What is Gram (GRAM), formerly Toncoin?
Gram (GRAM), formerly Toncoin (TON), is the native coin of The Open Network, a layer-1 blockchain tightly integrated with Telegram. Gram took its current name on June 15, 2026, when a community vote passed with about 81% support per TON Foundation announcements, changing the ticker from TON to GRAM and reviving the name used in the original white paper.
The Open Network began in 2018 as Telegram's own 'Telegram Open Network' project. After the US SEC sued in 2020 over an unregistered securities offering, Telegram withdrew, and an open-source community and the TON Foundation carried the network forward.
Gram's network moved back under Telegram's wing in 2026. According to Pavel Durov, Telegram took over the TON Foundation's core responsibilities at the end of April 2026 and became the network's largest validator.
How is Gram (TON) connected to Telegram?
Gram's defining feature is its integration with the Telegram app. Users can send and receive Gram through an in-app wallet, and mini-apps, small web apps inside Telegram, run on The Open Network. Telegram passed 1 billion monthly active users as of March 2025, according to Pavel Durov.
Gram's ecosystem saw a wave of first-time wallet users in 2024, when tap-to-earn games such as Notcoin and Hamster Kombat went viral. Serving as an on-ramp from a mainstream messenger into crypto is what sets Gram apart.
What technology does the Gram blockchain use?
The Gram blockchain, The Open Network, combines proof of stake with a design called infinite sharding. When traffic rises, the chain splits into multiple shards that process transactions in parallel, then merges them when load falls, a structure built for large volumes of small transactions.
Gram's network cut block times from about 2.5 seconds to about 0.4 seconds and finality from about 10 seconds to roughly one second with the Catchain 2.0 consensus upgrade, according to TON announcements in April 2026. The upgrade targets use cases such as in-chat payments and tips that need fast confirmation.
What is Gram used for in 2026?
Gram is used in Telegram's advertising system. Under a policy Telegram announced in 2024, channel owners receive 50% of channel ad revenue paid in Gram (then called Toncoin), and advertisers can buy placements with it.
Gram also ties into Telegram's internal economy, including paid subscriptions, digital gifts and mini-app payments. In May 2026 Pavel Durov announced a large cut to network fees, signaling a push to widen small-payment use.
Gram's price has reacted sharply to Telegram news. It fell steeply after Pavel Durov's arrest and indictment in France in August 2024, and rose sharply after Telegram announced in May 2026 that it would run the network directly.
What is on the Gram roadmap?
Gram's 2026 roadmap centers on Telegram's MTONGA ('Make TON Great Again') plan, which was announced as covering full Telegram integration, lower fees, faster processing and better developer tools.
Gram's ecosystem aims over the longer term to expand stablecoin payment rails and mini-apps, linking Telegram's advertising, commerce and payments smoothly on-chain. The stated direction is to let people use the network without having to think about the blockchain.
What are the risks of Gram (TON)?
Gram's biggest risk is its dependence on Telegram. With Telegram becoming the largest validator and core operator in 2026, debate over the network's decentralization has grown, and regulatory or legal risk around Telegram and Pavel Durov can pass directly into Gram's price.
Gram's ecosystem could also see fewer new users if interest in tap-to-earn games fades, and the ticker change may cause confusion where exchanges and wallets label the coin differently. This article is for information only and is not investment advice; any investment decision is your own responsibility.
