Gram (prev. Toncoin) (GRAM)

What Gram is

Gram is the native currency of The Open Network, a layer-1 blockchain the project describes as "developed by Telegram and the open-source community" (ton.org, as of September 2026). The token now carries the ticker GRAM on the project's own site, where it was previously presented as Toncoin. Gram is "used to pay fees, participate in validation, voting, and more," and it also buys Telegram Stars and prepays Telegram Premium subscriptions and giveaways.

The network's defining characteristic is its integration with a messaging application rather than a purely technical property. TON is designed around distribution through Telegram.

How it works

TON scales by splitting itself. The project describes dynamic sharding directly: "as the load increases, the mainnet automatically splits into shardchains, and merges back together when the load decreases" (ton.org, September 2026). Rather than every node processing every transaction, the chain subdivides under load and recombines when demand falls. This is a structural alternative to raising a fixed capacity limit.

The network is maintained by validators. TON reports 392 validators and 1,030 nodes, with a block time of roughly 0.4 seconds and a stated capacity above 100,000 verified transactions per second (ton.org, September 2026). Treat the throughput figure as the project's own benchmark claim rather than sustained mainnet load, and note that validator and node counts change continuously.

Gram is what a validator uses to participate in validation, and it is what users spend on transaction fees. It also carries voting weight in network decisions.

The application layer is where TON differs most from other chains. Telegram integrations listed by the project include Mini-Apps and bots, nft gifts, blockchain-secured usernames, collectible phone numbers, Telegram Stars, Premium subscriptions, and advertising revenue payouts. TON describes this as connecting to a base of more than one billion Telegram users. The practical effect is that a wallet can live inside a messaging app rather than requiring a separate application, which changes the onboarding path for users who have never used a wallet before.

Supply and tokenomics

Gram was, in the project's words, "initially distributed via Proof-of-Work mining." That mining has ended, so the original distribution mechanism is closed and no new Gram enters circulation through it (ton.org, September 2026).

Gram's ongoing roles are paying network fees, participating in validation, and voting. The token is also directly consumable inside Telegram's own economy, since it can purchase Telegram Stars and prepay Premium subscriptions. That is an unusual property: most layer-1 tokens have utility confined to their own chain, while Gram has a documented use in a large consumer application's paid features.

Check ton.org directly for current published supply figures rather than relying on a number quoted elsewhere, and be aware that supply reporting for this asset has been complicated by its rename and by the size of early mined allocations. Treat any burn or emission claim you encounter as requiring its own source.

History

TON's origins lie in a blockchain project initiated by Telegram, which was subsequently taken forward by an open-source community rather than by the messaging company alone. The network describes itself today as "developed by Telegram and the open-source community," which reflects that dual lineage.

Gram was distributed at the outset through proof of work mining, an unusual choice for a network of its design and one that has since concluded. The project's own materials link to an announcement of that mining ending.

The name has moved as well. The asset has been presented as Toncoin, and the project's site now uses Gram with the ticker GRAM. Exchanges, data providers and wallets have adopted the new name at different rates, so you will encounter both names referring to the same asset.

The network's development since has concentrated on the Telegram surface: wallets inside the messenger, Mini-Apps, NFT gifts, tradable usernames and numbers, and payment rails for Telegram's own paid products.

Risks and what to watch

Platform dependence is the central consideration. TON's distribution advantage comes from Telegram, and a change in Telegram's product decisions, policies, or regulatory position would affect the network's main growth channel in a way that a chain without that dependency would not experience.

Naming is a live operational risk. An asset presented as Gram on the project's site and as Toncoin elsewhere invites confusion, and the ticker GRAM has been used historically for unrelated projects. Confirm you are dealing with the correct asset and the correct contract or network before sending anything, and read exchange listings carefully.

Validator distribution matters for security. A stated count of 392 validators is a snapshot, and what protects the network is how independent those operators are and how stake is distributed among them, neither of which is readable from the headline number.

Throughput claims deserve scepticism as a category. A figure above 100,000 transactions per second is a benchmark result under chosen conditions, and dynamic sharding introduces its own complexity in cross-shard message handling. Real-world performance under adversarial conditions is a different measurement.

Supply transparency is worth checking directly. Early proof-of-work distribution concentrated large amounts in few hands, and the current published supply figures should come from the project rather than from secondary aggregators.

Availability varies by venue and jurisdiction, and some venues still list the asset under its former name; see where to buy Gram and Exchanges.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gram the same asset as Toncoin?

The project's site now presents the native currency of The Open Network as Gram with the ticker GRAM, where it was previously presented as Toncoin. Exchanges and data providers have adopted the new naming at different speeds, so both names appear in the market for the same asset. Always confirm the network and contract before sending.

What is Gram used for?

TON states that Gram is "used to pay fees, participate in validation, voting, and more." It can also be spent inside Telegram to buy Telegram Stars and to prepay Telegram Premium subscriptions and giveaways.

Is Gram mined?

Not any more. TON states that Gram was "initially distributed via Proof-of-Work mining," and that mining has ended. New Gram does not enter circulation through mining today, and the network is maintained by validators rather than miners.

How does TON handle high load?

Through dynamic sharding. TON states that "as the load increases, the mainnet automatically splits into shardchains, and merges back together when the load decreases." Capacity therefore adjusts to demand rather than being fixed by a block size parameter.

How closely is TON tied to Telegram?

Closely at the product level. TON lists Telegram Mini-Apps and bots, NFT gifts, blockchain-secured usernames, collectible numbers, Telegram Stars, Premium subscriptions and ad revenue payouts among its integrations, and points to a base of more than one billion Telegram users. The network itself is open and its development is described as community-driven alongside Telegram.