Overview
- Telegram announced Tuesday that founder Pavel Durov plans to ship a native, non‑custodial Gram wallet to more than 1 billion users this summer, with the company describing the rollout as the largest of its kind.
- The wallet will be non‑custodial, meaning users hold their own private keys rather than Telegram or a third party holding custody of funds.
- Durov said the feature will enable instant, zero‑fee transfers, but Telegram has not explained how network costs will be covered or whether the model is sustainable long term.
- The announcement sent Gram prices up about 7–8%, and it follows a June rebrand from Toncoin to Gram plus a 2025 proof‑of‑concept wallet test to 87 million U.S. users.
- Analysts say the real test will be usage: TON currently has fewer than 2 million monthly active wallets, so a measurable rise in active wallets and transactions is needed to show widespread adoption and lasting impact, and regulatory and security details remain unresolved.