Telegram's Crypto Push
Telegram integrates native Gram crypto wallet for 1 billion users this summer
Anonymous
Key Points
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The underlying TON token has been renamed to Gram, with the rebrand taking effect on June 15, 2026 after community approval; Gram is now positioned as the native token of The Open Network.
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Telegram previously tested a non-custodial TON Wallet rollout to about 87 million US users in July 2025 as a proof-of-concept for large‑scale, non-custodial wallet deployment.
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Telegram plans to embed the Gram wallet directly into every Telegram client, integrating crypto transfers into the core app flow rather than offering it as a separate bolt-on feature.
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Competition in payments within messaging apps is heating up, with rivals like WhatsApp and WeChat exploring payments; Telegram's emphasis on self-custody and decentralized infrastructure could differentiate it.
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Market reaction to the announcement included a price move for Gram, with the token rising roughly 8% to around $1.56 following the news.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced this summer's rollout of Gram, a built-in non-custodial crypto wallet, to all of the app's roughly one billion users. The Defiant reported that Durov called it the largest distribution of a self-custody wallet in history. The wallet runs on The Open Network (TON) blockchain, which means users hold their own private keys — not Telegram.
The announcement sent the Gram token up about 8%, trading near $1.56, according to Coindoo. Telegram has moved fast: it rebranded its native token from Toncoin to Gram on June 15, 2026, after a community vote. The wallet launches this summer and will be baked into every Telegram app — not added as a separate feature.
What 'Non-Custodial' Means and Why It Matters
Most crypto wallets on big platforms are custodial. That means the company holds your keys and controls your funds. Gram's wallet flips that. Users keep their own private keys, so only they can access their money. Finance Feeds described this as the largest rollout of a non-custodial wallet ever attempted.
Telegram promises instant, zero-fee transfers between users. That is a big deal for peer-to-peer payments. The wallet is embedded directly into the chat interface, so sending crypto will feel like sending a message. No separate app. No extra sign-up.
Telegram Already Tested This With 87 Million US Users
This is not Telegram's first try. In July 2025, the company quietly tested a non-custodial TON wallet with about 87 million US users. Crypto Economy reported that rollout served as a proof-of-concept — showing Telegram could deploy a wallet at massive scale before going fully global.
That earlier test helped shape the current plan. Now Telegram is scaling from 87 million to over one billion users in a single summer push. The rebrand from Toncoin to Gram, which took effect June 15, 2026, unified the token identity ahead of the big launch.
Telegram Enters a Crowded Fight for Payments in Messaging
Telegram is not alone in chasing in-app payments. WhatsApp has tested payment features in India and Brazil. WeChat in China has processed payments for years. But neither emphasizes self-custody or decentralized infrastructure the way Telegram does. That could be Telegram's edge.
Zamin noted that Gram gives users direct control over digital assets inside a messaging app used daily by billions. Analysts say this positions Telegram as a potential hub for global peer-to-peer crypto transfers — a space no single platform has yet dominated.
Token Jumps 8% as Markets React to Billion-User Bet
Markets moved quickly after Durov's announcement. The Gram token rose roughly 8%, climbing to about $1.56. Coindoo tied the price jump directly to excitement over the billion-user wallet rollout. Investors appear to be betting that Telegram's scale can drive real demand for the Gram token.
The move is a significant escalation in Telegram's crypto ambitions. Durov has framed Gram as a tool for financial freedom, not just a product feature. If the summer rollout lands as planned, it would mark one of the largest single expansions of crypto access in the industry's history.
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