TON rallied after Telegram founder Pavel Durov said the network’s native token would revert to its original name, Gram.
Summary
- Pavel Durov said Toncoin would be renamed Gram, restoring the token’s original identity as defined in TON’s first white paper.
- TON rose 18.75% to $2.19 after traders reacted to the rebranding and Telegram’s stronger role in the ecosystem.
- Durov said the rebranding would take about three weeks and would not require any token swaps.
According to Durov, Gram was the original name of the token in the original TON whitepaper, while TON will remain the name of the blockchain network. The planned change separates the currency from the network and brings back a brand linked to Telegram’s early blockchain plans.
The announcement triggered a sharp market movement on June 1. TON climbed 18.75% over 24 hours to $2.19 as traders reacted to the return of the Gram identity and Telegram’s growing role in the ecosystem. Durov said the renaming process is expected to take about three weeks.
No token exchange will be required. Durov said user balances, staking positions and network activity will remain unchanged during the process. The update is therefore a rebranding rather than a technical migration.
Gram’s name returns after years of absence
The Gram name carries a long history for Telegram’s blockchain project. Telegram first introduced Gram during its initial blockchain initiative, which attracted significant investor interest before running into legal issues in the United States.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission challenged the project in 2020, and Telegram subsequently withdrew from direct control of the network. After this dispute, community developers continued to build the blockchain under the name TON.
Durov’s latest announcement returns the currency to the name used before the regulatory conflict. However, he said the blockchain itself would continue to use TON, maintaining a clear separation between the network and the token.
Telegram deepens its blockchain strategy
The rebranding comes as Telegram increases its involvement in TON-related products and infrastructure. Durov described the effort as part of a campaign called “Make TON Great Again,” which he said includes more changes to the ecosystem.
Network fees have also been reduced, while infrastructure updates have been introduced across the entire TON ecosystem. Telegram has continued to add blockchain-based features to its products, strengthening the network’s connection with the messaging platform’s vast user base.
The return of Gram also gives Telegram and TON a simpler naming structure. Several large blockchain networks use one name for the chain and another for the currency, and Durov’s announcement brings TON closer to this model.
The token’s 18.75% gain indicates a quick response from traders following Durov’s statement. TON was trading at $2.19 after the announcement, with market activity focused on the restored Gram name and Telegram’s role in the network’s future.
Durov did not describe the rebranding as a symbolic relaunch. It said the change would not affect ownership records, staking or network operations, which could help limit confusion among current holders.
