Telegram Founder Gets Millions from Crypto Game Players

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, received a donation of over 1 billion NOT tokens from players of Notcoin, a Telegram-based clicker game. The value of the tokens has surged to $7.3 million, and Durov plans to hold onto them until they increase 100x in value. If the tokens reach $680 million, he will sell them to enhance Telegram's infrastructure. Notcoin, which debuted with a market capitalization of $1.5 billion, is currently ranked 101st with a market cap of $746 million. Despite volatility, Notcoin plans to relaunch its crypto-earning game and serve as a platform for additional games. Telegram has also launched TON Space, a self-custodial wallet accessible to its global user base, enabling users to transfer Tether (USDT).

Telegram Founder Receives Multi-Million Dollar Donation from Viral Crypto Game Players

Pavel Durov, the renowned founder of the popular messaging platform Telegram, has become the recipient of a substantial donation from over half a million players of Notcoin, a viral Telegram-based clicker game that has taken the crypto world by storm. In a gesture of appreciation for the messaging app that hosts their beloved game, Notcoin players generously contributed a portion of their in-game coins to Durov. This donation, initially valued at $6.8 million, has since surged in value to an impressive $7.3 million.

Despite his vast fortune estimated at $15.5 billion by Forbes, Durov has expressed his intention to retain the tokens until they reach a hundredfold increase in value. Should the value of NOT tokens reach $680 million, Durov has stated his plans to sell them and utilize the proceeds to procure additional servers for Telegram, bolstering the messaging app's infrastructure.

Notcoin, which emerged as this year's most prominent gaming token, debuted with an impressive market capitalization of approximately $1.5 billion. As is common with emerging cryptocurrencies, NOT has experienced market fluctuations since its launch, currently trading at around $0.007, a 50% decline from its initial value, according to CoinMarketCap.

Despite the decline, NOT currently ranks among the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, boasting a valuation of $746 million. Notably, it generated trading volume exceeding $1 billion within the first 24 hours of its launch.

After temporarily suspending its gameplay in April to prepare for the token rollout, Notcoin is poised to relaunch its crypto-earning game. The ultimate vision for Notcoin is to evolve into a platform for multiple games, aspiring to become the "Netflix of social, viral games," as co-creator Sasha Plotvinov described in an interview with Decrypt's GG in April.

In a significant development for the Telegram ecosystem, TON Space, a self-custodial wallet, is set to become accessible to Telegram's global user base in November without the need for separate wallet registration. This feature expands upon the existing custodial Telegram wallet, which has already garnered over three million registered users. However, certain jurisdictions, including the United States, will initially be excluded from accessing the self-custodial wallet due to regulatory scrutiny and the geofencing of crypto apps in the country.

This new wallet launch coincides with the recent introduction of a feature on the Telegram TON Blockchain that allows Telegram users to transfer Tether (USDT). Additionally, the team responsible for The Open Network (TON) blockchain has completed its transition into a non-profit organization based in Switzerland.

The generous donation from Notcoin players to Durov underscores the growing popularity and integration of cryptocurrencies within the broader gaming community. As crypto gaming continues to gain traction, it is likely that we will witness more innovative and engaging games that seamlessly incorporate blockchain technology.