Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced on June 1 that The Open Network will rename its native token Gram, bringing back the original name proposed in the project’s early white paper. The move marks a branding shift for TON and ties into Durov’s ongoing plan to reposition the network through staged technical and structural upgrades.
The rebrand returns the token to its original identity before Telegram abandoned its blockchain project in 2020 following regulatory pressure in the United States. TON confirmed that the change affects only the token name, while the underlying blockchain and network operations remain unchanged. Durov said the transition will take about three weeks as exchanges and ecosystem partners update their systems.
Market reaction and network position
TON’s token rose 3.2% after the announcement, trading at around $2, as of writing. Traders reacted to the rebranding of the network’s native token to Gram and increased attention on Telegram-linked infrastructure.
TON separately stated that its upgraded infrastructure supports sub-second finality, which enables faster processing for payments and mini-apps built inside Telegram’s ecosystem. The network continues to position itself for high-volume usage across messaging-based applications.
From regulatory setback to revival
TON’s development remains shaped by its legal clash with U.S. regulators in 2020. The Securities and Exchange Commission challenged Telegram’s token sale, arguing it violated securities laws. A court later agreed under the Howey test, ruling that the original Gram sale functioned as an investment contract rather than a utility token, which forced Telegram to halt the project and return funds to investors.
After the shutdown, independent developers revived the network under the name The Open Network. The project later shifted away from fundraising and re-emerged as a blockchain focused on payments and mini-apps inside Telegram’s ecosystem. Over time, TON became more closely tied to Telegram’s platform use cases rather than its original token sale structure.
Despite recent rebranding efforts, TON remains focused on becoming essential infrastructure for Telegram’s ecosystem. This includes functionality for payments, trading, and mini-apps that can function on a large scale in the messaging application.
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