This summer, Telegram plans to add a native, non-custodial Gram Wallet to every version of the app, giving more than 1 billion users access to instant, fee-free crypto transfers. Pavel Durov called it the largest rollout of a non-custodial wallet in history, and by potential reach, that description is difficult to argue with.
Even limited adoption could change the scale of self-custody:
If only 5% of Telegram’s audience activates the wallet, around 50 million people would gain a direct way to hold and transfer crypto inside an app they already use every day.
Sounds huge, but the more interesting part is this: Telegram has been trying to get here for almost 8 years.
Back in 2018, the company raised $1.7 billion to launch TON and its token, Gram. Then the SEC stepped in. Telegram eventually returned more than $1.2 billion to investors, paid an $18.5 million penalty and left the project in 2020.
The community kept TON alive. And Telegram slowly found its way back to crypto.
First came bots and external wallets. Then Mini Apps, Stars, ad rewards in Toncoin and collectible gifts on-chain. In June 2026, Toncoin was renamed Gram. The original name was officially back.
Now Pavel Durov says Telegram will add its own native, non-custodial Gram Wallet to every version of the app - promising that:
- Users will control their own keys.
- Transfers expected to be instant and zero-fee.
- No separate wallet app will be needed.
- Access could open to Telegram’s entire audience.
What makes this attempt more interesting is that Telegram already has an ecosystem ready for the wallet: Mini Apps, creator payments, digital goods and peer-to-peer transfers.
The real challenge is whether will people actually use it. A wallet installed by default is still not the same as an active wallet... But if Telegram makes sending Gram feel as easy as sending a message, even modest adoption could bring tens of millions of users into self-custody.
That would be a much bigger achievement than launching another crypto product.
Read next: GRAM Surges 3.09% as Telegram Announces Native Wallet
Top comments (0)