Toncoin Rebrands to Gram: What the TON Token Rename Means for Holders (2026)
— By Tony Rabbit in Markets
Toncoin is being renamed to Gram (ticker TON to GRAM) after a community vote. The blockchain stays TON and there is no swap, migration, or claim.
Toncoin is being renamed to Gram, with the ticker moving from TON to GRAM, after a TON community governance vote approved the change in early June 2026. The blockchain itself stays The Open Network (TON). It is a name and ticker change only: there is no token swap, no migration, no claim, and holders do not need to do anything. Any site asking you to claim GRAM or migrate TON is a scam.
- Token renamed Toncoin to Gram; ticker TON to GRAM
- The blockchain stays The Open Network (TON)
- No swap, no migration, no claim, no new token
- Balances, addresses, contracts and NFTs are unchanged
- Any claim or migration page is fraudulent
The native token of The Open Network is getting a new name. Following an announcement by Telegram founder Pavel Durov on June 1, 2026 and a community governance vote, Toncoin is being rebranded to Gram, with the ticker changing from TON to GRAM. Importantly, the blockchain itself keeps the name TON, and the change is purely about identity: there is no token swap and nothing for holders to do. This article explains exactly what is changing, why the name Gram is significant, and how to stay safe from the scams that always follow a rebrand.
What Was Announced
On June 1, 2026, Pavel Durov said that TON's native currency would return to its original name, Gram. The move was then put to the TON community through on-chain governance, where it passed with roughly 80% of participating voting power in favor. According to the reported tally, about 2.28 million TON across 3,770 wallets voted yes, against roughly 586,660 TON from 978 wallets voting no.
The rebrand is framed as the fourth step in a campaign Durov calls "Make TON Great Again," a multi-phase plan to put Telegram back at the center of the TON ecosystem.
What Changes and What Stays the Same
The most important thing to understand is how narrow this change actually is. The token's name and ticker are changing. Almost nothing else is.
Reporting describes the transition as gradual, with exchanges and wallets expected to update their interfaces over roughly three weeks. During that window you may see the asset labeled as TON on one platform and GRAM on another. That is expected, and it does not mean two different tokens exist.
Do Holders Need to Do Anything?
No. This is the single most important takeaway. There is no swap, no bridge, no migration, and no claim. Your existing TON sits in the same wallet, at the same address, and will simply be displayed as GRAM once platforms finish updating. Because there is no migration mechanism, there is also no legitimate reason for anyone to ask you to connect a wallet, sign a transaction, or move funds to receive Gram.
Why "Gram"? The 2018 Whitepaper and SEC History
Gram is not a new name. It was the original name for the network's currency in Telegram's 2018 whitepaper. Telegram raised approximately $1.7 billion in a 2018 token sale for the project, but the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission moved against it, alleging an unregistered securities offering. In 2020 Telegram abandoned the blockchain, returned roughly $1.2 billion to investors, and paid an $18.5 million civil penalty. The network later continued as a community-driven project under the name The Open Network.
By reviving Gram, Durov is reclaiming the identity the project was forced to drop, tying the token more visibly to Telegram and its roughly 900 million users.
The "Make TON Great Again" Campaign
The rename is one piece of a larger roadmap. Coverage describes a seven-step campaign, with the first four steps reported as follows:
- Step 1. Catchain 2.0, a consensus upgrade rolled out around April 2026.
- Step 2. Transaction fee reductions across the network.
- Step 3. Telegram stepping in as a primary validator, reported around May 2026.
- Step 4. Reviving the Gram identity for the native token, June 2026.
Market Reaction
The market responded quickly to the announcement. Reports describe the token rallying roughly 15% to 19% within hours, moving from around $1.83 toward a peak near $2.26 before retracing toward the $2.00 area, while 24-hour trading volume jumped from roughly $250 million to about $575 million. As with any narrative-driven move, that initial spike was volatile, and a rename does not change the token's underlying fundamentals or supply.
What It Means for Traders
For traders, the practical impact is mostly about labels and vigilance, not mechanics.
- Expect mixed labeling. Some venues will show TON and others GRAM during the rollout. It is the same asset.
- Verify the contract, not the name. When a ticker changes, scammers list fake "GRAM" tokens. Confirm you are trading the real asset by its verified contract, not by ticker alone.
- Ignore claim and migration prompts. There is no legitimate claim. Treat every one as hostile.
- Watch liquidity and pairs. As coverage updates, you can monitor GRAM and TON pairs, liquidity, and trader flow on DEXTools the same way you vet any token.
Ticker vs Contract: What Really Identifies a Token
In the world of decentralized finance, a token's name and ticker symbol are often the most visible identifiers. However, these are merely labels. The true identity of a digital asset lies in its underlying smart contract or the unique identifier on its blockchain. This distinction is crucial, especially during events like a token rename.
When a token undergoes a rename, such as Toncoin becoming Gram and its ticker changing from TON to GRAM, it's akin to rebranding a company. The core product - the blockchain asset itself - remains unchanged. Your existing holdings are secure because the rename affects only the superficial display information, not the fundamental on-chain asset that represents your ownership.
Understanding this concept is vital for security. Scammers frequently exploit ticker confusion by creating "lookalike" tokens with similar names or tickers but entirely different contract addresses. These fake tokens are designed to trick users into buying worthless assets or interacting with malicious contracts.
