Blockchain-oriented social media platform Telegram has introduced a new feature that allows users to create accounts using anonymous blockchain-based numbers instead of mobile numbers.
Telegram Introduces Non-Sim Signups
The popular messaging app Telegram is discarding its compulsory sign-up requirement of a mobile phone number, announcing that users can now sign up with blockchain-powered anonymous numbers.
Sponsored
To signup without phone numbers, Telegram requires users to purchase “blockchain-powered anonymous numbers” from Fragment, a decentralized auction platform founded by Telegram creator Pavel Durov.
Purchases on Fragment are made via Telegram’s affiliated token, The Open Network (TON). Currently, this feature is unavailable to United States users as Fragment doesn’t offer its services in the region.
A Big Bet on Blockchain Tech
Telegram continues its bet on blockchain tech, recently announcing plans to launch decentralized cryptocurrency products. These products include a decentralized crypto exchange (DEX) and a non-custodial wallet.
In building its blockchain ecosystem, Telegram has emphasized the need for decentralization. Durov stated that “blockchain-based projects should go back to their roots – decentralization.”
On the Flipside
- A recent report shows that the hacker DEV-0139 has leveraged Telegram group chats to target crypto investment funds and wealthy investors.
Why You Should Care
The new feature increases the privacy and security of Telegram, which previously hid people’s phone numbers from users not on their contact list.
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