Web3 CMO Stories Telegram's NFT Revolution: The Rise of Digital Collectibles | S5 E28
Digital ownership is evolving rapidly, and nowhere is this more evident than in Telegram's thriving ecosystem. Alex, CMO of DOGS and Open Builders, takes us on a journey through the revolutionary world of digital collectibles that's transforming how millions of users engage with Web3.
The conversation begins with the fascinating origin story of DOGS, starting as a simple sketch by Pavel Durov himself for a charity auction supporting orphanages. This meaningful beginning blossomed into a movement that gathered millions of community members in just days and achieved a Binance listing within two months. The narrative then shifts to how stickers serve as powerful onboarding tools for Web2 users entering the blockchain space.
What makes Telegram's digital collectibles truly unique is their built-in utility. Unlike traditional NFTs that struggled with practical applications, these stickers and collectibles integrate seamlessly into users' daily communications. "Collectibles on Telegram have this built-in utility from the get-go. They are very easy to flex, they have their place within the Telegram ecosystem and they always will be," Alex explains.
Perhaps most fascinating is how these digital assets foster genuine community building. Owners of particular stickers have organically created exclusive chat groups, coordinated marketing efforts, produced merchandise, and even arranged real-life meetups. These communities blend crypto veterans with newcomers, facilitating knowledge transfer and creating shared experiences around digital assets—something Alex notes "many meme coins would be jealous to see."
The market performance speaks for itself, with some stickers seeing price increases of up to 44,000% and trading volumes hitting all-time highs on secondary markets. Major collaborations with brands like Pudgy Penguins and Doodles demonstrate the growing appeal of this digital ownership model.
As the TON blockchain ecosystem continues evolving, gaming collectibles emerge as the next frontier, with players already trading rare skins and items even before official marketplaces launch. For entrepreneurs, this represents an unprecedented opportunity to define entirely new categories in an ecosystem where "every product you ship is something entirely new" that could potentially "redefine the whole industry."
This episode was recorded through a Descript call on June 10, 2025. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/telegrams-nft-revolution-the-rise-of-digital-collectibles/