On May 23, 2025, Telegram rolled out a new feature aimed at curbing refund abuse schemes, aligning its marketplace more closely with transparent platforms like Steam.
As anticipated, the update imposes a 21-day holding period before gifts can be transferred or sold after their purchase or initial transfer. This measure targets exploitative practices where users might buy gifts, use them briefly, and then request refunds, often harming other users or the platform’s integrity.
The new rules establish clear timelines: gifts purchased over 21 days ago face a three-week hold before they can be transferred again. Paid transfers, costing 25 stars, shorten this to a two-week hold, while reselling through Telegram’s marketplace reverts to the full three-week hold.
Notably, the holding period persists even for items returned via the blockchain, ensuring consistency across all transactions. These restrictions are designed to deter refund scams, fostering a more reliable trading environment for Telegram’s expanding user base.
Telegram has not yet released official documentation on gift transfers, leaving users to piece together the limits through trial and error.
The lack of formal guidelines creates some ambiguity, but the structure mirrors successful anti-fraud systems on other platforms, indicating Telegram’s commitment to addressing misuse.
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By implementing these delays, Telegram aims to build a more trustworthy marketplace, potentially encouraging broader adoption of its in-app economy.
As the platform evolves, users can expect further clarification and possible refinements to these policies in the coming weeks.
