Durov says Telegram will bake a zero-fee Gram wallet into every app this summer
- Telegram plans to embed a fee-free, non-custodial Gram wallet across its apps this summer, potentially reaching over 1 billion users.
- GRAM jumped more than 8% after Pavel Durov announced the wallet rollout.
- Telegram has not explained how it will cover zero-fee transaction costs.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said on July 21 that the company will put a native, non-custodial Gram wallet inside all of its apps this summer, giving more than 1 billion users a way to move crypto instantly and without fees.Â
Durov stated in his Telegram channel that the rollout will be the largest for a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history.
He also added that the transactions will be instant with zero fees.
Traders are already reacting to the announcement. GRAM, which previously was Toincoin (TON), the token that powers the wallet, went up by over 8% over 24 hours to about $1.53, according to CoinMarketCap data.
What does a non-custodial actually mean here?
A non-custodial wallet leaves the private keys with the user, not the exchange or a third party. If Telegram is breached or goes offline, the funds are not Telegram’s to lose.
The design is in line with Telegram’s leanings toward decentralization.
In May 2020, the SEC forced Telegram to return $1.22 billion to Gram investors and pay an $18.5 million penalty, following a court case that made the messaging platform abandon the TON project.Â
Independent developers kept the blockchain alive as The Open Network, and Telegram has since folded it back into its apps.
The Open Network (TON) has since returned to Telegram since January 2025 as its exclusive crypto infrastructure, and the wallet runs on it as well.Â
In-app payments and on Telegram already happen via TON.Â
When did Durov’s Telegram start using Gram?
GRAM was Toncoin until a rebrand that took effect on June 15, 2026, after community approval. Durov stated then that the “Gram” name is part of his “Make TON Great Again” campaign. The token jumped by 13% following that announcement. The name can be traced back to TON’s original 2018 white paper.
The non-custodial wallet has been live before now; however, it was not available globally. The company launched the wallet to 87 million US users in July 2025.Â
The Gram, teased by Durov, will be looking to turn Telegram’s 1 billion users into wallet users once it opens services, which are currently available to only US users, to the rest of the world.
GRAM would also benefit from it, as its volume will also see a considerable rise. How Telegram aims to manage the cost of the zero-fee transfers that Durov teased has not been disclosed.
Durov has not given a firm launch date beyond “this summer.”
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FAQs
What is the Gram wallet Telegram is launching?
It is a native, non-custodial crypto wallet that Telegram plans to build into all of its apps this summer, letting more than 1 billion users send and receive Gram instantly with no fees while keeping control of their own private keys.
Why did the GRAM token price rise?
GRAM rose after Durov's July 21 announcement, gaining roughly 8.5% over 24 hours to about $1.53 according to CoinMarketCap data, as traders bet that a billion-user wallet would drive demand for the token.
What is the connection between Gram and Toncoin?
Gram is the native token of The Open Network (TON) and was called Toncoin until a rebrand that took effect on June 15, 2026 after community approval, reviving the original name from TON's 2018 white paper.
Disclaimer. The information provided is not trading advice. Cryptopolitan.com holds no liability for any investments made based on the information provided on this page. We strongly recommend independent research and/or consultation with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.
Hannah Collymore
Hannah is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of blog writing and event reporting experience in the crypto space. At Cryptopolitan, Hannah contributes to the news page, reporting and analyzing the latest developments in DeFi, RWA, crypto regulation, AI and frontier tech industries. She graduated from Arcadia university with a degree in Business Administration.
