TON Renames Native Crypto to Gram as Telegram CEO Announces Return to Roots
The Open Network (TON) is officially bringing back the “Gram” token brand. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced that the network’s native cryptocurrency will be renamed Gram, reviving the original title from the project’s first white paper as part of a major ecosystem overhaul.
Telegram CEO Outlines the "Make TON Great Again" Initiative
Pavel Durov shared the rebranding news through a public Telegram post, framing it as a historical homecoming for the blockchain.
“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.” — Pavel Durov, Telegram CEO
The rebranding process is expected to take approximately three weeks. Under this new structure, TON will remain the official name of the blockchain network, while Gram will serve as the exclusive name for its native gas token.
The 7-Step MTONGA Roadmap Revealed
The Gram rebrand marks the fourth phase of Durov’s seven-step “Make TON Great Again” (MTONGA) campaign. While the final three steps remain unrevealed, the first four milestones include major network upgrades:
- Massive Speed Increase: A major network upgrade made the TON blockchain ten times faster, introducing sub-second transaction finality.
- Drastic Fee Reductions: On-chain transaction fees were slashed by roughly sixfold to make microtransactions more affordable.
- Governance Restructuring: Telegram plans to replace the TON Foundation as the primary steward and largest validator of the ecosystem.
- The Gram Token Rebrand: Restoring the original digital asset name to boost market identity.
The History of Telegram's Original Gram Token
This rebranding moves the ecosystem back toward Telegram’s original 2018 vision. Originally called the Telegram Open Network, the platform was abandoned by the company in 2020 after a severe legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The SEC halted the original Gram token sale, ruling it a violation of federal securities laws. This regulatory crackdown forced Telegram to return capital to initial investors and walk away from the project.
Independent Growth and Web3 Integration
Following Telegram’s exit, a decentralized community of independent developers adopted the open-source code. They successfully maintained the network under the name “The Open Network.”
Over the last few years, the blockchain has re-integrated deeply into Telegram’s global messaging ecosystem. Today, the network serves as the primary infrastructure for Telegram-based Web3 applications, peer-to-peer crypto payments, and digital asset trading bots.
