A new NFT marketplace built on The Open Network (TON) has launched inside Telegram. Known as MRKT, the platform operates as a native mini app within the messaging service. It allows users to buy, sell, and trade digital collectibles, including Telegram gifts and stickers, directly within chat environments. MRKT was created by an anonymous developer who goes by the name “Tyler Durden,” a Telegram-native developer and digital artist who began experimenting with Telegram bots, mini apps, and NFTs in 2021.

MRKT Launches TON-Based NFT Marketplace

TON-Based NFT Marketplace

According to Durden, the motivation behind MRKT is to bring digital ownership to regular Telegram users. The developer stated that the goal is to integrate collectible experiences into day-to-day Telegram use without requiring users to leave the platform. This vision aligns with Telegram’s recent efforts to promote digital assets, including its own gifts marketplace, which enables users to purchase and exchange digital gifts that function as NFTs on the TON blockchain.

While other TON-based marketplaces such as Fragment and Getgems also operate in the NFT space, MRKT offers a different approach. Telegram’s own gifts marketplace is primarily built for mainstream use and currently only supports Telegram Stars as a payment method. Fragment and Getgems, on the other hand, are fully on-chain platforms. In contrast, MRKT utilizes semi on-chain mechanics to balance performance and user experience. This structure enables faster and more flexible interactions within Telegram while still integrating blockchain features.

MRKT Launches TON-Based NFT Marketplace

Marketplace Features and Functionality

Durden explained that MRKT supports direct TON payments, auctions, multi-item listings, and rarity filters. It also includes integration with TON wallets, providing a smoother experience for users involved in digital collectible trading. These features are designed to encourage more seamless and dynamic transactions within Telegram, supporting both casual users and more engaged collectors.

MRKT launched shortly after Telegram introduced its official gifts marketplace, which has already recorded over $34 million in trading volume, based on data from a Dune analytics dashboard. However, that same dashboard notes that platforms like MRKT, Tonnel, Nest, and Gifton use internal balance systems, meaning that reported volume is based on user deposits and withdrawals rather than actual trades. As such, some trading figures may not fully reflect real market activity.

MRKT Launches TON-Based NFT Marketplace

Adoption, Maintenance, and Future Goals

Durden also shared that over $1 million was spent in the last two months on sending digital gifts to random Telegram users. When asked for verification, they noted that much of the activity occurs via Telegram’s off-chain gifting system. A public dashboard is reportedly being developed to display distribution and volume data.

Telegram gifts, which are NFTs built on TON, are intended to serve social purposes rather than function solely as speculative assets. Users can receive these collectibles in chats, showcase them on their profiles, or trade them. Some gifts are released as limited drops, while others are distributed more widely. Durden described the collectible experience as focused on interaction and personal connection rather than financial speculation.

Max Pertsovskiy, former chief operating officer of the TON Foundation, commented on the emergence of platforms like MRKT. He highlighted the increasing role of TON in supporting Telegram’s native digital economy and pointed to the growing interest in digital gifts and collectibles within the app.

Shortly after its launch, the MRKT app was placed under maintenance, leaving users temporarily unable to access the marketplace. Despite this, the platform quickly attracted attention, and its official Telegram community channel now has more than 359,000 subscribers.

Expanding Beyond Collectibles

Looking ahead, Durden stated that MRKT aims to become a central marketplace for a range of Telegram-native assets, including usernames, domains, and phone numbers, in addition to digital collectibles. The developer emphasized that as Telegram continues to expand, MRKT intends to grow alongside it by supporting a broader range of digital ownership experiences.

MRKT’s launch reflects the ongoing evolution of web3 services within messaging platforms, particularly through the integration of blockchain-based assets like NFTs. By offering a marketplace directly inside Telegram, MRKT seeks to make participation in the digital economy more accessible to a wider audience of users.