Short answer: On August 31, 2026, Pavel Durov said Telegram's built-in Gram Wallet was ready and already live for a limited group of users, with access widening over the following weeks toward Telegram's more than one billion monthly users. Gram Wallet is non-custodial: only the user holds the keys, and Telegram cannot freeze, reverse or recover funds. It handles zero-fee transfers of GRAM, the TON network's native token formerly called Toncoin, while the older custodial Wallet in Telegram has been rebranded as Walt.
What happened
Durov first announced the project on July 21, 2026, describing it as potentially “the largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history”. The plan was to build a native wallet into every Telegram app rather than into a bot, and to make it the default wallet in settings.
At the end of August the rollout began. In his August 31 post, Durov said the wallet was working for a subset of accounts and that Telegram would expand access gradually over the next couple of weeks instead of turning it on for everyone at once. The same day, Cointelegraph and other outlets reported that the existing Wallet in Telegram — the @wallet service that many users know — had been renamed Walt and would no longer be the default.
The launch follows a token rename. On June 15, 2026, after a community vote that passed with 81.22% support, TON's native coin changed its name from Toncoin to Gram and its ticker from TON to GRAM. Balances, addresses and smart contracts did not change, and no swap or migration was required. Gram was the name of the token in Telegram's original 2018 plans, before the US SEC blocked that token sale and Telegram stepped away from the project in 2020.
Gram Wallet vs Walt
| Gram Wallet | Walt (formerly Wallet in Telegram) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds the keys | You (non-custodial) | The service (custodial account) |
| Main purpose | Transfers, in-app payments, Telegram purchases | Trading and investing |
| Assets | GRAM on the TON network | Crypto on several blockchains, tokenized stocks and ETFs, yield programs, perpetual futures |
| Transfer fees | Zero-fee GRAM transfers announced | Not part of this announcement |
| Identity checks | No KYC reported | Identity verification for custodial features |
| Where to find it | Default wallet in Telegram settings | Via Telegram search, no longer the default |
| If you lose access | Telegram cannot restore funds | Account recovery through the provider |
Beyond sending GRAM, Gram Wallet is meant for payments inside Telegram and for buying Telegram Collectibles such as usernames, gifts and anonymous numbers. Reports also note that the wallet's smart contract can be upgraded without users having to move funds to a new address.
What does non-custodial actually mean?
A crypto wallet is really a set of keys. Whoever holds the private key can sign transactions and move the coins. In a custodial service — an exchange account, or Walt — the company holds the keys and shows you a balance. It can help if you forget a password, but it can also freeze an account, require documents, or fail as a business.
In a non-custodial wallet the keys are created for and controlled by you. Nobody needs to approve your transfer, and nobody can block it. The trade-off is total: if the keys or their backup are lost, stolen or phished, there is no support desk that can return the money. CoinMarketCap's explainer put it simply — Telegram cannot access keys, reverse transactions or restore a lost wallet.
This is the first time a messenger of Telegram's size has put self-custody in front of its whole audience by default. For many users it will be their first wallet where “forgot password” does not exist.
How to use Gram Wallet safely
Telegram is also one of the most active channels for crypto scams, so the rollout is a predictable magnet for fraud. A practical checklist:
- Open the wallet only from Telegram settings. Gram Wallet is built into the app. A bot, channel or mini-app calling itself “Gram Wallet” and asking you to connect or import a wallet is not it.
- Back up your recovery data offline and never share it. Whatever backup method your version offers, whoever gets it controls the funds. No Telegram employee, “support” account or airdrop will ever need your recovery phrase.
- Lock down your Telegram account. Turn on two-step verification with a cloud password and set a passcode on your device. Access to your account and phone is now access to money.
- Ignore “free GRAM” and “activation fee” offers. Fake airdrops, fake rollout invites and requests to pay a fee to unlock the wallet are classic scam patterns.
- Check the whole address and send a test amount first. Address poisoning — look-alike addresses planted in your history — works on TON too. See address poisoning and signature phishing.
- Mind the memo when depositing to a service. Many exchanges and exchangers credit TON deposits by a comment or memo tag. Sending without it can mean a slow manual recovery.
For the broader rules of holding your own keys, read self-custody wallet security.
Swapping GRAM in and out
GRAM is the same asset that was called TON, on the same network, so some services still list it as TON or “Gram (prev. Toncoin)”. When you swap into Gram Wallet, choose the TON network and paste your Gram Wallet address. When you swap out, compare what you actually receive after fees across services on the exchangers list rather than trusting the first rate you see.
FAQ
What is Telegram Gram Wallet?
It is a non-custodial crypto wallet built directly into Telegram for GRAM, the native token of the TON network. It supports zero-fee GRAM transfers, payments inside Telegram and purchases of Telegram Collectibles, and it began rolling out to a limited group of users on August 31, 2026.
Is Gram Wallet the same as Wallet in Telegram?
No. Wallet in Telegram was renamed Walt and remains a separate custodial trading product with multiple blockchains, tokenized stocks and futures. Gram Wallet is self-custodial and becomes the default wallet in Telegram settings.
Can Telegram recover my Gram Wallet if I lose access?
No. Because the wallet is non-custodial, Telegram does not hold the keys and cannot reverse transactions or restore lost funds. Keeping your backup safe is your responsibility.
Is GRAM a new token?
No. GRAM is the former Toncoin. The name and ticker changed from TON to GRAM on June 15, 2026, with balances and addresses unchanged and no migration needed.
Why don't I see Gram Wallet yet?
Telegram is enabling it gradually. Durov said access would widen over the weeks after August 31, 2026, so some accounts receive it later than others.
Sources
- Crowdfund Insider: Telegram Opens Gram Wallet to Limited Group Ahead of Broader Userbase Rollout
- CoinMarketCap Academy: Telegram Will Launch Native GRAM Wallet Soon — Here's What We Know So Far
- Coinpedia: Telegram Debuts Native Gram Wallet and Rebrands Wallet in Telegram to Walt
- KuCoin News: TON Native Token to Be Renamed Gram on June 15, 2026
- CoinCentral: Toncoin Renamed Gram After TON Community Vote Passes With 81.22% Support