What is Gram (formerly Toncoin)?

Gram is the coin of The Open Network, or TON, a blockchain closely tied to the messaging app Telegram. Until 15 June 2026 the coin was called Toncoin, with the ticker TON. The blockchain itself is still called TON.

Where it came from

TON was first designed by Nikolai Durov, a co-founder of Telegram. In 2018 Telegram sold tokens, then also called Gram, to private investors and raised $1.7 billion.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission challenged the sale. In 2020 Telegram dropped the project and agreed to return about $1.2 billion to investors. An independent community, organised through the TON Foundation, carried the network on under the name The Open Network. Its main network has been running since November 2019.

How it works

TON uses proof of stake (Lesson 8). Validators are chosen in regular elections according to how much they stake. Their rewards come from transaction fees and new coins, and part of each fee is destroyed.

Telegram is closely involved again. It added a TON wallet to the app in 2023. The 2026 renaming proposal described Telegram as the largest validator on the network.

The 2026 renaming

In June 2026, 81.22% of the voting power that took part backed renaming Toncoin to Gram, the name in the original design. The change took effect on 15 June 2026.

Nothing had to be swapped or claimed. Coins in your wallet stayed where they were, and only the name, ticker and logo changed. Any website asking you to "convert TON to GRAM" or "claim GRAM" is a scam. Lesson 18 explains why.

What people use it for

People send Gram inside Telegram, use apps built on TON and hold or trade it. Tether issues a version of USDT on TON (Lesson 10).

Risks to know

• Dependence on Telegram. Much of TON's use comes through Telegram, which is also its largest validator. Decisions by one company matter a great deal.
• Rename scams. Fake "migration" offers target holders after any rename.
• Regulatory history. The original token sale was stopped by the SEC.
• Price swings. Gram can fall far and fast, like other coins.

Learn more

Lesson 8 explains proof of stake, Lesson 18 covers common scams and Lesson 10 covers stablecoins.