Pavel Durov launches fee-free Gram wallet for 1 billion Telegram users

Telegram plans to launch native unmanaged Gram wallets

Telegram announced plans to launch native unmanaged Gram wallets to more than 1 billion monthly active users this summer to enable instant cryptocurrency transfers without fees.

Summary

Telegram plans to launch a fee-free unmanaged Gram wallet for more than 1 billion users. Pavel Durov said this would be the largest self-managed wallet deployment in human history. The wallet deepens the integration of Telegram and TON, following Toncoin's change to Gram.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov posted on Telegram on Wednesday, calling the planned integration "the largest unmanaged crypto wallet deployment in human history." He did not provide a specific release date, a list of supported assets, nor did he explain how the app could provide free transfers while covering network fees.

Unlike an escrow service, the proposed wallet will allow users to control their own cryptocurrency rather than putting assets in custody by Telegram or other companies. Durov's announcement embeds the feature directly into instant messaging apps, allowing users to send funds to contacts without downloading a separate wallet.

Telegram reported that it exceeded 1 billion monthly active users in 2025, allowing Gram Wallet to reach a user base that few independent encryption products can match. Although Durov has not announced adoption goals, the company's user base means that even if only a small number of users use it, it can give millions of people access to self-hosted and peer-to-peer crypto-transfers.

Specific launch conditions are still unclear because Telegram has not yet stated whether the wallet will be launched simultaneously around the world or released in phases. The company also did not disclose its recovery system, security measures, regional restrictions, and whether users need to complete authentication for certain services.

Gram Wallet puts distribution at the heart of TON adoption

Before Telegram's announcement, The Open Network decided to rename its native token Toncoin to Gram, restoring the name used by Telegram in the original blockchain white paper in 2018. Durov said the change was a return to the project's earlier identity, while TON stated that the blockchain itself would retain the name The Open Network.

According to relevant reports, token conversion is expected to take about three weeks, and currency holders do not need to exchange existing tokens. After Durov disclosed the change, Gram prices rose 19% to $2.21, and traders responded positively.

Gram's return comes with regulatory history, as Telegram previously named the token for its first blockchain project Gram. After Telegram raised $1.7 billion from investors, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued the company in 2019, alleging that its planned token distribution involved unregistered securities. Under the 2020 settlement cited by the SEC, Telegram agreed to return more than $1.2 billion to investors and pay $18.5 million in civil penalties. Telegram subsequently withdrew from the project, while independent developers continued to develop open source code, eventually forming the current TON network.

Since withdrawing from the original project, Telegram has gradually introduced TON-based services into its applications. According to the Financial Times, the online token can be used to purchase Telegram ads, creators can receive encrypted payments, and developers can build games, stores and other services related to TON. Durov also promoted investment in the network. He reported in 2025 that venture capital firms have invested more than $400 million in Toncoin, including Sequoia Capital, Benchmark, Ribbit Capital, Draper Associates and Vy Capital.

TON extends wallet control to automated Telegram services

TON is extending wallet control to automated Telegram services. TON Tech launched the Agentic Wallets standard on April 28, allowing AI agents running through Telegram robots to control users 'pooled wallets and perform limited financial operations. According to relevant reports, TON Tech described these products as "self-managed wallets designed for autonomous AI agents on TON." According to its documentation, users inject funds into the agent's independent on-chain wallet and authorize it to perform specific tasks, including money transfers, token exchanges, and interactions with decentralized financial applications. TON Tech said control is still tied to the user's main wallet, and users can set consumption budgets, withdraw balances, or cancel agent access. The infrastructure team stated that no intermediaries hold funds and existing TON wallets do not need to be upgraded because the design uses a standard smart contract structure.

Agenda Wallets and the planned Gram wallet feature different features, but TON Tech's April release demonstrated how the network builds payment tools for human and automated services within Telegram. The master Gram wallet will allow users to directly control daily transfers, while the proxy standard grants limited rights to the robot without surrendering the master key. Telegram has not disclosed whether the summer wallet will be connected directly to Agentic Wallets or other TON-based products. Durov's announcement established the expected size and fee model before the company released technical documentation and terms of launch, but the wallet's security, usability and full feature set remain in the balance.