Catenaa, Monday, June 08, 2026- The Open Network will rename its native cryptocurrency from TON to Gram under a broader restructuring plan backed by Pavel Durov, reviving the original branding abandoned after Telegram’s failed blockchain launch in 2020.
Durov announced Monday that the network’s native token would once again carry the Gram name first outlined in Telegram’s original 2018 blockchain white paper. Under the change, TON will continue serving as the name of the blockchain itself, while Gram becomes the official name of the ecosystem’s currency.
The transition is expected to take several weeks and forms part of Durov’s wider “Make TON Great Again” initiative, a multi-stage plan aimed at reshaping the blockchain’s governance, infrastructure and identity.
The move marks one of the strongest symbolic attempts yet to reconnect the blockchain with Telegram’s abandoned crypto ambitions after years of regulatory disputes, restructuring and community-led revival.
The Gram name carries deep historical significance inside the Telegram blockchain ecosystem.
Telegram originally launched the Telegram Open Network project in 2018 during the peak of the global initial coin offering boom. The company raised billions from private investors through planned Gram token sales while promoting the blockchain as a fast decentralized payments and messaging infrastructure tied directly to Telegram’s enormous user base.
However, the project collapsed after a prolonged legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
US regulators argued that Telegram’s Gram token sales violated securities laws because the digital assets functioned as unregistered securities offerings.
The legal dispute eventually forced Telegram to abandon the blockchain entirely during 2020, triggering refund demands and lawsuits from investors.
Independent developers later revived the ecosystem under the new identity “The Open Network,” preserving TON branding while separating the project from direct Telegram ownership.
Over time, the blockchain rebuilt momentum through integrations inside Telegram’s growing ecosystem of mini-applications, digital wallets and crypto payment systems.
Durov’s latest announcement forms part of a seven-stage restructuring campaign known internally as MTONGA.
The initiative first emerged publicly in April when Durov announced major network upgrades designed to improve scalability and transaction performance.
According to Durov, recent infrastructure improvements increased network speeds roughly tenfold while enabling near-instant transaction settlement times.
Other announced measures included sharply reducing blockchain transaction fees and shifting governance responsibilities away from the TON Foundation toward Telegram itself.
Under the new structure, Telegram is expected to become the ecosystem’s primary validator and operational steward.
The remaining stages of the MTONGA initiative have not yet been disclosed publicly, fueling speculation about deeper Telegram integration across digital payments, crypto trading and blockchain identity systems.
TON has gradually evolved into one of the most closely integrated blockchain ecosystems tied to a major social platform.
Telegram’s global user base exceeds hundreds of millions of users, giving TON access to one of the world’s largest built-in digital communities.
The blockchain now powers a growing range of payment tools, crypto wallets, gaming systems and decentralized applications operating directly inside Telegram’s messaging infrastructure.
TON-based mini-applications gained strong traction during 2025 and 2026 as Telegram accelerated support for blockchain-native services.
Developers increasingly used TON for peer-to-peer transfers, digital collectibles, tokenized rewards and mobile payment systems integrated directly into chats and channels.
The ecosystem’s growth has also attracted broader institutional attention as messaging platforms increasingly explore financial infrastructure services.
The revival of the Gram brand also revives memories of one of the crypto industry’s most important regulatory confrontations.
Telegram’s clash with US regulators became a landmark case shaping how governments later approached token launches, crypto fundraising and blockchain-based investment products.
The SEC victory against Telegram strengthened regulatory scrutiny across the global crypto market and heavily influenced later enforcement actions against multiple token issuers.
Many blockchain startups subsequently abandoned public token sales or shifted toward offshore fundraising structures due to fears of similar enforcement actions.
By restoring the Gram identity, TON appears to be reclaiming branding that once symbolized both the promise and regulatory risks of large-scale crypto adoption.
Analysts said the move also signals growing confidence inside the TON ecosystem following years of operational stabilization and expanding Telegram integration.
The success of the rebrand may ultimately depend on whether Telegram can continue converting its massive social platform into a sustainable blockchain economy without triggering renewed regulatory conflict.
