Telegram has started releasing its native Gram Wallet to an initial group of users, with plans to expand access across the messaging platform’s more than one billion monthly active users in the coming weeks. The announcement from founder and CEO Pavel Durov triggered a rebound in the GRAM token, formerly known as Toncoin.

At the time of the news, GRAM traded near $1.40, posting gains of roughly 2 percent over 24 hours after briefly approaching $1.45 to $1.46. Trading volume increased substantially, with reports citing rises of approximately 137 percent to 183 percent as market interest picked up around the rollout.

Phased Release and Core Features

Durov stated that the company is gradually opening the wallet to selected accounts before making it available more broadly. The product is designed as a self-custodial solution built directly into the Telegram application and is set to become the default wallet option in user settings.

Users will be able to send funds, make payments, and complete purchases inside the app. The wallet also supports Telegram Collectibles, covering digital gifts, usernames, and related items. Telegram has highlighted instant transfers and zero-fee transactions within the product.

Because the wallet is self-custodial, individuals retain control of their private keys. No third party, including Telegram, can access or recover the assets if credentials are lost. Setup requires no external download or identity verification, distinguishing it from existing custodial options previously available through the platform.

Smart Contract Approval and Upgrade Path

Network validators have approved the smart contract that powers Gram Wallet. According to Durov, this structure allows developers to update the wallet without requiring users to transfer holdings into a new contract. The design aims to reduce friction and limit opportunities for fraudulent upgrade requests that can arise during forced migrations.

The rollout follows earlier statements made in July, when Durov described plans for a native non-custodial wallet as the largest such deployment in history. The current phase marks the practical start of that expansion rather than a further preview.

Token Rebrand and Service Separation

The development comes after the native token of The Open Network was renamed from Toncoin to Gram. A community vote approved the change with more than 81 percent support, and the rebrand took effect in mid-June without requiring holders to swap tokens or move balances. Existing addresses, smart contracts, and staking positions remained intact.

Telegram is also positioning its crypto services more distinctly. The existing Wallet in Telegram service is being repositioned under the name Walt and will no longer serve as the default option. Gram Wallet is focused on payments, transfers, and purchases, while Walt is described as supporting a wider range of investment and trading tools across multiple assets and blockchains. Walt remains reachable through Telegram search.

Market Reaction and Technical Context

Price charts showed GRAM recovering from levels near $1.33. On shorter time frames, the token moved above key mid-range indicators before encountering resistance in the $1.39 to $1.45 zone. Volume expansion accompanied the announcement-driven move, though sellers capped the initial advance.

The wallet runs on the same network whose native asset was rebranded. Telegram has presented the feature as a simpler path to self-custody for users who may not previously have managed digital assets outside a messaging environment. Full technical details on recovery mechanisms and the precise scope of zero-fee transfers have not been comprehensively disclosed in the initial announcements.

Access is expanding on a staged schedule. The company has not published specific adoption targets or the exact number of accounts included in the first wave. The coming weeks will determine how widely the wallet is activated as availability increases across the platform’s user base.