The Open Network ecosystem is moving ahead with one of its most symbolic branding changes yet, i.e., its native token, currently known as Toncoin or TON, will be renamed Gram. The announcement was shared by Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who said the change marks a return to TON’s original roots while preparing the ecosystem for its next phase of growth.

• TON Revives the Gram Name
• Why the Rebrand Matters
• What Changes for Users, Wallets & Apps
• TON Blockchain Identity Remains Intact

TON Revives the Gram Name

Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced that TON’s native currency is becoming Gram, bringing back the name originally associated with the project’s first white paper. The transition is expected to take around three weeks, during which wallets, exchanges, infrastructure providers, explorers & ecosystem applications will gradually update the token name.

The rebranding applies only to the native currency of the network. The blockchain itself will continue to be known as TON, short for The Open Network. In simple terms, TON remains the name of the blockchain, while Gram becomes the name of the native currency used across that blockchain.

This distinction is important because the ecosystem is not launching a new chain, conducting a token swap, or changing user balances. Instead, the change is primarily a branding & naming update. The asset currently known as Toncoin will gradually be represented as Gram, with the ticker expected to shift from TON to GRAM across supported platforms.

Durov described the change as a return to TON’s roots. Gram was the original name connected to Telegram’s early blockchain ambitions before regulatory challenges forced Telegram to step back from the project. Since then, TON has continued as a community-driven blockchain ecosystem, expanding through wallets, mini apps, payments, gaming, DeFi & Telegram-linked use cases.

Why the Rebrand Matters

The return of the Gram name is more than a cosmetic update. For the TON ecosystem, it creates a clearer separation between the blockchain network & its native asset. Until now, both the network & token were often referred to as TON, which sometimes created confusion for new users. By renaming the token to Gram, the ecosystem can maintain TON as the blockchain brand while giving the currency its own independent identity.

The move also carries historical weight. Gram was the name associated with Telegram’s original blockchain vision, making the rebrand a symbolic revival of an earlier chapter. For long-time followers of the project, the name connects the current TON ecosystem with the original ambition of building a scalable blockchain closely tied to Telegram’s massive user base.

The announcement also comes at a time when TON has been positioning itself as a consumer-facing blockchain with strong Telegram integration. Telegram has become a major distribution layer for crypto-native applications, especially through wallets, mini apps & tap-to-earn style user onboarding. In that context, a simple & memorable currency name like Gram may be easier for mainstream users to understand than Toncoin.

Branding matters in crypto because user experience is often shaped by clarity. New users may not always understand the difference between a blockchain, a coin, a wallet, a mini app & an exchange listing. A separate token name helps reduce that friction. Similar to how Ethereum has Ether, the TON blockchain will now have Gram as its native currency.

TON to Rename Native Token as Gram, Network Name Unchanged

Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced that the TON ecosystem will rename its native token from TON to Gram. The transition is expected to be completed over the next three weeks, with wallets, infrastructure providers,… pic.twitter.com/ACGW3gab7k— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) June 1, 2026

What Changes for Users, Wallets & Apps

For regular users, the rebrand should not require any major action. Existing balances are expected to remain the same, wallet addresses will remain valid, & the blockchain’s core functions will continue operating normally. The change is focused on how the token is displayed, named & represented across the ecosystem.

Over the next three weeks, users may start seeing gradual updates across different platforms. Wallet interfaces may begin replacing Toncoin or TON with Gram. Exchanges may update trading pairs, token pages & ticker displays. Blockchain explorers, developer tools, payment platforms & ecosystem dashboards may also revise their terminology.

However, because the transition will happen gradually, users may temporarily see both names used across different services. Some platforms may update quickly, while others may take longer depending on their internal review, listing & technical processes. This is normal during large ecosystem-wide rebrands.

The key point is that this is not a migration that requires users to manually move funds. Users should be cautious of scams claiming that they need to “swap” TON to Gram through unofficial links. Since the rebrand concerns the native token’s identity, legitimate updates should happen through official wallets, exchanges & ecosystem applications.

For developers & infrastructure providers, the transition may involve updating documentation, UI labels, APIs, token metadata, charts, analytics dashboards & educational material. Apps built on TON will need to reflect the new token name while still making it clear that the underlying blockchain remains TON.

TON Blockchain Identity Remains Intact

While the native token is being renamed, The Open Network itself will continue using the TON name. This preserves the blockchain’s existing identity, developer ecosystem, community recognition & network-level branding. TON will still refer to the blockchain infrastructure, validator network, smart contract environment & broader ecosystem.

This approach allows the project to modernize its token branding without disrupting the network brand that has already gained visibility across crypto markets. The TON name has become strongly associated with Telegram-linked Web3 adoption, mini apps, wallet integration & fast consumer onboarding. Keeping the blockchain name unchanged avoids unnecessary confusion at the protocol level.

At the same time, Gram gives the ecosystem a more focused monetary identity. If TON continues expanding into payments, gaming, rewards, Telegram-native financial tools & consumer apps, having a distinct currency name could make the user experience cleaner. People may interact with Gram as the currency while understanding TON as the network that powers those transactions.

The rebrand brings the project back to one of its earliest names while giving the current ecosystem a clearer structure. TON remains the network. Gram becomes the currency. For a blockchain seeking mainstream reach through Telegram’s global user base, that clarity could become an important part of its next growth phase.

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