Telegram Unveils Gram Wallet: Crypto Freedom for 1 Billion Users

Telegram is set to roll out its native, non‑custodial Gram wallet this summer, targeting its 1 billion monthly active users.

Telegram's Gram Wallet: User Base and Strategic Impact

Founder Pavel Durov highlighted that the wallet will enable instant, fee‑free transfers, marking the largest non‑custodial wallet deployment in history.

■1 billion monthly active users represent a massive potential liquidity pool.

■Zero transaction fees – %0 fee structure.

■Non‑custodial design ensures users retain full control of private keys.

■Launch date is tentative, with a summer 2026 target.

TON Ecosystem and Token Rebranding

The Open Network (TON) recently rebranded its native token from Toncoin to Gram, signaling a return to Telegram's original 2018 vision.

■Toncoin → Gram rebrand strengthens brand cohesion and community perception.

■TON’s Layer‑2 scaling solution supports thousands of transactions per second.

■Telegram’s investment in TON has funneled $200 million+ in funding from 2024‑2025.

Market Dynamics and Competitive Edge

Gram’s entry creates a new integration model between DeFi and messaging platforms.

■Competition: Compared to WhatsApp Pay and WeChat Pay, the open‑source, non‑custodial architecture offers a distinct advantage.

■Potential TVL boost: A 5‑10% adoption rate among Telegram users could translate to $5‑$10 billion additional TVL.

■Token transfer volume could exceed $1 billion within the first six months.

Risks and Regulatory Shadow

Following its 2020 settlement with the SEC, Telegram is proceeding with heightened regulatory caution.

■US and EU regulators are scrutinizing KYC/AML obligations for non‑custodial wallets.

■User‑managed private keys increase the risk of loss and raise support costs.

■TON’s smart‑contract security has previously suffered exploits costing $30 million.

Emre Can – DeFi and Web3 ecosystem analyst. The Gram wallet launch could position Telegram as a unique bridge in the crypto landscape, thanks to its massive user base and non‑custodial nature. However, regulatory pressure and key‑management risks may temper early adoption, likely confining initial usage to technically savvy users and the TON community.