Telegram has set in motion a major rebrand of The Open Network’s native cryptocurrency, with Toncoin set to revert to its original name, Gram. The decision, announced by Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, drove a sharp market reaction that lifted the token more than 13% within 24 hours.
Prices climbed to as high as $2.26 shortly after the announcement before stabilizing near $2.03, extending a broader upward trend, according to HODLFM data. Over the past month, the token has gained roughly 58%.
Durov confirmed the shift on Monday through his official Telegram channel, framing the move as part of a broader strategic roadmap.
“Gram was the original name of TON’s currency in the first white paper,” he wrote. “We’re returning to our roots—and starting a new chapter. This rebranding will pave the way for what comes next.”
Transition timeline and technical continuity
The rebrand does not alter the underlying blockchain infrastructure. The Open Network will retain its TON name, while the token itself adopts the Gram identity. According to Durov, the transition will take approximately three weeks and proceed in phases across wallets, exchanges and ecosystem applications.
The Open Network confirmed that the change represents a rename rather than a migration event. No token swap, bridge, or conversion process will take place. Existing balances, smart contracts and wallet addresses will remain unchanged throughout the transition.
A governance vote launched alongside the announcement showed strong early backing. Around 1.8 million TON, or nearly 80% of participating tokens, supported the proposal at the time of reporting, based on data shared by The Open Network.
Telegram deepens control over TON ecosystem
The rebranding coincides with Telegram’s expanding operational role within the network. In May, Durov stated that Telegram had become the largest validator on TON, effectively replacing the TON Foundation as the primary driver of development.
That shift marked a structural change in how the network operates. Telegram now holds a central position in validation and infrastructure, supported by its global user base, which approaches one billion accounts.
Earlier technical updates have aimed to strengthen network performance. Telegram introduced upgrades to improve transaction speed and reduce costs. Durov highlighted a Catchain update that increased throughput and enabled near-instant settlement times, alongside a reduction in transaction fees by roughly sixfold.
These steps form part of a seven-stage roadmap branded as “Make TON Great Again.” The Gram rebrand represents the fourth phase. The remaining steps have not yet been disclosed.
Historical context shapes current strategy
The return to the Gram name reconnects the project with its original 2018 vision. Telegram initially developed the Telegram Open Network alongside a planned Gram token sale that raised approximately $1.7 billion in private funding.
That effort ended in 2020 after legal action by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The regulator halted the token distribution, arguing that the sale violated securities laws. Telegram later agreed to return $1.22 billion to investors and paid an $18.5 million penalty, which forced the project’s shutdown.
Independent developers revived the network under the TON name, distancing the ecosystem from the earlier legal dispute. Over time, the blockchain gained traction through integrations within Telegram, particularly for payments and digital asset services.
The latest rebrand signals Telegram’s renewed willingness to reconnect with the original identity, despite the legal history attached to the Gram name.
Market reaction and ecosystem implications
The immediate price movement reflected strong trader interest following the announcement. Toncoin rose from levels near $1.90 to above $2.20 during peak trading hours, with elevated volume across major trading pairs.
Despite the recent gains, the token remains significantly below its historical peak of $8.25 recorded in 2024.
The rebrand introduces operational challenges across the ecosystem. Exchanges, wallet providers and developers must update interfaces, ticker symbols and integrations to reflect the Gram name while maintaining continuity for users. Smart contracts and backend systems will require coordinated updates to avoid disruption.
The Open Network emphasized that the technical foundation remains unchanged, which reduces the risk of fragmentation. However, the scale of the ecosystem means coordination will play a central role during the transition period.
Strategic direction centers on Telegram integration
Telegram’s long-term objective ties closely to its messaging platform. The company has positioned TON as infrastructure for a broader digital ecosystem that includes payments, mini-applications and digital ownership tools.
The Gram rebrand aligns with that direction by restoring a name that originated alongside Telegram’s early blockchain ambitions. The company now approaches the same ecosystem with a different structure, supported by an established user base and a more defined regulatory environment.
The outcome of the transition will depend on execution across platforms and the extent to which Telegram can translate its network scale into sustained blockchain activity. The next phases of the roadmap remain undisclosed, leaving the market focused on how the current changes unfold in practice.
Dayo Paul
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