Fragment drops mandatory KYC for Telegram Stars and Premium purchases

Fragment stopped requiring identity verification for purchases of Telegram Stars, Telegram Premium and other services overnight on November 2, Durov’s Code has found.

Users can once again make these purchases without completing Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. Fragment has not officially announced the change.

The verification section has also disappeared from the website. Links that previously led to account settings and the KYC process now redirect users to the homepage.

Fragment introduced mandatory identity checks in November 2024. To purchase Telegram Stars and other services, users had to provide an email address, phone number, government-issued ID and a photo of their face. Verification was handled by third-party provider Sumsub.

The reason for the change remains unclear. Neither Fragment nor Telegram has publicly commented on it.