Telegram founder Pavel Durov sparked market activity on July 27 by depositing 10,000 TON (~$33,000) into Tonnel, a leading OTC gift marketplace. He then acquired premium NFTs including a Heroic Helmet for $11,000—reportedly 10x above market value—alongside hats and gift upgrades. Observers noted his purchases deliberately supported creators through above-market pricing.

Durov’s move highlights the booming TON gift economy, dominated by platforms like Tonnel and Portals, each boasting ~1 million active users. This follows his February 2025 debut on third-party marketplaces, which preceded Telegram’s own NFT marketplace launch this spring.

source: Код Дурова

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