Share this article
Telegram’s @crypto Handle Gets $25M Offer as Price Surges 70-Fold in 2 Years
Telegram username @crypto, bought for $350,000, now commands a $25 million offer — showcasing the explosive rise of tokenized digital identities on the TON blockchain.
Jul 30, 2025, 2:14 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
What to know:
- A Telegram user who bought the @crypto handle for $350,000 in 2023 has received a $25 million offer, highlighting the skyrocketing value of tokenized usernames on the TON blockchain.
- Telegram usernames are secured as unique digital assets on the network, with no intermediaries or risk of confiscation, according to Telegram CEO Pavel Durov.
- Toncoin (TON) has surged 16% this month, bolstered by increased ecosystem activity and a UAE "golden visa" offer for TON holders.
An early Telegram and user received a $25 million offer for the instant-messaging app's @crypto username on Wednesday, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said in a post on the messaging system.
The username was acquired for just $350,000 in 2023 and the holder of the username recently said: “If these can’t be taken away from me, I want them all,” according to Durov's post.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
All Telegram usernames are tokenized on the TON blockchain, meaning that each username is unique and can't be replicated.
In 2024 the most expensive username was @news, which sold for $5.8 million, while @auto sold for $5.2 million, according to Statista.
"When people have direct ownership of their digital assets, magic happens — like this tokenized Telegram handle soaring 70x in value," Durov continued in his post. "Telegram users are sovereign owners: no middlemen, no confiscation, all secured by TON smart contracts."
Toncoin has enjoyed a solid month in terms of price action, rising by 16% to $3.38, in part due to an early month surge on the back of a deal to offer TON holders a golden visa in the UAE.
More For You
More For You
The Genius Act ripple effect: Sui executives say institutional demand has never been higher
Evan Cheng and Stephen Mackintosh said 2025 marked a turning point for institutional adoption, with tokenization and agentic commerce emerging as the next frontier.
What to know:
- Executives cited ETF flows, DAT growth and major trading firms entering crypto.
- Tokenization and instant settlement could blur the line between traditional and decentralized markets.
- Low-latency design and composable tooling aim to power AI-driven and tokenized financial use cases.
Top Stories
