Toncoin (TON) renamed to Gram: Pavel Durov relaunches the project with a historic rebranding

On June 1, 2026, Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, announced a major rebranding for the native cryptocurrency of The Open Network (TON). The token TON will abandon its current name to reclaim its original designation, Gram , used in the project’s first whitepaper in 2018. This decision is part of a strategy called « Make TON Great Again » , aimed at revitalizing the network after years of community development. Initially backed by Telegram before being taken over by the community, the project has a market capitalization of 5.26 billion dollars according to internal data from CryptoScore Pro. What Happened Pavel Durov confirmed the name change via a message on the X platform (formerly Twitter), emphasizing a desire to « restore the project’s heritage. » The rebranding includes a visual overhaul, featuring a new logo and a modernized graphic identity, without altering the network’s technical details. According to CryptoScore Pro, the token has a market capitalization of 5.26 billion dollars and a 24-hour trading volume of 92.05 million dollars. The last audit for TON was conducted by CertiK, but the project is not yet registered under the EU’s MiCA regulation. The TON network, now renamed Gram, remains a modular Layer 1 (L1) blockchain designed for high scalability. It records 44 commits on GitHub over the past four weeks and 8 releases published in the last 90 days. No specific date has been provided for completing the rebranding, but Durov mentioned a gradual transition over several weeks. The community remains active, though internal data shows a limited number of LinkedIn followers (15) and no official posts on social media in the last 24 hours. Why It Matters The rebranding of TON to Gram is primarily a marketing and repositioning move. Historically, the name Gram was tied to Telegram’s original vision for a blockchain integrated into its ecosystem, before being abandoned in 2020 due to regulatory pressures. The return to this name symbolizes an attempt to reconnect with the original vision while avoiding negative connotations from past disputes. Technically, the network remains unchanged: it is still a modular blockchain using a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, optimized for fast and low-cost transactions. From a market perspective, this change could stimulate speculative interest in the token, particularly among investors sensitive to historical narratives or projects led by prominent figures like Durov. Increased demand could lead to higher trading volume and upward pressure on the price. However, the project already has a significant market capitalization, limiting the potential for rapid growth. This rebranding aligns with a broader trend in the crypto ecosystem, where projects seek to distance themselves from their past or leverage historical names to attract attention. For Layer 1 (L1) blockchains, a successful rebranding can help differentiate from competitors like Solana (SOL) or Avalanche (AVAX), but success will depend on real adoption by developers and users. Since the project is not yet registered under MiCA, the rebranding does not change its current regulatory status in Europe. However, increased adoption could prompt regulators to take a closer look at the project. Points to Watch Transition Timeline : An official announcement on the next steps of the rebranding (key dates, wallet integration, partnerships) will be a strong indicator of the project’s credibility. Developer Reactions : The release of new SDK tools or software updates to facilitate Gram’s integration into dApps will be a positive signal. Real Adoption : A rebranding does not guarantee increased adoption. Success will depend on the project’s ability to attract developers, decentralized applications (dApps), and end-users. Competition : The Layer 1 blockchain market is already highly competitive. Gram must prove its technical or economic superiority to stand out. Dilution Risk : If the rebranding is perceived as purely marketing without technical or economic substance, it could lead to investor disinterest.