Paid Messages and Star Withdrawals Arrive in Telegram Beta

The Telegram beta version has introduced new features related to Stars, the platform’s internal currency.

The update includes paid messages, the ability to withdraw Stars, and the option to use them for Telegram Premium subscriptions.

Paid Messages

Telegram Premium users can now set a price for sending messages in private chats.

• Pricing can be adjusted in Settings › Privacy › Messages.
• The fee applies per message, not for initiating a chat.
• Contacts and users you message first are exempt, and you can choose specific groups to exclude.
• 85% of Stars from paid messages go to the user setting the price, while Telegram takes a 15% commission.

Paid messaging can also be enabled in groups via permission settings.

Star Withdrawals

A new “My Stars” section now allows users to withdraw their balance through Fragment, with payouts made in TON cryptocurrency.

Paying for Telegram Premium with Stars

Users can now gift Telegram Premium using Stars, with traditional currency payments still available. Subscription pricing:

• 3 months – 1,000 Stars
• 6 months – 1,500 Stars
• 12 months – 2,500 Stars

Pinned Gifts in Profiles

Users can now pin gifts to their profile, keeping them at the top of the list. Gift order customization has also been introduced.

Sender Information for Unknown Contacts

When receiving messages from unknown users, Telegram will now display:

• Whether they’re in your contacts
• Their country
• Registration date
• Mutual groups
• Verification status

According to Pavel Durov, this update aims to help users protect themselves from scammers.

These features are still in testing but are expected to roll out in an upcoming Telegram update.