While traditional NFT markets attract less interest and venture capital funds are diminishing for many blockchain projects tied to gaming, gambling, and collectibles, the TON blockchain is slowly redefining that space. It is quietly recasting itself from an unfunded, unregulated, and lifeless project into something that’s seemingly unexpected: a leading NFT platform. TON Defies the NFT Downtrend with Record User Activity Although numerous voices are saying that “NFT season” is over because hype and funding from venture capitalists have ebbed, the blockchain TON is showing that there can still be real innovation and integration in the space that yields actual user growth. This emerging ecosystem has been driving substantial user adoption, growing to an average of over 5,000 daily NFT traders over the past 30 days. This is an impressive figure—especially in light of a market that has retraced more than 70% from its all-time high. Throughout many days this month, TON has emerged as the top blockchain when it comes to not just active users, but also NFT users. In fact, on some days, we’ve surpassed the total not just of one blockchain, but of eleven blockchain combined—that’s the one spike we can talk about that is not a spike at all. The natural home of TON NFTs is on Telegram, and that’s where our activity is most consistent. TON now leads all chains in unique NFT traders and has, on several days this month, surpassed the combined total of the next 11 chains. Even more surprising: Polygon still has ~500 users. It's like finding people still renting DVDs from the last remaining Blockbuster. pic.twitter.com/OvaB7t5bZM — Simon (@skilllevel7) May 26, 2025 Everyday users—not just collectors or flippers—power TON’s NFT ecosystem. The blockchain is offering real, usable digital assets tied to Telegram-based products, like digital gifts, anonymous phone numbers, and usernames. These integrations create seriously sticky use cases for TON’s NFTs that extend well beyond any kind of speculative value, helping to solidify the blockchain’s place as a pioneer in the next generation of NFT creation and adoption. $35M in Volume and a Solid Foundation for the Future Gift trading is one of the most compelling new innovations happening in the TON NFT space. When a user sends a Telegram Gift, it effectively is an NFT, but not quite yet. To become full-fledged NFTs, the Gifts must be held for 21 days and then are eligible to be converted into NFTs. The price point for these Gifts is not too high, which enables more people to participate. Hence, the Gifts, once converted, could be seen as being almost democratizing some aspect of NFT ownership. TON has also achieved top-tier rankings in terms of trading volume: On-chain NFT trading volume: 3rd place Off-chain data included: 2nd place BREAKING: TON Blockchain released an official dune dashboard analysing TON on chain NFT activity! – TON ranks 1st for daily active NFT traders! – TON ranks 3rd for on chain NFT Trading Volume! – TON ranks 2nd for NFT Trading Volume when we include off chain data! pic.twitter.com/ZlVyaFDsgD — Zenith 🩶 (@ZenithTON) May 23, 2025 Although on-chain volume is the industry standard for assessing activity, it would be a mistake to disregard off-chain trades taking place on platforms such as Telegram. In fact, many of these trades occur within the cozy confines of the Telegram ecosystem, and they are so smooth and so number-rich that they completely collapse any distinct boundary between social interaction and digital asset exchange. TON’s task now is to bring more of this activity completely on-chain. Doing so would confer greater transparency and yield more discernible metrics for market analysts and investors. It would also render even more solidified TON’s dominance in NFT infrastructure and convert its legitimacy as an ecosystem into something even more inarguable. Telegram-Driven NFTs Offer Unique Utility and Mass Reach In contrast to several other NFT systems that base their allure largely on either artificial scarcity or celebrity endorsements, TON has proven the NFT tool effective in genuinely attracting users—and for what are, in our view, genuinely good user reasons. The NFT narratives work for our Telegram user base. At least, that’s our impression. Gifts on Telegram – Digital gifts that can be traded and that become NFTs after 21 days. Anonymous Numbers on Telegram – NFTs associated with temporary phone numbers for users who want to maintain their privacy. Usernames on Telegram – The digital equivalent of names that can be traded and that also become NFTs. These stories are imaginative and also functionally useful—a rarity in a sector that frequently suffers from lack of real-world application. Embed NFT utility into a platform already used by hundreds of millions around the globe, and you sidestep a good chunk of the adoption problem that other chains have. Since April, the network has reliably recorded more than $1 million in everyday NFT trading volume, with figures heading even higher toward May. This is a sign of more than just short-lived intrigue; it’s proof of a real and robust NFT ecosystem built on earnest involvement and steady expansion. Conclusion While the rest of the activity and tired investors decline, NFT market, TON is writing its own story. By clarifying through blockchain and social media utility married with Telegram, it is creating a compelling new model for the NFT relevance and longevity. And as we in the industry shift toward the practical use cases and away from the model we worked from during the bull market, TON isn’t just surviving as a web3 project. It’s leading. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !
