TheBlock
The TON blockchain is reviving the Gram token brand, with Telegram CEO Pavel Durov declaring that the network is "returning to its roots" — a direct callback to the original Telegram-backed blockchain project that the SEC forced to shut down in 2020 after a $1.7 billion token sale.
Why it matters
Gram was the original name for the native token of what was then called the Telegram Open Network before the SEC sued and Telegram paid a $18.5 million settlement to exit the project. The community-driven TON Foundation subsequently relaunched the chain independently. Reviving the Gram brand under Durov's explicit blessing signals a meaningful shift: Telegram's leadership is now openly re-embracing the blockchain it was once forced to abandon, lending the project renewed legitimacy and a direct line to Telegram's 900 million-plus user base.
Market impact
The brand revival and Durov's public endorsement are a significant bullish catalyst for TON. Closer alignment between Telegram's product roadmap and the TON ecosystem — payments, mini-apps, identity — could accelerate real-world adoption at a scale few blockchain networks can access organically. Traders will be watching whether the Gram rebrand is accompanied by tokenomics changes or a new issuance event, either of which would be a material on-chain catalyst.
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