Usernames
A Telegram username like @news is not only an address. It can be turned into an NFT: an asset
you own on TON Blockchain, that you can hold, transfer, or sell to someone else.
That is what makes short, memorable names worth money. @bank and @bank_official_2024 point at
channels that work identically, but only one of them is worth anything to a buyer.
Where the value comes from
Section titled “Where the value comes from”Three things, roughly in order of how much they matter:
- Length. Short wins. Four and five letter names are the ones collectors chase.
- Whether it is a real word.
@grambeats@grm, and a common noun beats a made-up string. - Whether anyone needs it. A name matching a live brand, ticker or category has an obvious buyer.
A name is sold at auction, so what it is “worth” is simply what the highest bidder pays on the day.
What you can do here
Section titled “What you can do here”Sell a username you own
Section titled “Sell a username you own”If you own a channel or group with a good name, you can auction that username as an NFT. You keep the channel, its members and its history. Only the name is sold, and the payout reaches your wallet in GRAM.
Not miss an auction you are bidding on
Section titled “Not miss an auction you are bidding on”If you are buying rather than selling, the usual way to lose a name is simply not noticing you were outbid. Hoton can watch the auctions you are bidding on and message you the moment that happens, whichever wallet or account you bid from.
A note on what can be sold
Section titled “A note on what can be sold”Only channel and group usernames can be minted. A personal account username cannot, because it is tied to your account rather than to something transferable.
The channel also has to be at least 14 days old, and there is a further rule about how long the name has been attached to it that catches a lot of people out. Both are covered in the minting guide.