Short answer: a +888 number is a blockchain-based collectible sold on Fragment that works only for Telegram. It has no SIM card, your login code appears in Fragment instead of an SMS, and whoever controls the TON wallet that holds the number controls access to it. Here is how that works in practice and what to watch out for.
1. What a +888 anonymous number is
Telegram introduced No-SIM signup on 6 December 2022: an account can be created and logged in with an anonymous number bought on Fragment, Telegram's official marketplace on the TON blockchain. These numbers start with +888 and are recorded on the blockchain as collectibles, so they belong to whichever TON wallet holds them.
- They are not tied to any SIM card or mobile operator.
- They work only on Telegram: you cannot make calls, receive SMS or sign up to other services with them, unless a service chooses to support them.
- Fragment says all 136,566 numbers sold out in December 2022. Since then the only way to get one is to buy it from an existing owner on Fragment; Telegram does not sell them directly.
2. How login works without a SIM
You enter the +888 number in the Telegram app like any other phone number. When Telegram asks for the code, you do not wait for an SMS: you connect the wallet that owns the number to Fragment and read the login code there.
- Open Telegram and enter your +888 number on the sign-up or login screen.
- On Fragment, click Connect TON and connect the wallet that holds the number.
- Open the number in Fragment (My Assets) and copy the login code shown there into Telegram.
An existing Telegram account can also switch its number to any collectible number that is not already connected to another Telegram account, and the owner can add or remove the number from an account at will.
3. How to buy one on Fragment
- Install a TON wallet such as Tonkeeper or MyTonWallet and write down the recovery words offline.
- Get Gram (GRAM), the coin called Toncoin (TON) until June 2026: have someone send it to your wallet address, or buy it on a reputable exchange (some exchanges ask for identification).
- Connect the wallet on fragment.com with Connect TON, and check that it is the right wallet before bidding.
- Pick a number from the Numbers section. Listings are either on auction (with a minimum bid and an end time) or for sale at a fixed price set by the current owner.
- Bid or buy. When you win or buy, the number appears in My Assets, where you can assign it on Telegram, resell it or put it up for auction.
Fragment charges a 5% platform fee on each sale (direct sales, and the highest bid when an auction ends), and blockchain transactions can add a small network fee of about 1 Gram. Prices are set by sellers and change, so always check the live listing instead of relying on quoted figures.
4. What people use them for
- Privacy: the account is not linked to a SIM card registered in your name.
- No SIM to lose: changing country, operator or phone does not affect login, because codes come through Fragment.
- Separate business identities: a channel or group owner can keep an admin account separate from a personal number.
- Collectible value: short or repeating numbers are traded like collectible usernames, and can be resold.
5. Limits and risks
| Point | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Wallet = access | Fragment's wallets are non-custodial. Lose the recovery words and you can lose the wallet, the number and the ability to receive login codes. Fragment cannot restore a wallet. |
| Transfers are final | Completed sales and transfers cannot be reversed by Fragment. Anyone you send the number to controls it from then on. |
| Telegram only | No SMS, no calls, no sign-ups on other apps or websites. |
| Resale market only | No new numbers are issued; you pay what a current owner asks, plus fees. |
| Not a rules exemption | Telegram's terms still apply to the account; an anonymous number does not prevent limits or bans for spam. |
6. +888 number vs a normal number
| +888 Fragment number | Normal SIM or virtual number | |
|---|---|---|
| Login code | Shown in Fragment to the wallet owner | Sent by SMS or to your other Telegram devices |
| Tied to | A TON wallet | A SIM card or number provider |
| Works outside Telegram | No | Usually yes |
| How to get one | Buy from an owner on Fragment with Gram | Mobile operator or number provider |
| Can be resold | Yes, on Fragment or by wallet transfer | No |
7. How +888 numbers relate to aged accounts
A +888 number changes how you log in; it does not change how old an account is. Account age comes from when the account was created, which is why an aged Telegram account and a +888 number solve different problems. You can move an account you own to a collectible number later, because any existing account can switch to a +888 number that is free.
If you ever buy or sell an account that is connected to a +888 number, remember that login codes go to whoever holds the number in their wallet. The handover is only complete when the number itself is transferred to the buyer's wallet (or the account is moved to the buyer's own number) and the buyer sets a new two-step verification password. Our post-delivery checklist covers the other steps.
For ordinary accounts we work with regular numbers: see our Telegram virtual numbers page, and for other ways to keep your own number private read using Telegram without your personal phone number.
Ready to buy? Compare published prices by creation year to buy aged Telegram accounts, buy old Telegram channels or buy old Telegram groups.
Frequently asked questions
What is a +888 number on Telegram?
An anonymous collectible number sold on Fragment that works only for Telegram. It has no SIM card, and the login code is shown in Fragment to the wallet that owns the number instead of being sent by SMS.
Can I buy a +888 number directly from Telegram?
No. All 136,566 numbers sold out in December 2022, so you can only buy one from an existing owner on Fragment.
What do I need to buy a +888 number?
A TON wallet such as Tonkeeper or MyTonWallet, enough Gram (formerly Toncoin) for the price plus fees, and that wallet connected to fragment.com.
Can a +888 number receive SMS or be used for WhatsApp?
No. Collectible numbers only work on Telegram. They cannot receive SMS or calls and cannot be used to sign up to other services unless those services support them.
Can I move my existing Telegram account to a +888 number?
Yes. Any existing account can change its number to a collectible number that is not already connected to another Telegram account.
What happens if I lose my phone?
The number stays safe as long as you keep the wallet recovery words. You can connect the wallet again and assign the number to an account.
Does a +888 number make an account aged?
No. Account age depends on when the account was created. A +888 number only changes how you log in.
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