Telegram founder Pavel Durov has unveiled plans for what could become one of the biggest cryptocurrency rollouts to date, announcing that the messaging platform will integrate a native non-custodial Gram wallet into every Telegram app this summer.
If executed as planned, the launch would immediately expose more than one billion Telegram users to self-custody crypto functionality. This would be one of the largest consumer-facing blockchain integrations ever attempted.
Self-custody at internet scale
Unlike custodial wallets, where a third party controls users' private keys, a non-custodial wallet allows individuals to retain full control over their digital assets. That means users are responsible for securing their own recovery phrases and private keys without relying on an intermediary.
Durov also claimed the wallet would enable "instant zero-fee crypto transactions," suggesting the product is designed for everyday payments rather than simply storing digital assets. Additional technical details about the wallet and supported assets have yet to be released.
A long crypto journey
The announcement is yet another chapter in Telegram's long relationship with blockchain technology.
In 2018, Telegram raised roughly $1.7 billion for its ambitious Telegram Open Network (TON) project and the Gram token. However, the initiative was halted after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued the company, arguing that the token sale constituted an unregistered securities offering.
Telegram ultimately abandoned the original TON project in 2020 as part of its settlement with the SEC.
Since then, development of the blockchain has continued independently under the TON Foundation, while Telegram has steadily expanded blockchain-related features across its ecosystem.
Crypto ambitions continue
Durov's latest announcement suggests Telegram is once again positioning itself at the intersection of messaging and digital assets.
Embedding a native wallet directly into one of the world's largest messaging platforms could significantly reduce the friction associated with crypto adoption by eliminating the need for separate wallet applications. If the rollout reaches Telegram's entire user base, it would represent one of the largest deployments of self-custody infrastructure in the cryptocurrency industry's history.
Dan Burgin
U.Today Editorial Team
