Durov Marks Birthday Celebration with Special Gift

To mark his 40th birthday celebration, Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov has launched three Special edition gift collections.

Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram’s widely used encrypted messaging platform, commemorates his 40th birthday by introducing a limited-edition “Gift.” The digital stickers enable users to acquire, transmit, and receive Stars from their friends and family on special occasions.

Durov announced the release of this new limited edition gift set on Friday via Telegram, stating that the popular BirthdayCollection emoji pack inspired it. Three exclusive characters comprise the new set, intended to commemorate his milestone and provide Telegram users with a fun and interactive experience.

Telegram’s Limited Edition Gift Sold Out in a Single Day

The “Gift” feature was initially introduced by Telegram on October 5, 2024, and it quickly gained popularity. The entire inventory was sold out within 24 hours of launching the first two limited-edition gifts—500,000 lollipops and 100,000 cherry blossom icons.

In a subsequent post on October 6, Durov recognized the extreme demand for the new products. He stated, “We were not anticipating that to occur at such a rapid pace.” He also mentioned that Telegram’s team was already developing updates to manage sold-out products more effectively.

Durov also suggested that Telegram intends to enhance the functionality of the “Gift” feature. He disclosed that users can convert their limited-edition gifts into non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on The Open Network (TON) blockchain by the end of the year. This would allow users to tokenize their digital gifts, which could be traded or auctioned on external blockchain platforms.

Durov’s Career Highlights and Obstacles

Durov’s 40th birthday coincides with Telegram’s 11th anniversary, marking a significant milestone for the platform and its founder. Telegram, introduced in 2013, has become one of the most frequently used messaging applications worldwide, with more than 950 million active users worldwide.

The platform has gained a devoted following due to its unwavering dedication to privacy, security, and encrypted communication, particularly in regions where free speech is imperiled.

Nevertheless, Durov’s journey has not been without its obstacles. Before establishing Telegram, he created VKontakte (VK), Russia’s largest social network. However, his departure from VK in 2014 was accompanied by controversy, as tensions between Durov and Russian authorities regarding data privacy and freedom of expression resulted in his departure.

Throughout the development of Telegram into the privacy-focused platform it is today, Durov has maintained these values of privacy and accessible communication at the core of his ethos.

Arrest of Telegram’s Founder in France

Nevertheless, Telegram has encountered criticism on numerous occasions. The platform has been subjected to criticism for facilitating communication among groups involved in illegal activities, resulting in temporary bans in countries such as Iran and Russia. Durov was recently apprehended in Paris for violating privacy regulations, further intensifying Telegram’s global scrutiny.

Durov’s most recent legal challenges have exposed the platform to a broader range of scrutiny in numerous jurisdictions, such as India and South Korea, where privacy concerns and regulatory challenges are intensifying.

Meanwhile, the arrest of Telegram’s founder in Paris has sparked discussions regarding the equilibrium between regulatory compliance and privacy. Critics contend that Telegram’s encrypted communication tools present obstacles for law enforcement.