Snoop Dogg Sparks NFT Revival with $12 Million Telegram Drop
Snoop Dogg is once again proving he’s not just a hip-hop icon—he’s a digital innovator. According to TMZ, the West Coast legend shook up the blockchain world this week with a groundbreaking NFT release that sold nearly a million digital collectibles in under 30 minutes. The drop, hosted on Telegram’s TON blockchain, raised an eye-popping $12 million and has reignited excitement in a space that many had already written off.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm the numbers: 996,000 animated tokens were snapped up in a flash. He added that minting and secondary trading will go live in 21 days, signaling more activity to come as the hype continues to build.
The digital collectibles—called Telegram Gifts—perfectly channel Snoop’s unmistakable style. They feature everything from vintage lowrider animations and smoke-filled visuals to cartoonish pups and branded swag bags. More than just digital art, these NFTs double as animated profile visuals and can be exchanged for Stars, Telegram’s in-app currency.
To boost the buzz, Snoop released a new single aptly titled “Gifts,” accompanied by a music video showcasing the collectibles. It’s a clever fusion of music, branding, and blockchain that offers fans a truly immersive experience.
The drop couldn’t have come at a better time. NFT markets have been in a slump throughout 2025. According to Cointelegraph, global NFT sales plunged 61% in Q1 of this year—falling from $4.1 billion to just $1.5 billion. CryptoSlam reported a 41% dip in monthly volume and a 55% drop in transactions. But this latest wave of enthusiasm around Telegram Gifts suggests that there’s still strong demand for innovative, artist-driven digital assets.
Zenith, NFT lead at TON, reminded followers on X that Telegram Gifts aren’t brand new. The concept debuted in January with a release called “Plush Pepe.” However, Zenith praised Snoop’s drop as a possible “start of a new NFT narrative.” While he cautioned against expecting immediate market movement, he applauded the utility of animated gifts and hinted that major Web3 players could soon follow Snoop’s lead.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if other big brands or Web3 properties jump in,” Zenith said. “But will they? I don’t know yet. I love to speculate.”
This isn’t Snoop’s first foray into the digital collectible space. In June 2023, he launched the Snoop Passport Series, offering fans exclusive content and behind-the-scenes access. Before that, he introduced The Doggies in 2022, a collection of metaverse avatars created for The Sandbox. Each drop has leaned into Snoop’s strengths as both a trendsetter and a storyteller, combining music, visuals, and community in unique ways.
But the Telegram drop feels different—more mainstream, more accessible, and more directly integrated into a platform that already has millions of users. By fusing his brand with messaging, music, and cryptocurrency in one ecosystem, Snoop is delivering a seamless digital experience that could point the way forward for other artists and creators.
With minting and trading for these collectibles set to go live in a few weeks, all eyes are now on how the market responds. Will resale values soar? Will more artists hop on board? And most importantly, will this moment mark the true rebound of the NFT space?
If anyone can make it happen, it’s Snoop Dogg. His ability to stay ahead of the curve—not just in music but in tech—continues to shape the conversation. For now, “Gifts” and Telegram’s latest drop prove that digital art still has room to evolve. And in Snoop’s world, evolution comes with a whole lot of style.
