TON has become the second most active blockchain network for NFT trading thanks to Telegram Collectible Gifts. Pavel Durov noted a sharp increase in the popularity of these collections over the past month.
Against this backdrop, he gave his second interview following his arrest in France, stating that he does not understand the reasons for the accusations. Authorities suspect him of being involved in criminal activities related to Telegram.
TON Strengthens Its Position In The NFT Sector
According to Durov, the TON network has reached second place in terms of NFT transaction volume after Ethereum. The reason is the growing interest in Telegram Collectible Gifts — digital presents users exchange in the messenger. Collection activity has surged over the last 30 days, Durov wrote on X.
The creation of these NFTs is linked to the new Telegram Stars economy — tokens used in games on the platform. The game Boinkers became the leader in Stars generation, through which users withdrew more than $821,000. Some anonymous large holders withdrew up to $2 million from this internal economy.
There are 21 NFT collections on TON, including ones based on well-known brands such as Pudgy Penguins. Previously, project representatives launched a game on Telegram and opened a waitlist for early users. Alongside these, traditional NFTs are also present in the ecosystem, but it is the gift stickers on Telegram that show organic growth due to integration with the platform.
Tens Of Millions In Sales And Social Media Hype
Telegram Gifts collections have existed before but only gained recognition in recent weeks. Some stickers became cult items — their scarcity and rising prices sparked interest. There are currently 184,000 wallets in circulation, created mostly in 2025. The total sales volume of the gifts has exceeded $36 million.
The spike in activity coincided with the launch of the specialized Telegram Gifts Marketplace. This eliminated one of the main barriers for the NFT market — the lack of marketplaces, especially at a time when OpenSea has not yet relaunched its new version.
Telegram collections use rarity mechanics. Some were initially minted at low prices but have now increased in value. The presence of liquidity, an open market, and a low entry threshold are reviving interest in NFTs within the TON ecosystem.
Pavel Durov Speaks Out About His Arrest In Paris
Amid TON’s success, Pavel Durov gave his second interview to Tucker Carlson. This is his first public comment since his arrest on August 24, 2024, at Le Bourget airport near Paris. French authorities accused Durov of six violations, including money laundering, refusal to cooperate with law enforcement, and distribution of illegal content via Telegram.
Durov said he still does not understand why he was detained. He claims that Telegram operates in 200 countries, cooperates with major financial organizations, and spends millions of dollars quarterly on legal compliance.
According to Durov, he was accused of Telegram allegedly failing to respond to legally binding requests from French authorities. He called this accusation “an excessive interpretation” of regulations even by the standards of the local judicial system.
Political Motives And Community Response
Durov suggested that the case might have a political dimension. In the interview, he mentioned that Telegram is ready to leave countries whose policies contradict the principle of free speech. According to TON Community, over 9 million Telegram users signed a petition demanding the release of the messenger’s founder.
Durov emphasized that his lawyers considered the detention process unprecedented. Carlson also drew attention to the public nature of the arrest, which he believes was an attempt to humiliate the entrepreneur.
According to industry analysts, Telegram reached 1 billion monthly active users by March 2025.
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