Gram (GRAM), formerly Toncoin (TON) GRAM

Gram (GRAM), known as Toncoin (TON) until June 2026, is the native coin of The Open Network (TON), a layer-1 blockchain closely tied to Telegram. It pays transaction fees, is staked by validators and is used across Telegram for usernames, gifts, Stars and ad payouts. The blockchain is still called TON; only the coin’s name, ticker and logo changed.

From Toncoin to Gram: what changed in 2026

Telegram proposed renaming the token from Toncoin to Gram, the name used in the project’s original white paper. Holders voted on TON Vote from 1 to 8 June 2026, with voting power weighted by balances, and 81.22% approved. According to the official announcement, the new name and the GRAM ticker took effect at 12:00 UTC on 15 June 2026, with full consistency across projects expected by 22 June.

The rename required no action: balances, addresses, smart contracts, NFTs and staking stayed the same, and there was no swap, bridge or claim. Any site or bot asking you to “claim GRAM” or “migrate TON” is a scam. As of October 2026, some exchanges already show GRAM while others still display the old TON ticker, so check the network name before any transfer.

How TON works

TON uses proof-of-stake: validators lock Gram as collateral, produce blocks and approve protocol changes by majority vote. The network is designed for sharding: a masterchain coordinates workchains that split automatically into shardchains when activity rises and merge back when it falls. After the 2026 upgrades, the TON website reports blocks about every 0.4 seconds, finality in about 0.6 seconds and fixed fees of around 0.00039 Gram for a simple transfer.

Smart contracts on TON run on the TON Virtual Machine and are mostly written in TON-specific languages, so the network is not natively compatible with Ethereum tools. Tokens on TON follow the “jetton” standard; Tether issues a native USDT on TON.

Short history with key dates

• **January 2018:** Telegram sells “Grams” in two private rounds and raises $1.7 billion.
• **11 October 2019:** the US SEC files an emergency action to block the distribution of Grams as an unregistered securities offering.
• **May 2020:** Telegram abandons the project; on 26 June 2020 it agrees to return about $1.22 billion to investors and pay an $18.5 million penalty.
• **2020–2022:** independent developers relaunch the network as The Open Network; coins are first distributed through proof-of-work mining.
• **April 2022:** Telegram’s @wallet bot enables peer-to-peer Toncoin transfers in the app.
• **September 2023:** Telegram selects TON as its Web3 infrastructure and integrates a TON wallet.
• **April 2024:** native USDT launches on TON.
• **Spring 2026:** an upgrade brings sub-second blocks, validators vote at the end of April to cut fees sixfold, and Telegram announces it will replace the TON Foundation as the main driving force and become the largest validator.
• **15 June 2026:** Toncoin officially becomes Gram (GRAM).

What Gram is used for

Gram pays network fees, is staked to secure the chain and is used in validator votes. Inside Telegram, it can buy collectible usernames and anonymous numbers, convert gifts into NFTs, purchase Telegram Stars and Premium, fund giveaways and receive ad revenue. Mini apps connect to wallets through TON Connect, and the network carries a large volume of stablecoin transfers.

TON vs other blockchains

TON’s main difference is distribution: it is built into a messaging app with more than a billion users, while most chains must attract users from scratch. Technically it bets on dynamic sharding and fixed fees rather than rollups or EVM compatibility.

Risks and criticism

• **Dependence on Telegram:** Telegram’s push, validator role and product decisions weigh heavily on the network; critics see a concentration of influence.
• **Regulatory history:** the original Gram sale was halted by the SEC in 2019–2020.
• **Scams:** Telegram is a common channel for fake airdrops, impersonation and phishing, including fake “migration” offers after the rename. Read our guide to avoiding crypto scams.
• **Ecosystem risk:** many mini apps and tokens are speculative and short-lived.
• **Volatility:** Gram can lose a large part of its value quickly.

How to store Gram

You can use the non-custodial Gram wallet built into Telegram or an independent TON wallet; several hardware wallets also support the network. With a non-custodial wallet, you alone hold the recovery phrase, which is the core of self-custody. When depositing to an exchange, check whether a memo (comment) is required and that you selected the TON network, whatever ticker the platform displays.