TON Revives Gram Brand Amid Broader Ecosystem Upgrade
Telegram-backed blockchain TON is restoring the Gram brand for its native token, marking another milestone in Pavel Durov’s ongoing effort to reconnect the network with its original vision.
The Open Network (TON) is bringing back the Gram name for its native cryptocurrency, reviving the original branding outlined in the project’s earliest plans and signaling a new phase in the ecosystem’s evolution.
The announcement was made by Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on June 1 as part of his broader “Make TON Great Again” (MTONGA) initiative, a multi-step campaign aimed at reshaping the network and strengthening its connection to its roots.
According to Durov, the blockchain itself will continue operating under the TON name, while the native digital asset will once again be known as Gram.
TON Returns to Its Original Vision
The rebranding restores the terminology first introduced in the original white paper of Telegram’s blockchain project. At the time, TON stood for Telegram Open Network, while Gram was designated as the ecosystem’s native currency.
Announcing the change on Telegram, Durov emphasized the symbolic importance of the move.
“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 said.
The transition is expected to take approximately three weeks to complete. During that period, ecosystem participants will gradually adopt the new token branding while the underlying blockchain infrastructure remains unchanged.
The Gram rebrand represents the fourth step out of seven planned stages in the MTONGA roadmap. While three additional steps remain undisclosed, several earlier initiatives have already been revealed.
Part of the “Make TON Great Again” Campaign
Durov first introduced the MTONGA concept in April following a major network upgrade that significantly improved blockchain performance.
According to the Telegram founder, the upgrade made TON ten times faster and enabled sub-second transaction finality, enhancing the network’s ability to support large-scale applications and payments.
Other publicly announced measures under the initiative include:
- Reducing transaction fees by roughly sixfold
- Plans for Telegram to become the ecosystem’s primary steward
- Telegram taking over the role of largest validator, replacing the TON Foundation in that position
- The reintroduction of the Gram brand for the network’s native currency
Together, these steps indicate a more active role for Telegram in guiding the future direction of the ecosystem.
From SEC Lawsuit to Blockchain Revival
The Gram name carries significant historical weight within the crypto industry.
Telegram originally launched its ambitious blockchain project in 2018, attracting substantial investor interest through Gram token sales. However, the initiative faced intense regulatory scrutiny from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In 2020, Telegram officially abandoned the project after a prolonged legal battle with regulators, who argued that the sale of Gram tokens violated U.S. securities laws. The dispute ultimately forced the company to halt the launch and refund investors, leading to additional legal claims from token purchasers.
Despite Telegram’s withdrawal, independent developers continued building the network. The project was eventually rebranded as The Open Network (TON) and evolved into a community-driven blockchain that maintained close ties to Telegram’s massive user base.
Over time, TON became deeply integrated into Telegram’s ecosystem, supporting digital payments, crypto trading services, and a growing range of blockchain-powered applications.
TON Expands Financial Services Inside Telegram
The Gram rebranding arrives as the TON ecosystem continues to broaden its financial capabilities within Telegram.
Recent developments have included:
- Self-custodial crypto vaults
- Yield-generating features for supported digital assets
- Perpetual futures trading
- Expanded derivatives functionality
- Autonomous agent deployments
- Additional infrastructure and user-experience improvements
These additions highlight TON’s ambition to transform Telegram into a comprehensive financial platform where messaging, payments, investing, and trading coexist within a single application.
As the network continues to evolve, the return of the Gram name serves as both a symbolic nod to TON’s origins and a statement about its future direction. With Telegram playing an increasingly influential role and new financial tools steadily arriving, the ecosystem appears focused on building a broader blockchain-powered economy directly inside one of the world’s largest messaging platforms.
