Post #10540

NFT-Gifts on the Blockchain Are Not Immune to Invalidation Even after being minted as NFTs and sent to the TON blockchain, upgraded Telegram gifts can unexpectedly revert to regular status or become completely unusable within the app. This problematic 'downgrade' occurs when the stars initially used to acquire or enhance the gift are refunded. How does this happen? Consider a scenario where a user purchases stars via platforms like the App Store or Google Play, then uses them to buy or upgrade a gift. If, after 21 days, this gift is moved to the TON blockchain as an NFT, and the user subsequently obtains a refund for the stars, Telegram will mark the gift as invalid. This means it can no longer be displayed on a profile, used as a status, or transferred within Telegram. Crucially, the NFT itself will persist in the user's blockchain wallet. A similar issue arises when stars are procured through unreliable third-party services or P2P transactions. Should the original seller initiate a refund, the gift is likewise 'burned' or invalidated. Why is this a concern for buyers? Despite losing its utility within Telegram, the invalidated gift remains as an NFT and can be listed for sale on marketplaces such as Fragment.com and Getgems.io. The critical flaw is that these platforms often lack warnings about the gift's invalid status in Telegram, potentially deceiving buyers who assume full in-app functionality.