Key Takeaways:
- Snoop Dog managed to sell about 1 million NFTs in less than half an hour, earning a $ 12 million!
- Known as Telegram Gifts, these NFTs can be used as digital profile items or exchanged for in-app money.
- With recent slumps in the NFT space, this event might signal the start of a new wave of interest and growth.
A Major Boost for NFTs: Snoop Dogg’s Telegram Drop
Snoop Dogg has once again shaken up the digital collectibles space this time on Telegram.
His latest drop of nearly 996,000 animated NFTs sold out in just half an hour, generating an impressive $12 million in revenue.
Built on the TON (The Open Network) blockchain, the collection was eagerly scooped up by fans and collectors, reflecting renewed interest in a market that had been steadily cooling.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov confirmed the success via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that blockchain minting and the secondary market for these assets would go live in about three weeks.
What Makes Telegram Gifts Different?
Unlike standard NFTs that mostly sit in wallets or marketplaces, Telegram Gifts offer direct user interaction.
Holders can display these digital items on their Telegram profiles or convert them into Stars, the app’s internal currency.
The collectibles reflect Snoop Dogg’s signature style ranging from stylized digital puppies and classic cars to items with cannabis-related iconography and themed swag bags.
This blend of visual flair and social functionality gives the NFTs a unique appeal that extends beyond just financial speculation.
A Slumping Market Finds a Spark?
The broader NFT market has been in a decline for months.
Cointelegraph reports that NFT trading volume dropped from $4.1 billion to $1.5 billion in Q1 2025, a 61% decrease from the same period the year before.
More recent data from CryptoSlam revealed a 41% drop in activity over the past month and a 55% fall in overall transactions.
Snoop’s successful launch could be the sign the space has been waiting for.
Industry observers are already suggesting this might kick off a fresh NFT cycle especially if other big names follow suit.
Snoop Dogg: A Web3 Pioneer
This isn’t Snoop’s first foray into NFTs. He’s long been a notable figure in the Web3 world:
- He collaborated with The Sandbox to introduce the “Doggies” collection in 2022.
- A year later, he introduced the Snoop Dogg Passport Series, giving holders exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content, digital perks, and more.
Thanks to his consistent presence in the NFT space, Snoop has built credibility and a following that most celebrity-led Web3 efforts lack.
His projects typically generate not just hype, but lasting engagement.
A New Era for Telegram and Web3?
The Telegram Gifts feature has been active since January 2025, with earlier drops like Plush Pepe.
However, Snoop Dogg’s record-breaking release has clearly elevated the concept.
According to “Genith”, on NFT lead ton, it can be a significant turn:
“This could be the start of a new NFT narrative… I wouldn’t be surprised if more major brands jumped on board.”
As secondary trading opens in the coming weeks, a few critical questions remain:
- Will resale activity drive even higher valuations?
- Can other celebrities emulate this model successfully?
- How will Telegram evolve its Web3 integration for future campaigns?
Whatever the answers, one thing is clear: Snoop Dogg’s latest venture may have just sparked the beginning of the next big NFT wave.
