Snoop Dogg Sells Nearly 1M NFTs on Telegram, Nets $12M in 30 Minutes

• Snoop Dogg sold nearly 1 million NFTs on Telegram using TON blockchain’s new digital gifts feature.
• The NFTs can be displayed on Telegram profiles and converted into Stars, boosting their social utility.

It took just 30 minutes for Snoop Dogg to prove that NFTs haven’t lost their appeal. Using the Telegram Gifts feature, connected to the TON blockchain, the iconic rapper managed to sell around 996,000 NFTs. The profit? Around $12 million straight into his pocket—enough to buy a small island if he wanted.

The NFTs he launched weren’t just fun, but also had a social function on Telegram—they could be displayed on profiles or exchanged for Stars, a sort of in-app currency.

@SnoopDogg’s digital collectibles drop on Telegram sold out in just 30 minutes today, generating $12M in sales. Nearly 1M unique NFTs inspired by Snoop’s iconic style. Blockchain minting and the secondary market go live in 21 days. It’s going to be wild. pic.twitter.com/DeinT5C2f4

— Pavel Durov (@durov) July 9, 2025

Snoop Dogg Blends Lifestyle and Tech in Telegram NFT Blitz

The collection itself was inspired by Snoop’s lifestyle: vintage cars, marijuana, swag bags, and even digital dogs. Everything was combined in a quirky yet distinctive visual style. To add to the buzz, he also released a new song called “Gifts,” which is full of Telegram references, including founder Pavel Durov.

This song was clearly no coincidence, but part of a well-packaged launch package. According to the TON team, this move wasn’t just about selling, but about building a new way to enjoy and use NFTs. And the result? It was a hit.

Furthermore, this all happened at a time when the NFT market was in decline. According to data from the first quarter of 2025, NFT trading volume actually dropped by around 61%. Yet, oddly enough, projects like Snoop’s remained highly sought after.

Many are starting to wonder if the future of NFTs might no longer be about price speculation, but about their social role and integration into the platforms we already use.

Beyond Hype: NFTs Are Finding Real-World Purpose and Utility

On the other hand, the NFT world isn’t just fueled by Snoop’s actions. The CNF previously highlighted how TravelX and Algorand have partnered over the past four years. Through this collaboration, TravelX has created over 17 million NFT flight tickets, also known as “NFTickets.” This is further evidence that NFTs are starting to be used for more meaningful purposes—not just for cute collectibles or 3D avatars.

Speaking of avatars, last April another big name also resurfaced: Shaquille O’Neal. The former NBA star finally agreed to settle a lawsuit related to the Astrals project—a 3D avatar-based NFT and DAO token he’d been promoting since 2022.

Despite actively supporting the project even after FTX’s collapse, Shaq remains embroiled in the lawsuit for allegedly acting like a “seller” under securities law.

And that same month, the PSG football club also joined the fray by launching a super-exclusive Silver Card based on the Matchain blockchain. Fans with this card can gain special access, including pitch-side viewing, private dinners, and joining the global PSG community. Oh yes, all of this is packaged in the form of a tradable NFT. So, it’s not just access; it can also be resold if you get bored.