How Exchanges and Wallets Roll Out a Rename
When a major token undergoes a rename, cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets follow a standardized process to ensure a smooth transition for users. The primary goal is to update the displayed information without disrupting user access or asset security. This typically involves updating the token's name and ticker symbol within their user interfaces.
Crucially, your existing balances, deposit addresses, and any active trading, staking, or DeFi positions remain entirely unchanged. Exchanges and wallets simply remap the new name and ticker to the same underlying blockchain asset. This means you won't need to take any action to "receive" the new token or update your addresses.
During the gradual rollout period, which for Gram is expected to be about three weeks from early June 2026, it's common to see inconsistencies across different platforms. You might observe "TON" displayed on one exchange or wallet while another has already updated to "GRAM." This is a normal part of the transition and does not indicate any issue with your funds.
- Display Update. Exchanges and wallets will update the token's name from Toncoin to Gram and its ticker from TON to GRAM in their interfaces.
- No User Action. Holders are not required to perform any swap, migration, claim, or other action. Your balances, addresses, contracts, NFTs, staking, and DeFi positions remain the same.
- Gradual Rollout. The change will be implemented gradually across platforms. Expect to see both TON and GRAM displayed on different venues during the ~3-week transition period.
- Uninterrupted Services. Trading, deposits, withdrawals, staking, and other services for the asset will continue without interruption, simply under the new name and ticker.
Rebrand Scams: Red Flags and How to Stay Safe
Token rebrands, while often beneficial, create fertile ground for scammers. Malicious actors leverage the confusion and excitement surrounding a name change to trick users into compromising their funds. It is paramount to remain vigilant and understand common scam tactics during such periods.
A critical point to remember is that for the Toncoin to Gram rename, there is absolutely no swap, migration, claim, or new token involved. Any communication suggesting otherwise is a scam. Your existing holdings will simply be relabeled.
Why Telegram and TON Matter Here
The history and future of The Open Network (TON) are deeply intertwined with Telegram. The blockchain itself originated from a project initiated by Telegram, as detailed in their 2018 whitepaper, where the token was initially named Gram. Although regulatory challenges led Telegram to step back in 2020, the network continued as a community-run project, evolving into The Open Network.
Today, the TON ecosystem benefits significantly from its close ties to Telegram's massive user base, which stands at approximately 900 million. This integration is practical and growing, with stablecoins like USDT available on TON and the Telegram Wallet directly integrating TON, simplifying crypto access for a vast audience.
The decision to rename Toncoin back to Gram, announced by Pavel Durov, is more than just a branding exercise. It is a symbolic move, part of a broader "Make TON Great Again" campaign. This revival of the original name, Gram, serves to reinforce and publicly acknowledge the strong, symbiotic relationship between the blockchain and the messaging giant, signaling a tighter integration and shared vision for the future.
What to Watch Next
The renaming of Toncoin to Gram is a significant event, but it's also just one step in a larger strategic roadmap. Pavel Durov's "Make TON Great Again" campaign outlines seven steps, with the Gram revival being step 4. Steps 5, 6, and 7 remain undisclosed, which means the community should exercise caution and rely only on official sources for future developments.
For investors and users, the practical advice is to follow only the official channels of TON and Telegram for any further announcements. Unofficial leaks or speculative roadmaps, while common in the crypto space, should be treated with skepticism. The crypto market is prone to rumors, and relying on unverified information can lead to poor decisions.
It's important to remember that a token rename, while generating significant buzz and potentially impacting short-term price action (as seen with the initial 15-19% price surge and increased volume), is fundamentally a branding change. It does not, by itself, alter the token's underlying supply, tokenomics, or core fundamentals. Future developments, especially those related to the undisclosed steps 5-7, could have more substantial impacts on the network's long-term trajectory.
- Official Sources Only. Rely exclusively on official TON and Telegram channels for information regarding future developments.
- Skepticism for Leaks. Treat any leaked roadmaps or unofficial announcements about steps 5-7 with extreme caution.
- Branding vs. Fundamentals. Understand that the rename is a branding change. While it can influence market sentiment, it doesn't inherently alter the token's core supply or technical fundamentals.
- Monitor Ecosystem Growth. Focus on tangible developments within the TON ecosystem, such as new integrations, dApps, and user adoption, rather than just name changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toncoin really changing its name to Gram?
Yes. Following a June 1, 2026 announcement by Pavel Durov and a TON community governance vote that passed with about 80% support, the native token is being renamed from Toncoin to Gram, with the ticker changing from TON to GRAM. The blockchain stays The Open Network (TON).
Do I need to swap or migrate my TON to get Gram?
No. There is no swap, bridge, migration, or claim. Your balance, wallet address, and holdings stay exactly the same and will simply display as GRAM once platforms update. Any site asking you to claim or migrate is a scam.
Is Gram a new token?
No. No new token is issued and the supply does not change. Gram is the same asset as Toncoin, only with a different name and ticker. The network is not creating, airdropping, or distributing anything.
Why is TON going back to the name Gram?
Gram was the token's original name in Telegram's 2018 whitepaper, before the SEC blocked the roughly $1.7 billion token sale and Telegram stepped back in 2020. The rebrand, part of the Make TON Great Again campaign, reclaims that original identity.
How do I avoid Gram rebrand scams?
Remember there is no claim page and no migration. Never connect your wallet or sign a transaction to receive Gram, verify tokens by contract rather than ticker, and only trust announcements from official TON and Telegram channels.