the founder of VKontakte (VK), Russia’s largest social network. But his departure from VK in 2014 was marred by controversy due to tensions between Durov and Russian authorities over data privacy and freedom of expression.
These values of privacy and free communication remain at the core of Durov’s ethos as he builds Telegram into the privacy-centric platform it is today.
Telegram founder arrested in France
However, Telegram has come under scrutiny on several fronts. The platform has been criticized for facilitating communication between groups involved in illegal activities, leading to temporary bans in countries including Russia and Iran. Durov himself was recently arrested in Paris over privacy compliance issues from regulators, leading to a global investigation into Telegram.
Durov’s recent legal troubles have brought the platform under wider scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions, including India and South Korea, where privacy concerns and regulatory challenges are on the rise.
Meanwhile, the arrest of Telegram’s founder in Paris has sparked debate over the balance between privacy and regulatory compliance, with critics arguing that Telegram’s encrypted communication tools pose difficulties for law enforcement.
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Chimamanda is a cryptocurrency enthusiast and experienced writer focused on the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies. She joined the industry in 2019 and has since developed an interest in emerging economies. She combines her passion for blockchain technology with her love of travel and food to bring a fresh and engaging perspective to her work.
