Telegram to Launch Native Non-Custodial Gram Wallet for Over 1 Billion Users

Telegram is preparing to integrate cryptocurrency transactions directly into its messaging platform on an unprecedented scale. Founder Pavel Durov announced that the application will launch a native, non-custodial Gram wallet this summer, a development poised to bring self-custody digital asset management to its user base of more than one billion people.

The introduction of a non-custodial wallet represents a significant shift for the platform. Unlike custodial services, where a third-party intermediary holds the cryptographic keys, a non-custodial wallet grants users exclusive control over their private keys and funds. This self-custody model aligns with the foundational principles of decentralized finance, ensuring that users retain complete ownership of their assets without relying on centralized financial institutions.

This upcoming rollout marks a crucial milestone in Telegram’s long and complex relationship with digital currencies. The platform, which has grown to become one of the world’s most popular messaging services alongside competitors like WhatsApp, has spent years attempting to weave blockchain technology into its ecosystem.

### The Legacy of the Gram Token

The mention of a “Gram” wallet recalls Telegram’s ambitious, and ultimately contentious, initial foray into the crypto space. In 2018, the company raised $1.7 billion in a highly publicized Initial Coin Offering (ICO) to develop the Telegram Open Network (TON) and its native Gram token.

However, the project ran into severe regulatory hurdles. In late 2019, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against Telegram, alleging that the sale of Gram tokens constituted an unregistered securities offering. Following a protracted legal battle, Telegram agreed to a settlement in 2020. Under the terms of the agreement, the company returned $1.2 billion to investors, paid an $18.5 million civil penalty, and formally terminated its involvement in the TON project.

Despite the official shutdown, the underlying open-source technology survived. A community of independent developers and validators took over the codebase, eventually rebranding the network as the TON Blockchain and its native asset as Toncoin. In recent years, Telegram has gradually rebuilt its relationship with this independent ecosystem, integrating various TON-based features, including a custodial wallet and a system that allows channel owners to earn ad revenue in Toncoin.

### Scaling Self-Custody to One Billion Users

By launching a native non-custodial wallet directly within the app, Telegram aims to simplify the user experience of managing digital assets. Typically, self-custody requires users to navigate external software applications or hardware devices, which can present a steep learning curve for mainstream consumers. Integrating this capability directly into a messaging interface used by over a billion people could dramatically lower the barrier to entry for cryptocurrency adoption.

The move comes at a time when self-custody has gained renewed emphasis across the broader cryptocurrency industry. Following the high-profile collapses of several centralized crypto exchanges and lending platforms over the past few years, industry advocates have increasingly urged users to maintain personal control over their private keys—a practice summarized by the popular industry maxim, “not your keys, not your coins.”

While Durov did not disclose the exact technical specifications or the precise launch date, the summer release timeline indicates that the platform is in the final stages of preparing the infrastructure. The successful deployment of a native non-custodial wallet to such a massive user base will serve as a major test of blockchain scalability and user interface design in mainstream applications.