TON Price Jumps as Telegram Revives Gram Brand in Major Rebranding Move

Gram is back.

For many crypto veterans, the name recalls one of the industry's most high-profile blockchain projects—an ambitious initiative launched by Telegram that ultimately collided with U.S. regulators before reaching the public market. 

Years later, Telegram founder Pavel Durov has brought that name back, announcing that Toncoin will be rebranded as Gram.

The announcement immediately caught the market's attention. TON price rallied sharply following the news, while discussions across the crypto community focused on what the move could signal about Telegram's growing role in shaping the future of The Open Network.

Key Takeaways

• Telegram is rebranding Toncoin as Gram while keeping The Open Network (TON) as the blockchain name.
• TON price gained as much as 19% following Pavel Durov's announcement.
• The move reinforces Telegram's expanding involvement in the TON ecosystem and its broader Web3 strategy.

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Why Telegram Is Bringing Back the Gram Name

The return of Gram carries significant historical weight.

When Telegram first unveiled its blockchain ambitions in 2018, Gram was introduced as the native token of the Telegram Open Network. The project quickly became one of the largest private token sales in crypto history, raising approximately $1.7 billion from investors.

That momentum came to an abrupt halt when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) challenged the token sale, arguing that Gram had been offered as an unregistered security. Telegram eventually withdrew from the project in 2020 as part of a legal settlement.

Development of the network continued under an independent community, which renamed the blockchain The Open Network and adopted Toncoin as its native asset.

According to reports from Decrypt and The Defiant, Durov's latest decision effectively reconnects the ecosystem with its original identity while preserving the decentralized structure that emerged after Telegram's departure.

Importantly, the rebranding does not introduce changes to the blockchain itself, tokenomics, or network operations.

Read Also: TON Coin's Price Rises Dramatically? Here's Why TON's Price Will Rise in 2026

TON Price Reacts Strongly to the Announcement

Investors responded quickly.

Data cited by AMBCrypto, The Defiant, and Cryptopolitan showed TON price climbing between 13% and 19% shortly after the announcement became public.

Several factors appear to be driving the market reaction.

First, Telegram's increasingly active role in the ecosystem has strengthened investor confidence. The company has steadily expanded blockchain integrations across its platform, creating new opportunities for user adoption.

Second, the Gram brand carries strong recognition within crypto circles. Its return creates a compelling narrative that blends nostalgia with renewed growth expectations.

Third, traders are closely watching Telegram's ecosystem strategy. With more than one billion users globally, any deeper integration between Telegram services and blockchain infrastructure could significantly expand the network's reach.

While sentiment has been the immediate catalyst behind the rally, long-term performance will ultimately depend on utility, adoption, and on-chain activity.

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What Gram Rebranding Means for The Open Network

One of the practical benefits of the rebranding is clearer branding architecture.

Under the new structure:

• The Open Network (TON) remains the blockchain.
• Gram becomes the native token.

This distinction may reduce confusion for newcomers who previously encountered TON as both the network name and the token name.

The announcement also aligns with Telegram's broader efforts to strengthen its blockchain ecosystem.

Over the past several years, Telegram has expanded support for:

• Telegram Wallet.
• Telegram Stars.
• Mini Apps.
• Blockchain-based payment infrastructure.
• Web3 services and digital asset integrations.

According to Decrypt, the Gram rebrand forms part of Durov's broader roadmap known as "Make TON Great Again," a strategy aimed at accelerating ecosystem growth and adoption.

Taken together, these initiatives suggest Telegram is positioning TON as a core component of its long-term digital economy vision.

Read Also: How to Stake TON on Bittime in 4 Easy Steps

Do TON Holders Need to Swap Their Tokens?

No.

Telegram and TON developers have confirmed that users do not need to perform any token migration, conversion, or swap.

Existing balances will remain unchanged throughout the transition process.

The only adjustment is the token's branding, which will shift from Toncoin to Gram once implementation is completed.

Network infrastructure, smart contracts, wallets, and decentralized applications will continue operating as normal.

For holders, the transition is expected to be seamless.

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Conclusion

The rebranding of Toncoin to Gram marks one of the most significant developments in the TON ecosystem this year. 

Beyond the name change, the move symbolizes Telegram's renewed connection to a project that began as part of its original blockchain vision.

The market's reaction highlights the influence Telegram still holds within the crypto industry. However, the long-term success of Gram will depend less on branding and more on real-world adoption, ecosystem growth, and the continued expansion of blockchain-powered services across Telegram's global user base.

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FAQ

What is Gram?

Gram is the new name for the token previously known as Toncoin, the native asset of The Open Network.

Is TON changing its blockchain name?

No. The blockchain remains The Open Network (TON). Only the token name is changing.

Why did TON price increase after the announcement?

Investors viewed the rebranding as a positive signal of Telegram's growing commitment to the TON ecosystem.

Do users need to swap TON for Gram?

No. The transition is automatic and does not require any action from token holders.

Who announced the rebranding?

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov announced the decision.

Does Gram change the underlying technology?

No. The blockchain infrastructure, smart contracts, and tokenomics remain unchanged.