Telegram GRAM Wallet Hits 700K Sign-Ups: Are Users Really Active?

Telegram users created 714,844 new self-custodial GRAM wallets in 48 hours, founder Pavel Durov said on November 9, 2026, including 329,952 on November 9 alone. GRAM, the token formerly known as Toncoin, rose about 8% over the following day and was trading near $1.14 on WEEX at 07:20 UTC on November 11. The sign-up number is real, but it measures something narrower than it sounds. This article explains how Telegram's GRAM wallet works, why wallet creation and wallet use are different numbers, what the on-chain activity data shows, and the supply and centralization questions GRAM holders should weigh.

What Durov Announced: GRAM Wallet Numbers

Durov's November 9 post on X said more than 700,000 self-custodial wallets had been created on Telegram over the previous 48 hours. The dashboard he shared showed:

• 714,844 new wallets over two days.
• 329,952 of them created on November 9.

Durov said adoption spreads virally because a wallet activates as soon as someone receives GRAM, and described the growth as evidence that "the crypto revolution is going strong."

The rollout has been gradual. Telegram announced the native wallet integration in July, began a phased rollout to selected accounts on August 31, and expanded access in October. Telegram has more than a billion monthly users, so even the latest surge reaches a small fraction of them.

How the Telegram GRAM Wallet Works

The wallet is built into Telegram and runs on The Open Network (TON). Users can hold and send GRAM, and pay for Telegram items such as gifts and collectible usernames.

Two design choices drive the sign-up numbers:

1. It is self-custodial. Users hold their own keys rather than leaving funds with Telegram or an exchange.
2. It activates on receipt. A user does not need to set anything up. Once someone sends them GRAM, the wallet exists.

That second point is why the numbers can grow so quickly. A single promotion, airdrop or group payment can create thousands of wallets at once, whether or not the recipients ever open them.

GRAM itself is the same asset as before. TON's native token was renamed from Toncoin to GRAM in June after a community vote that passed with 81.22% support. Balances, addresses and staking positions carried over automatically.

Created vs. Active: What the Usage Data Shows

This is the gap most coverage skipped. The TON explorer counts wallets Telegram creates separately from active wallets, which must complete an on-chain transaction.

Market researcher Ismail Rustamov estimated, as reported by crypto.news:

• About 282,000 active wallets over 24 hours.
• About 2.2 million monthly active wallets, roughly 0.2% of Telegram's user base.

The broader network data is weaker still:

• Total value locked on TON fell to about $42.9 million, from $92 million in May.
• Daily DEX trading volume on TON was about $2.7 million.

The better reading is that Telegram has solved distribution, since it can put a wallet in front of hundreds of thousands of people in a weekend. It has not yet solved usage. Wallet creation is a top-of-funnel number. Retention, transaction counts and value held are what would show a working economy.

What the Wallet Surge Means for GRAM Price

GRAM's price history shows how quickly wallet headlines fade without follow-through:

• Peak: $8.24 in June 2024, when the token was still Toncoin.
• May 2026: a brief spike to $2.72 after Telegram announced it would take over TON's development.
• October 2026: a 9% rally to about $1.56 on the wallet expansion, later reversed.
• November 6: about $1.10.
• November 11: about $1.14 on the WEEX Gram (GRAM) price page at 07:20 UTC.

Two structural issues sit behind that chart:

• Supply. A scheduled release of 1.08 billion GRAM is due in February 2027. That is a large overhang relative to current on-chain activity.
• Centralization. In May, Telegram said it would replace the TON Foundation as the network's primary driving force and become its largest validator. That makes Telegram's product decisions the main driver of the network, for better or worse.

What GRAM Traders Should Watch Next

The signals that would show the wallet surge is turning into real demand:

1. Active wallet counts rising alongside new wallet creation, not just creation alone.
2. TON TVL and DEX volume recovering from $42.9 million and $2.7 million a day.
3. Payment use inside Telegram, such as gifts and usernames paid in GRAM.
4. Positioning ahead of February 2027, when the 1.08 billion GRAM release arrives.

Wallet headlines tend to produce sharp one-day moves that fade, as October showed. Traders looking at the GRAM/USDT perpetual futures market on WEEX should treat these spikes as event volatility rather than a trend change until the usage data improves. For spot exposure, GRAM/USDT spot trading on WEEX carries no liquidation risk.

FAQ

1. How many GRAM wallets did Telegram create?

Pavel Durov said 714,844 self-custodial wallets were created on Telegram in the 48 hours to November 9, 2026, including 329,952 on November 9.

2. Is GRAM the same as Toncoin?

Yes. TON's native token was renamed from Toncoin to GRAM in June 2026 after a community vote with 81.22% support. Balances, addresses and staking positions carried over automatically.

3. Are Telegram's new GRAM wallets actually being used?

Only partly. Researcher Ismail Rustamov estimated about 282,000 active wallets over 24 hours and about 2.2 million monthly active wallets, around 0.2% of Telegram's users.

4. What is the biggest risk for GRAM holders?

The main issues are a scheduled release of 1.08 billion GRAM in February 2027, low on-chain activity relative to the hype, and Telegram's central role as TON's largest validator.