TON came together after Telegram founder Pavel Durov said the network’s traditional token would return to its original name, Gram.
Summary
- Pavel Durov said that Toncoin will be renamed Gram, restoring the original ownership of the token as described in the original TON white paper.
- TON rose 18.75% to $2.19 after traders responded to the rebrand and Telegram’s stronger role in the ecosystem.
- Durov said the reconstruction will take about three weeks and will not require the exchange of tokens.
According to Durov, Gram was the original name of the token in the first TON white paper, while TON will remain the name of the blockchain network. The proposed change separates money from the network and returns the token tied to Telegram’s original blockchain systems.
This announcement started a sharp market movement on June 1. TON rose by 18.75% in 24 hours to $2.19, as traders reacted to the restoration of the growing role of Gram identity and Telegram in the ecosystem. Durov said the renaming process should take about three weeks.
No token exchange will be required. Durov said that user ratings, rankings, and network activity will remain unchanged during the process. So the update is a product change rather than a technology migration.
Gram name returns after years of absence
The Gram name carries a long history of the Telegram blockchain project. The Telegraph first introduced Gram during its initial blockchain program, which attracted significant investor interest before running into legal trouble in the United States.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission challenged the project in 2020, and Telegram stepped back from controlling the network. After that controversy, community developers continued to build the blockchain under the name of TON.
Durov’s latest announcement returns money to the name used before the regulatory dispute. However, he said that the blockchain itself will continue to use TON, maintaining a clear separation between the network and the token.
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The restructuring comes as Telegram increases its involvement in TON-connected products and infrastructure. Durov described the effort as part of a campaign called “Make TON Great Again,” which he said includes many ecosystem changes.
Network fees have also been reduced, while infrastructure upgrades have been introduced across the TON ecosystem. Telegram has continued to add blockchain-based features to its products, strengthening the network’s connection to the messaging platform’s massive user base.
The return of Gram also gives Telegram and TON a simple word structure. Several major blockchain networks use one name for the chain and one for the currency, and Durov’s announcement puts TON closer to that model.
The token’s gain of 18.75% showed a quick response from traders following Durov’s statement. TON traded at $2.19 after the announcement, with market activity focused on Gram’s reclaimed name and Telegram’s role in the network’s future.
Durov did not describe the reissue as a relaunch of the token. He said the change would not affect ownership records, staking, or network operations, which would help reduce confusion among current owners.
