Gram (GRAM), formerly known as Toncoin, is the native cryptocurrency of The Open Network. TON is a scalable blockchain designed to support payments, decentralized applications, digital assets and other Web3 services. Its close integration with Telegram gives developers access to a large potential audience through wallets, Mini Apps and blockchain-based services that operate within the messaging platform.
The network originated with Telegram’s blockchain project, which initially planned to call its cryptocurrency Gram. Telegram stopped developing the project in 2020 following a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, but an independent developer community continued building the technology as The Open Network. The cryptocurrency later became known as Toncoin before returning to the original Gram name and GRAM ticker.
GRAM is used to pay transaction and smart-contract execution fees throughout the TON network. Holders can stake it directly or through staking pools, while validators lock GRAM to participate in transaction validation and network security. The coin can also be used for payments, transfers, decentralized-finance liquidity, application purchases and interactions with Telegram-based blockchain services. TON documentation identifies Gram as the network’s basic currency for transaction fees and validator stakes.
TON is designed around high-speed transactions, sharding and an ecosystem that connects blockchain applications with Telegram’s familiar interface. This allows users to access wallets, games, marketplaces and payment tools without navigating a traditional standalone crypto application. The Gram name can create confusion because several unrelated tokens have used similar names or tickers, so users should verify that an asset is the native currency of The Open Network rather than a separate GRAM or GRM token issued on TON.