Toncoin Becomes GRAM: Why the Token Surged 11% After Pavel Durov’s Big Announcement

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

• Telegram founder Pavel Durov confirmed Toncoin will be renamed GRAM within weeks.
  
• The announcement helped push the token more than 10% higher despite broader market weakness.
  
• Telegram is expanding its influence over TON as part of a seven-step ecosystem growth plan.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has unveiled a major change for the Toncoin ecosystem, announcing that the network’s native token will be renamed GRAM. The move marks a return to the project’s original identity and signals Telegram’s growing involvement in the blockchain network it helped create.

The announcement triggered a strong market reaction, with Toncoin climbing more than 10% following the news. The rally comes at a time when the broader crypto market is facing pressure, highlighting renewed investor interest in the project’s future direction.

Telegram Revives the Original GRAM Identity

According to Durov, the native token of The Open Network (TON) will transition from Toncoin to GRAM over the next three weeks. The name GRAM was originally introduced in the project’s earliest white paper before regulatory challenges forced major changes to the ecosystem.

While the token is being rebranded, Durov clarified that TON will continue to serve as the name of the underlying Layer-1 blockchain network.

The rebranding is being presented as more than a cosmetic update. Durov described it as a return to the project’s roots and a foundation for the next phase of development.

Token Price Jumps Despite Broader Market Weakness

Investors responded positively to the announcement, sending the token sharply higher. GRAM, still trading under the TON ticker during the transition period, gained over 11% following the news and was trading near $2.10.

The token’s momentum extends beyond the latest announcement. It has risen more than 19% over the past week and approximately 60% over the last month.

Notably, the gains arrived even as the wider cryptocurrency market moved lower. Bitcoin slipped below the $71,000 level amid geopolitical uncertainty, yet TON managed to outperform most major digital assets.

Part of a Larger “TON Great Again” Strategy

The rebrand represents the fourth step in Durov’s seven-part roadmap aimed at strengthening the TON ecosystem.

Previous initiatives included a significant network upgrade that reportedly increased processing speed by ten times while boosting block production rates. Durov also recently highlighted a dramatic reduction in transaction fees, bringing costs close to zero.

In another major shift, Telegram is set to replace the TON Foundation as the network’s primary driving force and become its largest validator. The company’s increasing involvement reflects a broader effort to accelerate adoption and improve the network’s technical capabilities.

The TON project has a complicated history. Durov originally helped launch the network before stepping away amid legal challenges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. With those issues now behind it and regulatory conditions appearing more favorable, Telegram is once again taking a central role.

Also Read: Telegram-Backed TON Overtakes Bitcoin by 6,000x in Speed Report

The transition from Toncoin to GRAM represents a symbolic and strategic reset. As Telegram deepens its commitment to the ecosystem, investors will be watching closely to see whether the rebrand can translate into sustained growth, broader adoption, and stronger network activity.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.