Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, announced on June 1 that Toncoin will soon become Gram.
Markets responded before most people finished reading the post: TON jumped 15–18% within hours, with daily trading volume up 129%.
So… What actually happened? Is this a new coin? Do you need to do anything?
The short answer is no. The longer answer is below.
Key Takeaways
- GRAM is back. The original name from Telegram's 2018 whitepaper is revived after six years.
- The blockchain stays TON; only the native token is being renamed.
- The rename is the fourth step in Durov's MTONGA roadmap. There are 7 steps total and no one knows what the next 3 are.
- GRAM is now positioned as Telegram's unified in-app currency for 900 million monthly users.
A Quick Flashback to the Beginning
Actually, GRAM isn't a new idea. It's an old one that got legally killed and is now coming back.
In 2018, Telegram raised around $1.7 billion to build its own blockchain called the Telegram Open Network. The native token was named Gram.
The plan was simple and straightforward: a fast, scalable chain with Gram as the in-app currency for Telegram's users.
But… It never launched. In October 2019, the SEC stepped in, blocked the token distribution, saying that the Gram sale was an unregistered securities offering.
So, Telegram settled the case, shut the project down and moved on.
After that, a team of independent developers picked up the open source code and relaunched the project as The Open Network.
They also renamed the token Toncoin, partly to put distance from the legal history. Telegram eventually rejoined the ecosystem, and the network grew from there.
Now Durov is reclaiming the original name. As he put it:
"Gram was the original name of TON's currency in the first white paper. We're returning to our roots, and starting a new chapter."
TON, Toncoin, GRAM: Three Names, One Asset
This is where many people get confused and we can’t blame them honestly.
So let's just lay it out flat.
- TON is the blockchain. Short for The Open Network. This is the infrastructure: the chain, the validators, the architecture. It's not changing. It was TON before, it stays TON.
- Toncoin is the old name for the native token of that blockchain. The thing you've been buying, swapping, and staking. Still the same asset, though.
- GRAM is the new name for that same token. No swap or migration happening, pure cosmetics.
Source: Pavel Durov
The token goes from Toncoin to Gram. That’s it. End of story.
Toncoin Rebranding: What Changes
The short version: not much, at least technically.
This is a clean rename: no token swap, no contract migration, nothing to worry about on your end.
Whatever you hold stays exactly where it is.
Here’s what Toncoin writes about it in their Telegram channel:
“The blockchain stays TON / The Open Network, only the token's name and ticker change. Balances, addresses, contracts, NFTs, staking, DeFi, all unchanged. No swap, bridge, claim, or migration. No action required.”
So what does change basically is:
- The ticker. TON becomes GRAM. Exchanges and wallets will update their interfaces over the next three weeks as the transition rolls out. During that window, you may see both names in different places and that's totally normal.
- The narrative. This update positions GRAM as Telegram's native in-app currency - a single, unified payment rail for a platform with 900 million monthly users.
And it’s step 4 of 7 in Durov's MTONGA (short for Make TON Great Again) roadmap - a broader push to bring Telegram back to the center of the TON ecosystem.
The first three steps were already delivered: Telegram became the network's largest validator, transaction fees were cut sixfold, and now comes the rename.
Source: Pavel Durov on X
Steps five through seven haven't been revealed yet.
GRAM On ChangeNOW
So, how will this update affect ChangeNOW users?
Here’s how Valerie, ChangeNOW listing lead, commented on this case:
"Most users won't notice any technical changes because the blockchain itself remains the same. The challenge is making sure every touchpoint: from asset listings to partner integrations and historical references, reflects the new branding consistently, and in our case this means dozens of internal services must be carefully taken into the consideration. Plus, one of the major risks in addition to technical compatibility is potential user confusion. Historically, rebrands create short periods where users see different asset names across wallets, exchanges, and explorers - we saw that earlier with MATIC-POL changes. In our case, the transition is further complicated by the fact that ChangeNOW previously supported a different asset under the GRAM ticker. Still the team finalize all procedures as soon as possible"
Updating a token name sounds simple. But it’s not if you’re being thorough and methodical.
ChangeNOW already had a GRAM listing once, which means there's a ticker conflict to resolve before the new GRAM can take its place.
On top of that, the platform runs across dozens of internal services, and a rename without a proper re-check risks breaking sync in any one of them.
Our listing team is already discussing the flow and will start working on the task as soon as the transition is finished on TON’s end, which, according to the official info, will take about three weeks.
FAQ
What is GRAM crypto?
GRAM is the new name for Toncoin, the native token of TON blockchain. Same asset, new name, nothing else changed.
What is TON crypto?
TON, or The Open Network, is the blockchain itself. It's not being renamed. TON stays TON; only the token is changing from Toncoin to GRAM.
Why is TON being renamed to GRAM?
GRAM was the original name from Telegram's 2018 whitepaper. Durov is reclaiming it as part of his MTONGA roadmap - a seven-step plan to bring Telegram back to the center of the TON ecosystem.
Do I need to swap my TON tokens?
No. There's no swap, no migration, nothing to do. Your balance stays exactly where it is.
What will the new TON ticker be?
The ticker changes from TON to GRAM. Exchanges and wallets will update over the next three weeks.
Is GRAM connected to Telegram?
Yes. GRAM is being positioned as Telegram's native in-app currency for a platform with 900 million monthly users.
Where can I swap GRAM crypto?
You can swap GRAM/TON on ChangeNOW in minutes.
