Pavel Durov unveiled a fully native Telegram app for Apple Watch on Wednesday, restoring wearable support after an earlier discontinuation. The same day, the TON community approved a governance vote to rename Toncoin (TON) to GRAM, with 81.22% support — a name that dates back to Telegram's original 2018 whitepaper. Both moves mark the latest push to tie Telegram's messaging platform more tightly to its blockchain, where the messaging giant now sits as the largest validator.
Apple Watch app returns
The new app lets users send messages, record voice notes, share GIFs, play videos, view stickers, and share location — all from the wrist. It's a full feature set for a device many had written off for crypto-native messengers. The app replaces a much more limited version that Telegram dropped years ago. Durov didn't explain why the company waited until now, but the timing lines up with Telegram's deeper role in TON: the firm became the network's biggest validator earlier this year.
The GRAM rebrand
Toncoin will officially become GRAM on June 15. The change affects only the token's name — the blockchain keeps the TON label. No action is required from holders. Balances, smart contracts, NFTs, staking positions, and DeFi deposits all carry over automatically. Exchanges and ecosystem projects have until June 22 to achieve full consistency across listings. The three-week transition requires no technical changes to wallets, contracts, or protocols. The GRAM name itself carries baggage: Telegram's 2018 whitepaper introduced it, but the SEC forced a halt and a $1.7 billion refund. The community later rebuilt the chain independently, calling it Toncoin under the TON Foundation.
Make TON Great Again roadmap
The rebrand is step four of the MTONGA roadmap — a revival plan that began with Catchain 2.0, which brought sub-second transaction finality, and a sixfold fee reduction. The remaining three steps are still undisclosed. The project hasn't hinted at what's next, but the pattern suggests the team is pushing technical upgrades alongside brand moves.
Market reaction and what's next
Toncoin (TON) traded at $1.66 at the time of writing, down 7.14% over 24 hours, with a market cap of $4.43 billion. The dip isn't surprising given the news cycle — token renames often cause short-term volatility. The Apple Watch app and the GRAM transition land in the same week, but the bigger test is whether the undisclosed MTONGA steps can keep momentum going. The full ecosystem alignment deadline is June 22, and Durov hasn't said whether Telegram's app will integrate the new token directly.
