Zenith — a content creator and NFT Lead for the TON Foundation — has become one of the most trusted and visible voices in the emerging world of Telegram Gifts. In this interview, he shares his personal journey: from discovering NFTs on TikTok to diving deep into TON and becoming a Telegram Gifts believer.
From TikTok to Paladin Pandas
How did your journey in the world of NFTs begin?
I started back in 2021, right as the NFT bull run was heating up. Believe it or not, my first NFT discovery came from TikTok — it was a collection called Paladin Pandas.
At the time, people were calling it a scam (as usual, right?), but I got curious and jumped into their Discord to grind for a whitelist spot.I minted two NFTs at 0.03 ETH each — about $90–$100 at the time. One I sold for 0.09 ETH, the other for 0.25 ETH.
That moment hooked me. But just to be clear — I wasn’t profitable again for the next two months.
That early phase taught him to separate hype from value — a skill that later helped in navigating TON.
Discovering TON in Lisbon
When did you first discover the TON ecosystem?
In June 2024 at NFC Lisbon — just three days after the Notcoin airdrop. A friend showed me the Telegram-integrated TON Wallet and I was blown away.
Coming from MetaMask and browser wallets, this felt like the future. A few taps and you’re in — no Chrome extension, no friction.
That’s when I realized: this is how you onboard Web2 users into Web3.
Creating Content Around TON
Do you follow a strategy as TON’s NFT Lead?
Everything I post — threads, tweets, deep dives — I write myself. No calendar, no team behind it. I just respond to what’s happening in the ecosystem.
The only time I synced with the team was for a trading volume post. I asked them to build a dashboard, and used it for a breakdown. That’s it. Everything else? 100% self-initiated.
That First Telegram Gift Drop
What was your first reaction to Telegram NFT Gifts?
I remember it perfectly — January 3rd, I was in London riding the metro with my partner. Telegram dropped a video about upgradable NFT gifts.
I saw Durov’s message and was instantly hyped.
That evening I wrote a full deep dive for X — my first article ever. You can still find it online.From that moment, I knew: Telegram Gifts were here to stay.
Favorite Collections and Why
Were there specific collections you were drawn to — or was it overwhelming?
Honestly? A bit of both. There are so many models and collections. I usually follow what I personally like and what I think has mass appeal.
For example, I’ve always loved Swiss Watches. I bought my first ones for just 6 TON. They reminded me of Rolex-style pieces. I know a lot of KOLs love flexing watches and cars — so it just made sense.
(And no, none of this is financial advice.)
Advice to Newcomers
What would you say to someone just discovering Telegram Gifts?
It might feel tricky at first. The UI, the wallets, the collections — it can be overwhelming.
But here’s the thing: if it were easy, everyone would already be here.I had the same feeling in 2021 when I started with NFTs. For two months I wasn’t profitable and could’ve easily quit. But I didn’t.
So my advice is: keep going, keep exploring, and don’t stop.
Explore Telegram Gifts
Want to try Telegram Gifts for yourself?
Check out marketplaces like GetGems.io or explore our curated gift market list.
FAQ
Who is Zenith?
A content creator and NFT Lead at TON Foundation, known for his deep involvement in Telegram-native gifting and collectibles.
What are Telegram Gifts?
Digital collectibles sent through Telegram bots. Many can be upgraded into NFTs, stored in wallets, and traded on TON-based platforms.
Where can I explore them?
Try GetGems or browse bots and platforms on our marketplace overview.