Telegram to roll out native GRAM crypto wallet to 1 billion users
Telegram plans to introduce a native, non-custodial GRAM wallet to its massive user base this summer, a move that could drive mainstream retail adoption but invites renewed regulatory scrutiny following its past clash with the SEC.
Telegram will introduce a native, non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet to its roughly 1 billion users this summer. Founder and CEO Pavel Durov announced the initiative on Tuesday, characterizing the planned deployment as the "largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history." The feature will allow users to hold digital assets directly within the application, bypassing the need for third-party exchanges.
The wallet will be natively built around GRAM, the recently rebranded native cryptocurrency of The Open Network. Durov noted in his announcement that the platform will support "instant zero-fee crypto transactions," though he did not provide extensive technical details. This integration marks a deeper pivot toward decentralized finance for the high-traffic messaging platform.
This summer's rollout follows a broader consolidation of the GRAM ecosystem under Telegram's corporate umbrella. Last month, Durov revealed that Toncoin would be rebranding to GRAM, and Telegram replaced the TON Foundation as the network's primary steward and largest validator. While the company already offers a crypto wallet called Wallet in Telegram, the upcoming native rollout targets the entire user base rather than just early adopters.
For market participants, Telegram's massive network has long been viewed as a dormant gateway for bringing a wider audience into crypto. Direct integration of a non-custodial wallet into a mainstream messaging app drastically lowers the barrier to entry for retail users. A successful rollout could generate unprecedented on-chain transaction volumes and ignite fresh demand for the GRAM token.
Investors, however, must weigh this growth potential against Telegram's prior regulatory entanglements. The company initially developed the TON blockchain in 2018, only to abandon the project two years later following a legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The regulator forced Telegram to halt sales of GRAM tokens, asserting the offering violated securities laws, a history that may foreshadow future friction as the company resumes its crypto ambitions.
