Telegram Gram Wallet Creates 700,000 Wallets in 48 Hours

A 48-hour wallet surge

Telegram users created more than 700,000 self-custodial wallets through the Gram Wallet rollout in 48 hours, according to founder Pavel Durov, who shared the figure on November 9, 2026.

Durov’s update recorded “333,188 wallet activations in a single day,” close to half of the two-day total. Those activations came during a phased rollout of a native self-custody wallet built directly into the messaging app.

Durov described “over 700,000 self-custodial wallets” as the result of that rollout. The speed has a built-in accelerant: a wallet switches on automatically when it receives Gram, so each incoming token transfer can create another wallet.

That differs from an ordinary signup funnel. Telegram does not need every person to configure an account before receiving funds. The product turns distribution across its messaging network into a potential wave of wallet creation.

A small Gram receipt can produce a technically valid wallet. It does not show whether the owner sends, saves or spends anything after activation.

A separate product from @wallet

Telegram already has a crypto wallet presence through the @wallet mini-app and bot. That service has reported more than 150 million users, but it remains separate from the native Gram Wallet.

The distinction matters. The 700,000 figure refers only to wallets created through the new native rollout, not activity on the existing bot. Combining the figures would mix two products and two measures of adoption.

Gram is the native token of The Open Network, or TON, previously known as Toncoin. Receiving Gram activates a new native wallet. The design aims to simplify peer-to-peer transfers across Telegram’s network, which the company says counts more than one billion users.

In business terms, Telegram is linking messaging and payments without requiring a separate app installation. Its scale gives the rollout a large distribution base. The wallet, however, shifts custody and recovery responsibility to each user.

From limited test to wider reach

Durov announced plans for a large self-custody deployment in July 2026. A limited test with a select group of users followed in late August and early September.

The latest numbers suggest that the feature has now reached a far wider audience. They do not establish whether recipients send, save or spend anything after activation.

That caveat is central. No independent verification of on-chain activity or retention was available at publication. Wallet creation and wallet usage remain separate questions, even when the first transaction automatically creates the wallet.

What does this change for Telegram users?

For now, the figure measures reach rather than sustained use. It shows how quickly the feature can spread through a billion-plus user network. It does not yet show whether the wallets become durable payment accounts.

The practical benefit is fewer steps between receiving a token and controlling it. Gram transfers can activate wallets without a separate installation, while Telegram handles the interface and distribution.

The trade-off is direct custody. No exchange or company holds the funds on the user’s behalf. If someone loses the recovery details, no support desk can restore access. The product removes intermediaries from custody, but it does not remove the need for sound key management.

As the phased rollout continues, verifiable transactions and retention, rather than creation counts alone, will determine whether Telegram’s native wallets become durable payment infrastructure.