What are Telegram's virtual items for digital goods and services called?

Telegram’s virtual items for digital goods and services are called Telegram Stars.

Telegram introduced Stars in June 2024 so users could pay bots and mini apps for digital products and services inside the Telegram ecosystem. Examples include game items, online courses, e-books, paid media and other in-app purchases. The system uses the currency code XTR in Telegram’s payment APIs.

Users can obtain Stars through supported in-app purchases on Apple and Google platforms, or through Telegram’s own channels such as PremiumBot where available. Developers and creators can receive Stars from purchases, use them in Telegram’s monetization tools, or withdraw eligible revenue under Telegram’s rules.

Stars are not the same as Telegram Premium, which is a subscription, or Gifts, which are virtual cosmetic items that can be bought with Stars. They also should not be confused with TON, the blockchain ecosystem connected to some Telegram features. Stars are primarily an in-app payment unit for digital goods and services.