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Meanwhile, Telegram has faced scrutiny on several fronts. The platform has been criticized for facilitating communication among groups engaged in illegal activities, leading to temporary bans in some countries.
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Telegram's founder Pavel Durov has launched three exclusive gifts in celebration of 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, the founder of the popular encrypted messaging platform Telegram, is celebrating his 40th birthday with the launch of a special edition “Gift”. The digital stickers allow users to purchase, send, and receive Stars from friends and family on special occasions.
On Friday, Durov took to Telegram to announce the release of this new limited edition gift set, revealing that it was inspired by the popular BirthdayCollection emoji pack. The new set includes three exclusive characters, designed to celebrate his personal milestone while offering a fun and interactive experience for Telegram users.
Telegram’s Limited Edition Gift Sold Out in a Day
Telegram initially introduced the “Gift” feature on October 5, 2024, and it quickly became a hit. Within just 24 hours of the launch of the first two limited-edition gifts—500,000 lollipops and 100,000 cherry blossom icons – the entire inventory was sold out.
In a follow-up post on October 6, Durov acknowledged the overwhelming demand for the new items. “We did not expect that to happen so fast,” he noted, adding that Telegram’s team was already working on updates to better handle sold-out products.
Durov also hinted at Telegram’s plans to expand the functionality of the “Gift” feature. He revealed that by the end of the year, users will be able to convert their limited-edition gifts into non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on The Open Network (TON) blockchain. This would enable users to tokenize their digital gifts, which could then be traded or auctioned on external blockchain platforms.
Achievements and Challenges in Durov’s Career
As Durov celebrates his 40th birthday, his personal milestone also coincides with Telegram’s 11th anniversary, marking an important chapter for both the founder and the platform. Launched in 2013, Telegram has grown to become one of the most widely-used messaging apps in the world, with over 950 million active users globally.
The platform’s steadfast commitment to privacy, security, and encrypted communication has earned it a loyal following, particularly in regions where free speech is under threat.
However, Durov’s journey has not been without challenges. Before founding Telegram, he made his name as the creator of VKontakte (VK), Russia’s largest social network. But his departure from VK in 2014 was marked by controversy, with tensions between Durov and Russian authorities over data privacy and freedom of expression leading to his exit.
These values of privacy and free communication have remained at the core of Durov’s ethos as he built Telegram into the privacy-focused platform it is today.
Telegram’s Founder Arrested in France
Yet, Telegram has faced scrutiny on several fronts. The platform has been criticized for facilitating communication among groups engaged in illegal activities, leading to temporary bans in countries such as Russia and Iran. Recently, Durov himself was arrested in Paris over privacy compliance issues with regulators, further placing Telegram under global scrutiny.
Durov’s recent legal challenges have opened the platform up to broader scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions, including India and South Korea, where privacy concerns and regulatory challenges are mounting.
Meanwhile, the arrest of Telegram’s founder in Paris has sparked debates on the balance between privacy and regulatory compliance, with critics arguing that Telegram’s encrypted communication tools create challenges for law enforcement.
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Chimamanda is a crypto enthusiast and experienced writer focusing on the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies. She joined the industry in 2019 and has since developed an interest in the emerging economy. She combines her passion for blockchain technology with her love for travel and food, bringing a fresh and engaging perspective to her work.
