If you’ve been accumulating Telegram Stars, you might be wondering how to cash them out or utilize them to the fullest. This guide will show you how to withdraw your Stars and explore all the things you can do with them.

Whether you earned Stars through group or channel subscriptions or other in-app activities, the withdrawal and exchange process is the same for everyone.

What Are Telegram Stars?

Telegram Stars are a virtual in-app currency introduced by Telegram that enables creators to monetize their content and users to make in-app purchases. They function similar to points in a game or platform – users can buy Stars or earn them by participating in certain activities within Telegram.

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For instance, channel owners can earn Stars when users react to their posts with a star or pay for exclusive content and subscriptions using Stars. Essentially, Stars allow fans to support their favorite channels and bots, while giving creators a new revenue stream within Telegram’s ecosystem.

You can use Telegram Stars to purchase digital goods and services, send gifts or tips to creators, and access premium features in channels or bots. Importantly, remember that transactions made with Stars are final – there are no refunds or reversals on star payments. Always double-check details before spending or withdrawing Stars, and keep your Telegram account secure (enable Two-Step Verification, strong password, etc.), because control of your Stars is tied to your account’s security.

Also note that according to Telegram’s terms, any Stars you earn remain under Telegram’s control (not on a public blockchain) until you convert them, and Stars expire after 3 years if not used. By staying informed and cautious, you can safely enjoy the benefits of Stars in the Telegram ecosystem.

How to Withdraw Your Telegram Stars

If you have accumulated some Stars (for example, by running a recurring-revenue business with InviteMember, where users pay you in Stars), you may want to withdraw them for real value.

Telegram allows you to convert earned Stars into Toncoin (TON), the cryptocurrency of The Open Network, via the Fragment platform. From there, TON can be held, used, or exchanged for fiat currency.

Before you begin the withdrawal process, make sure you meet these withdrawal prerequisites:

  • Minimum Balance: You need at least 1,000 Stars in your balance to initiate a withdrawal. Check your channel or subscription bot’s settings (in the Stars section) to see your current balance. If you earned Stars through an InviteMember subscription bot, the balance will be shown in the bot’s settings.
  • Waiting Period: Newly earned Stars become eligible for withdrawal 21 days after you receive them. This built-in waiting period means if you just earned some Stars, you’ll have to wait three weeks before those particular Stars can be cashed out. Mark the date or check the eligibility in your Stars revenue stats, or your InviteMember web dashboard, so you know when withdrawal is possible.
  • Regional Availability: Ensure that TON (Toncoin) and the Fragment platform are available in your country before proceeding. In some regions, access to cryptocurrency services can be restricted.

Once you have at least 1,000 withdrawable Stars and the waiting period has passed, follow these steps to withdraw your Telegram Stars:

  1. Open the Withdrawal Menu: Go to your channel’s Settings (or bot’s admin interface) and find the Stars section. There should be an option to Withdraw or Payout your Stars through Fragment. (On Telegram’s side, this actually generates a special withdrawal link via Fragment.) Select the withdraw option – you’ll be prompted to continue the process on the Fragment website.
  2. Connect to Fragment: The withdrawal is handled through Telegram’s official partner platform, Fragment. When prompted, log in to the Fragment site with your Telegram account and connect your TON wallet. If you don’t already have a TON (Toncoin) wallet, you’ll need to create one (for example, using TON Space or another TON-compatible wallet app) and connect it. This wallet is where your converted Toncoin will be delivered.
  3. Check the Exchange Rate: Take note of the exchange rate for Stars to Toncoin (or Stars to USD) at the time of withdrawal. Telegram uses a fixed rate at the moment you initiate the withdrawal. At the time of writing, 1 Star is roughly valued at $0.013 USD (approximately $13 per 1,000 Stars). This rate can be updated by Telegram, so confirm you’re comfortable with the conversion value you’ll get in TON before proceeding.
  4. Confirm and Withdraw: Follow the instructions on Fragment to finalize the withdrawal. You will likely need to confirm the amount of Stars to convert (Telegram will convert all eligible Stars you choose into TON) and approve the transaction. Once you confirm, the Stars will be deducted from your Telegram account and you will receive the equivalent Toncoin in your connected wallet.

After a successful withdrawal, you’ve essentially cashed out your Telegram Stars into cryptocurrency. From here, you can hold Toncoin, use TON within the TON ecosystem, or trade Toncoin on exchanges for fiat or other cryptocurrencies.

Note: Regular users who purchase Stars to spend cannot convert Stars back to TON themselves – only creators who receive Stars have the withdrawal option. When a user spends Stars in a channel or bot, the channel/bot owner gets those Stars and can then withdraw them via Fragment.

Alternative Uses for Telegram Stars

Telegram Stars are not just meant to be hoarded or immediately cashed out – they have a variety of uses within the Telegram ecosystem that can be valuable for both users and creators.

Here are some ways you can use Stars beyond simply withdrawing them:

  • Promote Your Channels, Groups, or Bots: Use Stars as credits to run advertising campaigns on the Telegram Ads Platform. Telegram allows channel or bot owners to spend Stars to place sponsored messages (ads) to reach a wider audience. In fact, to encourage the use of Stars, Telegram has been offering a 30% discount on advertising for those who pay with Stars. This means your Stars can go further in promoting your content – you get more ad impressions per Star compared to paying with regular currency.
  • Support Creators and Communities: If you’re an avid Telegram user, you can send Stars to channels, groups, or individual creators as a form of tipping or gifting to show appreciation. For example, reacting to a post with a Star emoji will spend a Star from your balance and give it to the channel owner. You can also gift Stars directly to other users (via the gifting option in @PremiumBot or special stickers) to reward them.
  • Buy Digital Goods and Services: Many Telegram bots, mini-apps, or channels may accept Stars as payment for premium features, digital products, or services. Because Stars are an in-app currency, they are ideal for microtransactions. For instance, a channel might charge a few Stars to access an exclusive post or a bot might sell a digital item (like an NFT, coupon, or game item) for Stars. All such payments happen seamlessly inside Telegram. (Remember, per Telegram’s rules Stars can only be used for digital goods and services within Telegram, not physical goods.)
  • Give Gifts and Rewards: Stars can be used as fun gifts or rewards to others on Telegram. You might send Stars to a friend on their birthday or reward a community member for helping out, etc. Telegram has even integrated a special gifting system: you can buy Stars for someone else, and Telegram will deliver it with a notification and a themed sticker/gift message in the chat. It’s a creative way to engage and reward people in your community.
  • Subscription Payments: If you run a subscription-based Telegram service (like a private channel or a bot that provides paid content), you can accept payments in Stars. For example, using InviteMember creators can set up membership bots where users pay with Stars to subscribe.

Conclusion

Telegram Stars offer a wide range of possibilities for both creators and regular users – from earning and withdrawing them, to spending them on ads, digital goods, and creator support.

They are Telegram’s experiment in building an in-app economy, bridging the gap between the familiar social media experience and the crypto world. By following best practices such as using Two-Step Verification on your account, checking eligibility (1000 Stars & 21 days) before withdrawing, and relying on official platforms like Fragment for conversions, you can safely make the most of your Stars!