Telegram to Launch Native Non-Custodial Crypto Wallet for Over a Billion Users
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has made a significant promise: by the end of summer, the popular messaging app will introduce a native non-custodial cryptocurrency wallet across all its versions. This move aims to provide instant, zero-fee crypto transactions to its user base, which exceeds one billion monthly active users.
A New Era for Crypto Transactions
The forthcoming wallet is designed to support Telegram’s native cryptocurrency, Gram, formerly known as Toncoin. A non-custodial wallet empowers users by giving them direct control over their private keys, meaning they hold the ultimate authority over their funds. This contrasts with custodial wallets, where a third party manages the keys. Durov likened this to carrying cash, emphasizing that no entity can freeze or block transactions without the user’s explicit consent.
This initiative represents a substantial upgrade from Telegram’s existing @wallet bot. While the @wallet bot, with over 150 million registered users, currently operates partly in a custodial mode where a company holds the keys, Durov’s new wallet will be fully non-custodial from its inception.
Native Integration vs.
Bot Functionality
A key distinction lies in the integration of the new wallet. Unlike the current @wallet bot, which is developed and managed by The Open Platform, a separate entity, the new wallet will be natively built into every version of the Telegram application. This means it will be an integral feature, readily accessible to all users, rather than an add-on that requires separate activation.
Durov himself heralded the development on social media, stating, “This summer will see the largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history. Instant zero-fee crypto transactions for over a billion users are about to become reality. We’re bringing a native non-custodial Gram wallet to every Telegram app!”
Unanswered Questions and Market Reaction
While the announcement is a major step, several details remain undisclosed. It is unclear whether the new wallet will replace or coexist with the existing @wallet bot, which cryptocurrencies beyond Gram will be supported, and how key management will be handled for users new to cryptocurrency.
Durov’s assertion of it being “the largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history” appears mathematically sound, considering that MetaMask, a leading self-custody wallet, has tens of millions of users. No cryptocurrency project has ever launched with the potential to reach a billion users on day one.
Following the announcement, Gram, the native token of The Open Network (TON), saw a surge of approximately 7%, climbing back above $1.52 and reaching a market capitalization of $4.18 billion. This recovery partially offset a significant 25% decline the token experienced throughout July, though it remained well below its previous highs.
The Backstory of Gram and TON
The journey to this point began in 2018 when Telegram initially developed a network and raised $1.7 billion for a token intended to be called Gram. However, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) intervened, alleging the tokens were unregistered securities. Telegram settled the case in 2020, returning $1.2 billion to investors, paying an $18.5 million penalty, and withdrawing from the project.
Despite Telegram’s departure, community developers continued to maintain the blockchain, rebranding it as Toncoin. Durov re-engaged with the project in 2026. In June of the same year, a community vote overwhelmingly approved the rebranding of Toncoin back to Gram, restoring Durov’s original vision. The recent wallet announcement is seen as a pivotal move in Durov’s stated goal to “Make TON Great Again.”
Earlier this year, Durov also highlighted significant upgrades to the TON blockchain, stating, “The TON blockchain just got upgraded and is now 10× faster. Block rate increased 6×. Transactions are now instant, subsecond. This was step 1 of 7 to Make TON Great Again (MTONGA). Next step: cut the already low transaction fees by 6×.”
Implications for Users and Businesses
The integration of a built-in wallet could revolutionize how average Telegram users interact with cryptocurrency, enabling them to send digital assets as easily as sending text messages, without the need for exchange accounts, bank transfers, or intermediaries. For small businesses and retailers, this presents a new payment channel with a vast reach and zero transaction fees, a proposition unmatched by traditional card networks.
Investment Outlook
For investors, the situation is more complex. While the announcement may prompt some to “buy the news,” a longer-term perspective is advised. Gram’s 200-day exponential moving average, a key indicator of long-term trends, currently sits above the prevailing price, suggesting a bearish market sentiment.
The all-time high of $8.25, set in June 2024 during a period of high engagement with Telegram’s tap-to-earn gaming features, remains a distant target. A more immediate milestone, the $2.89 peak from May 2026, when Telegram first announced its acquisition of the network, would require an 88% rally from current prices.
As of now, no specific launch date beyond “this summer” has been provided for the new wallet.
Leave a Reply