Fragment

Fragment is a decentralized digital marketplace for buying, selling, and trading digital assets using blockchain technology. Launched in October 2022 by the founder of the Telegram messaging app, Pavel Durov, Fragment operates on The Open Network (TON), a blockchain initially developed by the Telegram team. Users can connect to Fragment using their Telegram account or any TON-compatible wallet.

Fragment Home Page

Platform Overview

Fragment's marketplace is divided into four primary categories:

Usernames
Virtual Numbers
Telegram Premium Subscriptions
Telegram Ads

1. Usernames

Fragment allows users to trade unique Telegram usernames as digital collectibles. These usernames are tokenized on TON blockchain, ensuring verifiable ownership. Users can:

Search for available or sold-out usernames
Participate in username auctions
Place bids or subscribe to auction updates

As of June 2024, some of the highest-selling usernames include:

«news» — 994,000 TON
«auto» — 900,000 TON
«bank» — 850,000 TON
«avia» — 800,000 TON

Users can sort usernames by price, recency, or auction end time. When a user clicks on a specific username, they can access:

Current auction status
Bid history: A chronological list of all bids placed, including amounts and timestamps
Ownership history: A record of all past owners and the duration they held the username, providing transparency and potentially influencing the username's value based on its previous owners.
Owners of basic Telegram usernames can convert them to collectibles by logging into Fragment with their Telegram and TON accounts, selecting the username, and setting a minimum bid. Once listed, the username remains available for auction indefinitely until the first bid starts a 7-day auction.

2. Anonymous Numbers

Fragment also serves as a marketplace for anonymous Telegram phone numbers, which start with the prefix +888. These numbers can be used for Telegram logins, providing an additional layer of privacy. Key points include:

Numbers are available only through auctions on Fragment
Direct sales of these numbers ended in 2022
As of June 2024, the most expensive number sold is +888 8 888 for 300,000 TON, followed by +888 8 000 for 130,000 TON

Anonymous Numbers

3.Telegram Premium Subscriptions

Users can purchase Telegram Premium subscriptions through Fragment. These can be:

For personal use
As gifts for other users
As giveaways to channel members to boost channel engagement.

4. Telegram Ads

Fragment integrates with Telegram's advertising system, allowing users to:

Run ads on Telegram channels
Earn revenue by displaying ads on their channels

For advertisers:

Complete traffic insights are provided
Payment can be made in cryptocurrency

For channel owners:

50% of ad revenue goes to the channel owner
Monetization can be enabled via the channel's profile page

Telegram Ads

Telegram Connection

The involvement of Telegram's founders, Pavel and Nikolai Durov, in launching Fragment is notable. Telegram, with its large user base and reputation for privacy-focused messaging, brings significant attention to the platform. Its unique features include TON blockchain integration, a focus on Telegram-related assets

Conclusion

Fragment combines digital collectibles, blockchain technology, and social media assets by tokenizing Telegram usernames and phone numbers, creating a new market for digital identities. Its success will depend on several factors:

Growth of Telegram's user base
Adoption of TON
Evolving landscape of digital ownership and cryptocurrencies
Integration with Telegram's premium features and advertising system embeds Fragment into the Telegram ecosystem, offering new revenue streams for users, content creators, and advertisers. This symbiotic relationship could drive adoption of both Fragment and TON.
Fragment provides a unique opportunity to own part of the Telegram ecosystem. However, due diligence and understanding the risks are essential when dealing with speculative blockchain-based assets.

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