What is Fragment and how is it linked to Telegram?

Key points

• Fragment is a blockchain platform from the Telegram team where users can buy and sell profile and channel usernames, anonymous numbers, and Telegram Premium subscriptions.
• All transactions on the platform are settled in Toncoin (TON). Ownership is recorded on the TON blockchain.
• Registration requires a Telegram account and a wallet that supports TON.

What is Fragment?

Fragment is “a non-custodial free exchange platform that allows anyone to safely and anonymously acquire digital collectibles” in the NFT format, according to the terms of use. The platform is operated by Fragment Corp.

As of May 2023, Fragment sells usernames for users and channels, anonymous numbers, and Telegram Premium subscriptions.

All deals on the platform are conducted in the Toncoin (TON) cryptocurrency.

Ownership titles to identifiers are anchored on the TON blockchain. The Fragment website specifies that these rights cannot be revoked by the platform or the messenger, and purchases are non-refundable.

The project’s developers cannot restore access to a TON wallet or items lost in it. Fragment does not guarantee that Telegram will not block a channel or profile for violating the messenger’s rules or the laws of certain countries.

How did Fragment come about?

In May 2020, Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced the closure of the Telegram Open Network project due to a legal dispute with America’s Securities and Exchange Commission and a ban on distributing Gram tokens.

After that, several independent teams continued to work on a blockchain based on the project’s code. Among them were Free TON (renamed Everscale), a Chinese project from the TON Community, and NewTON.

The latter launched the NewTON Blockchain testnet in May 2020. In August 2021, the TON team transferred the ton.org domain and the GitHub repository to the project, which changed its name to The Open Network.

In December 2021, Durov publicly supported the developers of this network. In August 2022, the Telegram CEO announced a marketplace based on the TON blockchain.

Fragment launched on October 27, 2022. Durov said that a team of five people (including himself) worked on the platform for five weeks. According to him, in less than the first month, usernames worth $50 million were sold on Fragment.

What can you buy on Fragment?

Initially, Fragment sold only usernames for Telegram users and channels. As of May 2023, the priciest lots are:

• @news — 994,000 TON (~$1.67 million at the time of the deal);
• @auto — 900,000 TON (~$1.47 million);
• @bank — 850,000 TON (~$1.39 million);
• @avia — 800,000 TON (~$1.25 million);
• @chat — 700,000 TON (~$1.09 million);
• @king — 675,000 TON (~$1.2 million);
• @fifa — 600,000 TON (~$984,000);
• @game — 500,000 TON (~$800,000);
• @sber — 471,000 TON (~$847,000);
• @meta — 404,000 TON (~$723,000).

In December 2022, Telegram added the ability to register an account without a SIM card using blockchain-based anonymous numbers and launched their sale on Fragment.

Among the most expensive anonymous numbers:

• +888 8 888 — 300,000 TON (~$684,000 at the time of the deal);
• +888 8 177 — 60,000 TON (~$133,000);
• +888 1111 1111 — 52,500 TON (~$126,000);
• +888 8 017 — 51,000 TON (~$116,000);
• +888 0000 0000 — 50,000 TON (~$114,000).

In March 2023, Fragment added the option to pay for Telegram Premium. Prices depend on the subscription term and the TON exchange rate:

How do I sign up for Fragment?

You can monitor lots on Fragment without registering. To bid and to sell usernames, you need to sign in.

To register, you need a Telegram account and a wallet that supports TON (the site recommends the Tonkeeper app). To link your messenger profile, click Connect Telegram in the top-right corner of the site, enter your phone number, and approve the permissions.

The recommended Tonkeeper app can be downloaded from the App Store. Select “Create a new wallet”, then write down the “secret key”. Next, the app asks you to confirm the seed phrase and set a PIN code for quick sign-in.

Then click Connect TON in the top-right corner of the site, scan the QR code with the app (the icon in the top-right of the homepage), and confirm linking your wallet to Fragment.

You are now authorised on Fragment with Telegram and a TON wallet. This will let you place bids and list your own usernames for auction.

How to list a username on a Fragment auction?

Auctions on Fragment are anonymous. Users see only part of the address of the bidder. Auction-related notifications arrive in Telegram via the platform’s bot, which is activated during registration.

All usernames and anonymous numbers can be sorted by four criteria:

• price — high to low;
• price — low to high;
• recently listed;
• ending soon.

To list an identifier at auction, click your nickname in the top-right corner of the Fragment site and select My Usernames. A list of addresses you own will appear. Select a username and click Place on Auction.

A warning will appear that you can cancel the auction at any time before the first bid. After the auction ends, you will receive the amount in Toncoin (TON) minus a 5% platform commission and a one-time fee of 5 TON.

Below, Fragment prompts you to set a minimum bid.

To buy a username, you need to win an auction; to participate, you must acquire TON tokens. Select the desired identifier and click it — a window will appear to place a bid.

After entering the amount, Fragment will prompt you to scan a QR code in the app. Once your bid is accepted, wait for the auction to end. If a higher bid appears, the Fragment bot will notify you in Telegram. If you are outbid, the funds are returned to your TON wallet.