Telegram Begins Gram Wallet Rollout to More Than 1 Billion Users
Telegram is embedding a non-custodial crypto wallet into a messaging service used by more than 1 billion people, potentially bringing self-custody to a mass-market audience. Built on the TON blockchain engine, Gram Wallet lets users retain their own seed phrases and private keys. Its design is also intended to reduce the friction of moving assets when smart contracts are upgraded, positioning the rollout as potentially the largest deployment of a non-custodial wallet to date.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov said in 2026 that Gram Wallet had entered its live rollout phase and would be released in batches to the platform’s global user base of more than 1 billion. Telegram has not disclosed an investment amount, a final completion date or a market-by-market schedule. The initial deployment focuses on integrating direct asset control into Telegram’s existing interface, lowering the technical barrier for users seeking to hold and manage crypto without a custodian.
All Coverage
1 original reportsThe Backstory
The history behind this eventTelegram Plans Gram Wallet Rollout to 1 Billion Users
Telegram has emerged as one of crypto’s largest potential gateways because the messaging service has more than 1 billion monthly active users. Its blockchain ambitions date to 2018, when it raised $1.7 billion for Telegram Open Network and Gram before a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission case forced it to abandon the project in 2020. A non-custodial wallet would let users control their own private keys, potentially moving self-custody from specialist apps into a mass-market communications platform.
Founder Pavel Durov said on July 21, 2026, that Telegram would add a native, non-custodial Gram wallet to every version of its app during the summer. The planned product will target the platform’s 1 billion-plus users and offer instant, zero-fee crypto transfers, which Durov described as the largest non-custodial wallet rollout in history. Gram is the new name for The Open Network’s native token, formerly Toncoin. Telegram has not provided a firm launch date or detailed technical specifications.
Subscribe to Mark Radar Weekly
Every Friday, the week's strongest signals in your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.
If you search news on Google, you can set Mark Radar as a preferred source—our coverage will show up more often in your results. Set as preferred source on Google →