Telegram founder desires to discover web3-based auctions for customized usernames – TechCrunch

Telegram founder Pavel Durov stated Monday that he desires to combine web3 into the messaging app.

Durov stated on his Telegram channel that he was impressed by the TON challenge — an impartial challenge not affiliated with Telegram — and the way it’s used for area title/pockets auctions. He famous that Telegram can replicate TON’s public sale on the app by placing customized usernames, group, and channel hyperlinks on the public sale on blockchain — similar to NFTs.

Blockchain-based area naming techniques like the Ethereum Title Service (ENS) and Solana Bonafida naming service have discovered reputation with Unstoppable Area lately reaching unicorn standing. If Telegram goes forward with it, the customized hyperlink NFTs might be one other option to earn income aside from adverts and subscription companies.

The Telegram founder additionally talked about that the corporate is “inclined to check out TON” as a blockchain of selection for Telegram given its familiarity with the know-how. The chat app already permits customers to ship toncoin to one another instantly inside the app. So an NFT market based mostly on that looks like a possible subsequent step for web3 integration.

Nevertheless it additionally comes with notable blockchain stumbles, too. Just a few years in the past, the chat app additionally deserted a TON blockchain challenge. In 2018, the corporate explored plans for Telegram Open Community (TON) blockchain challenge and a mega preliminary coin providing (ICO). The challenge gathered lots of curiosity from varied traders together with Benchmark and Lightspeed Capital who put up $1.7 billion. Nonetheless, after a authorized struggle with the U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee (SEC), Telegram was pressured to desert the challenge.

After Telegram stopped engaged on TON, varied impartial teams continued the event with Toncoin getting backing from Durov and profitable the rights to ton.org web site in 2021. Nonetheless, the Telegram founder has tried to make it clear that the corporate isn’t instantly concerned with the challenge.

Right here is Durov’s full message:

I’m actually impressed by the success of the public sale TON lately performed for his or her area/pockets names. Pockets.ton was bought for 215,250 Toncoin (~$260000) whereas on line casino.ton was bought for ~$244000.

If TON has been in a position to obtain these outcomes, think about how profitable Telegram with its 700 million customers might be if we put reserved @ usernames, group and channel hyperlinks for public sale. Along with thousands and thousands of catchy t.me addresses like @storm or @royal, all four-letter usernames might be made out there on the market (@financial institution, @membership, @recreation, @reward and so forth).

This may create a brand new platform the place username holders might switch them to events in protected offers – with possession secured on the blockchain by way of NFT-like smart-contracts. Different components of the Telegram ecosystem, together with channels, stickers or emoji, might later additionally turn into a part of this market.

Relating to scalability and pace, TON in all probability has the very best know-how to host such decentralized gross sales. Our workforce can write bullet-proof sensible contracts for TON (because it was us who invented its smart-contract language), so we’re inclined to check out TON because the underlying blockchain for our future market.

Let’s see if we are able to add a bit little bit of Net 3.0 to Telegram within the coming weeks.