What is Gram (prev. Toncoin) (GRAM)?

By CMC AI02 August 2026 08:48PM (UTC+0)

TLDR

Gram (GRAM) is the native cryptocurrency of The Open Network (TON), a high-speed, scalable layer-1 blockchain deeply integrated with the Telegram messaging app to bring Web3 to its billion-user base.

Core Purpose: It functions as the primary currency for transaction fees, staking, and payments within thousands of Telegram-integrated mini-apps and services.
Technical Foundation: The network uses a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, achieving sub-second transaction finality with very low fees.
Governance & Supply: Community governance approved its recent rebrand, and its supply mechanics include staking rewards and scheduled releases, with Telegram now acting as the largest network validator.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Telegram Integration

Gram exists to seamlessly integrate cryptocurrency into the daily experience of Telegram's over one billion users. Its primary value proposition is acting as the financial rail for the Telegram ecosystem. This means users can pay for services, tip creators, and interact with decentralized applications (dApps) or "mini-apps" directly within the messenger. The goal, as stated by the TON Foundation, is to empower users to own their digital identity, data, and assets by leveraging Telegram's massive, built-in distribution channel.

2. Technology & Architecture

The Open Network is a layer-1 blockchain designed for speed and scalability. It uses a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus model, where validators stake GRAM to secure the network and process transactions. A major upgrade in April 2026, called Catchain 2.0, reduced block times to approximately 400 milliseconds, enabling transaction finality in about one second. This technical foundation supports high throughput with minimal fees, often around $0.0005 per transaction, making it suitable for micro-payments and consumer-scale applications.

3. Tokenomics & Governance

GRAM has a total supply of approximately 5.21 billion tokens, with about 2.7 billion in circulation. The network employs an inflationary model to reward validators; annual inflation was around 0.6% but increased to an estimated 3.6% after the speed upgrade to support higher staking rewards. A significant governance shift occurred in 2026 when Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced the "Make TON Great Again" roadmap. This included Telegram becoming the network's largest validator, replacing the TON Foundation in a primary administrative role. The token's recent rebrand from Toncoin back to its original "Gram" name was executed via a community vote that passed with 81.22% support, requiring no action from holders.

Conclusion

Fundamentally, Gram is the utility token powering a blockchain ecosystem built for mass adoption through its native integration with Telegram. Will its deep technical integration be enough to convert Telegram's vast user base into active participants in the Web3 economy?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.