Telegram's Pavel Durov announces launch of native Gram cryptocurrency wallet
The messaging platform Telegram is set to introduce a native Gram wallet with self-custody features for its user base of over 1 billion people, further extending the app's expanding range of cryptocurrency-related offerings.
This summer, Telegram is preparing to introduce a native non-custodial Gram wallet throughout its messaging platform, a move that could enable self-custody cryptocurrency payments for its more than 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.
Founder Pavel Durov announced the development in a Wednesday post, stating that the wallet would enable users to transfer cryptocurrency instantly with zero transaction fees. He characterized the initiative as the "largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history," although Telegram has yet to reveal a specific launch date or provide further technical specifications.
According to company data, Telegram crossed the threshold of 1 billion monthly active users in 2025, positioning the wallet to achieve a potential user reach that extends well beyond the majority of independent crypto applications. Even if only a fraction of the platform's massive user base adopts the feature, it could substantially broaden access to self-custody solutions and peer-to-peer cryptocurrency payment systems.
Gram returns to Telegram's crypto roots
The wallet reveal arrives just weeks following The Open Network's announcement regarding plans to rebrand its native token from Toncoin back to Gram. This blockchain, which maintains close integration with Telegram, is reviving the cryptocurrency's original designation from Telegram's 2018 white paper, a move that founder Pavel Durov characterized as a return to the project's fundamental origins.
Since Telegram discontinued its original blockchain initiative following a 2020 settlement agreement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the messaging platform has progressively increased its support for the TON ecosystem. The network has indicated that the Gram rebrand represents one component of a more comprehensive roadmap designed to broaden crypto services and enhance Web3 functionality integrated within Telegram.