Deep Dive
1. Gram Wallet Smart Contract Deployment (August 2026)
Overview: Telegram began a phased rollout of its integrated, self-custodial Gram Wallet. This update enables fee-free transfers and purchases of Telegram Collectibles directly within the app for its billion-plus users.
The wallet's infrastructure is built on a new smart contract that was approved by network validators prior to launch. A key technical feature is its forward-compatible design, allowing for future upgrades without requiring users to migrate funds or change addresses. This architecture aims to minimize user friction and reduce the risk of phishing scams associated with contract migrations.
What this means: This is bullish for GRAM because it directly embeds the token into the daily experience of a massive user base, making crypto transactions feel as simple as sending a message. The seamless, fee-free model could drive significant new demand and utility.
(Source)
2. Catchain 2.0 & Fee Reduction Upgrade (June 2026)
Overview: This core protocol upgrade, part of the "Make TON Great Again" roadmap, significantly enhanced network performance. It introduced Catchain 2.0 consensus improvements and slashed transaction fees by approximately six times.
The upgrade achieved faster block times (around 400 milliseconds) and near-instant finality (roughly 1 second). It also optimized validator performance. The substantial fee reduction brought the average transaction cost down to about $0.0005, making micro-transactions and everyday use economically viable.
What this means: This is bullish for GRAM because it makes the underlying blockchain dramatically faster and cheaper for developers and users. Improved scalability and lower costs are fundamental for supporting mass adoption and a thriving ecosystem of mini-apps.
(Source)
3. Community-Approved Rebrand to Gram (June 2026)
Overview: The native asset completed a rebrand from Toncoin ($TON) to Gram ($GRAM) after a community governance vote passed with 81.22% support. This was a cosmetic change that did not require a token swap or migration.
The update changed only the token's name, ticker, and logo. All user balances, wallet addresses, staking positions, and smart contracts remained intact and fully functional. The underlying blockchain retained its name, The Open Network (TON). The move reverted to the token's original 2018 name from Telegram's whitepaper, aiming for a simpler, more unified identity.
What this means: This is neutral for GRAM from a technical standpoint, as it didn't alter the codebase's functionality. However, it is strategically bullish as it strengthens brand recognition and aligns the currency more closely with Telegram's overarching ecosystem narrative.
(Source)
Conclusion
Gram's development trajectory is sharply focused on leveraging its unique Telegram integration, with recent codebase updates optimizing for speed, cost, and seamless user onboarding. How will the network's performance hold up as wallet adoption scales to hundreds of millions of users?