By George Ward
After launching an auction that allows users to buy and sell usernames last month, Telegram is here with another feature.
Telegram has improved its security by adding support for private blockchain-based numbers. The messaging app rolled out the new update this week.
According to reports, Telegram users can now buy blockchain-based private numbers and create a Telegram account. Before now, users need a cell phone number to create an account.
However, the recent update has introduced another option when creating an account on Telegram. Meanwhile, there is already a feature on Telegram that allows users to hide their private numbers from non-friends.
The latest upgrade takes things a step further. Users can now hide their private numbers from all users. This is a great addition for users who value privacy-based features.
Furthermore, version 9.2, which rolled out on December 6th, allows users to delete times in new chats automatically. However, users must buy blockchain-based private numbers to enjoy these features.
They can buy these numbers on Fragment. Pavel Durov, the Telegram creator, is also Fragment’s founder. Fragment is a platform where individuals can buy private numbers and sell usernames.
However, individuals can only use these usernames and private on Telegram. Individuals can make purchases using TON (The Open Network), Telegram’s native token.
Unfortunately, Fragment’s services are unavailable to users in the United States. After buying a number, the user can receive verification codes via text on the number when signing into Telegram.
Crypto Users Should Migrate To Self-hosted Wallets – Durov
Users can spend 9 TON ($16) on Fragment to acquire a random number. Furthermore, they can participate in auctions to sell and buy numbers.
At the time of this article, the highest price for “+888 8 888” was 33,075 TON. This price is equivalent to 60,527 USD. This shows that certain numbers generate more interest among potential buyers than others.
After the FTX saga in November, the creator of Telegram revealed on his Telegram channel that the messaging app is building several decentralized tools. According to Durov, these tools will grant users more privacy and control over their social media accounts.
According to Durov, Telegram plans to launch several new apps soon, including decentralized exchanges and non-custodial wallets.
“The answer to the recent issues in the crypto space is simple. Projects built on blockchain technology should return to their origins, which is decentralization. Crypto users should migrate to self-hosted wallets and trustless transactions so that they are not dependent on third-party platforms,” he added.