What is Gram (prev. Toncoin) (GRAM)?

By CMC AI
19 October 2026 08:46PM (UTC+0)
TLDR

Gram (GRAM) is the native cryptocurrency of The Open Network (TON), a high-speed, scalable layer-1 blockchain designed to bring Web3 to Telegram's massive user base.

  1. Core Purpose: Powers transaction fees, staking, and payments across the TON ecosystem, aiming to integrate crypto seamlessly into Telegram.

  2. Historical Rebrand: Originally named "Gram" in Telegram's 2018 whitepaper, it was revived in June 2026 after an 81.22% community vote, reconnecting with its roots.

  3. Key Technology: Utilizes a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus model and has undergone major upgrades for speed and low-cost transactions.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

Gram exists as the economic lifeblood of The Open Network. Its primary utility is to pay for transaction fees, secure the network through staking, and serve as a settlement currency for applications and payments within the Telegram ecosystem. The TON Foundation's vision is to empower 500 million users to own their digital identity and assets by 2028, with Gram facilitating this shift.

2. Technology & Architecture

TON is an open-source, layer-1 blockchain that uses a proof-of-stake consensus model for scalability and reliability. A major 2026 upgrade, Catchain 2.0, made the network significantly faster, achieving sub-second transaction finality and reducing fees by about six times. This technical foundation is designed to support high throughput for millions of users.

3. Ecosystem & Telegram Integration

The project's most significant differentiator is its deep integration with Telegram, which has over a billion users. This includes the rollout of a native, non-custodial Gram Wallet directly within the app, enabling instant, fee-free transfers. The ecosystem supports decentralized applications (dApps), mini-apps, and digital services, positioning Gram as a practical currency for the Telegram-based Web3 economy.

Conclusion

Fundamentally, Gram is the utility token for a high-performance blockchain built for mass adoption through its symbiotic relationship with Telegram. Will its deep integration succeed in onboarding Telegram's vast user base into the world of crypto?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.