The Open Network’s native token will be renamed Gram, reviving the original name associated with Telegram’s early blockchain project while leaving the TON network name unchanged. Telegram founder Pavel Durov said the change will apply to the network’s native currency, currently known as Toncoin or TON, and will be rolled out gradually across wallets, infrastructure providers and ecosystem applications over roughly three weeks.
The update is a branding change rather than a technical migration. The TON blockchain will continue to operate under The Open Network name, while Gram becomes the label for the asset used for transaction fees, staking, ecosystem payments and other network functions. Reports on the announcement said user balances, staking positions and network operations will remain unchanged, with no token swap required.
The market reacted quickly to the announcement. TON rose as much as 19% after the news, with the token reaching about $2.21 in early trading, according to market reports. The move reflected renewed investor attention on Telegram-linked crypto infrastructure and the symbolic return of a name that was central to one of the industry’s most closely watched regulatory disputes.
A return to TON’s original identity
The Gram name carries significant historical weight. Telegram originally developed the Telegram Open Network and raised about $1.7 billion through private token sales tied to Gram before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission intervened. The SEC alleged that Telegram’s token sale involved an unregistered securities offering. Telegram settled the case in 2020, agreeing to return about $1.2 billion to investors and pay an $18.5 million civil penalty, while stepping away from the original project.
The network later continued through open-source development and community-led stewardship, eventually becoming The Open Network. Its native asset was renamed Toncoin after Telegram’s exit. By restoring the Gram name, the ecosystem is reconnecting the current token with the project’s original white paper identity while attempting to avoid operational disruption.
That distinction matters for exchanges, custodians, developers and institutional service providers. The rebrand should mainly require updates to token labels, wallet interfaces, market-data systems, documentation and user-facing displays. The network name, validator infrastructure and protocol functions are expected to remain intact, limiting the risk of confusion around contracts, balances or chain operations.
Market and regulatory implications
The rebrand may strengthen recognition among retail users because Gram is simpler and closely tied to Telegram’s early crypto ambitions. That could support TON’s broader consumer strategy, which includes payments, mini-apps, gaming, stablecoin usage and wallet activity linked to Telegram’s global user base.
However, the long-term market impact will depend on whether the rebrand converts attention into measurable on-chain activity. Investors will continue to track active wallets, transaction volumes, liquidity, developer activity, decentralized exchange usage and stablecoin adoption. Branding can improve visibility, but it does not directly change network economics.
The revived Gram name may also renew regulatory attention because of its history with the SEC. The current TON ecosystem is structurally different from Telegram’s original token sale, but clear communication will be essential to avoid user confusion. For market participants, the key point is that the change does not create a new asset issuance, a token swap or a separate blockchain.
The transition gives TON a stronger historical narrative at a time when major crypto networks are competing for users, developers and distribution. Its success will depend less on the name itself and more on whether the ecosystem can turn the Gram rebrand into sustained liquidity, clearer user adoption and deeper integration across Telegram-linked applications.