Telegram has taken the digital gifting world by storm with its innovative gift-giving feature. Launched just three months ago, Telegram gifts have quickly become an internet sensation, with users exchanging a staggering 20 million gifts during the recent holiday season alone.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there – Telegram has now introduced a game-changing update that allows users to transform these limited-edition gifts into unique collectibles. Let’s dive into the details of how you can mint and transfer these special gifts on Telegram.
It’s worth noting the incredible success of Telegram’s gift feature. In just a short span of three months, it has captured the hearts of users worldwide, becoming a go-to method for digital gift-giving. The record-breaking 20 million gifts exchanged during the holiday season is a testament to its popularity and user engagement.
Upgrading Telegram Gifts to Collectibles
On January 1st, Telegram rolled out a new feature that takes gift-giving to the next level. Users can now transform their limited-edition gifts into unique collectibles. This process, known as upgrading, turns your digital gift into a one-of-a-kind item that can be transferred both within Telegram and externally as NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens).
How to upgrade your Gift
Upgrading a gift to a collectible is a straightforward process. First, select the gift you want to upgrade within the Telegram app. Then, choose the upgrade option and pay the upgrade fee using Telegram Stars. This fee covers the TON blockchain fees required to mint the NFT. The relatively low cost makes it accessible for most users to participate in this exciting new feature.
The artistic value and rarity
One of the most impressive aspects of Telegram’s collectible gifts is the level of artistry involved. When you upgrade a gift, it unlocks a new appearance from dozens of custom variations made by Telegram artists. The platform has engaged talented artists to design countless versions of 21 limited-edition gifts, with another 25 already in the works.
What makes each collectible truly unique are the secondary traits it receives upon upgrading. Each collectible is assigned a distinctive background color, an icon, and a number. These attributes ensure that every collectible gift is a one-of-a-kind digital artwork, with some being rarer than others. The combination of these elements creates a sense of exclusivity and uniqueness that collectors and gift-givers alike can appreciate.
Available Collectible Gifts
Currently, more than 20 existing gifts can be upgraded to collectibles. Some popular options include the Homemade Cake, Jelly Bunny, Spiced Wine, and Santa Hat. These gifts, along with others, represent a diverse range of themes and styles, catering to various tastes and occasions. In total, there are over 1,400 unique appearances available, with Telegram promising more to come in the future. This vast array of options ensures that users can find the perfect collectible gift for any situation or recipient.
Once you’ve upgraded your gift to a collectible, you have several options for sharing or trading it. When buying a gift for another user, you can send it already upgraded. The recipient gets to unwrap their collectible artwork right in the chat, adding an extra layer of excitement to the gift-giving process. This feature transforms the act of digital gift-giving into a more immersive and memorable experience.
You can also transfer your collectible gift to other Telegram users, making it a perfect way to share something truly special with friends and family. For those interested in the broader NFT ecosystem, these collectible gifts can be transferred outside of Telegram as NFTs. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for collectors and digital art enthusiasts, allowing them to showcase their Telegram collectibles on various platforms and potentially increase their value.
If you’re looking to obtain specific appearances or quickly build up your collection, collectible gifts can be instantly traded with other users. This feature creates a dynamic marketplace within Telegram, where users can exchange and collect these unique digital assets, fostering a community of collectors and enthusiasts.
The future of Telegram Gifts
The ecosystem around Telegram gifts is evolving rapidly. There are already whispers of third-party NFT marketplaces working on enabling auctions for collectible Telegram gifts.
This development could potentially create a thriving secondary market for these unique collectibles, adding another layer of excitement for users. As the platform continues to grow and evolve, we can expect to see new features, more diverse collectibles, and perhaps even collaborations with artists and brands to create exclusive, limited-edition collectibles.
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