Gram Cryptocurrency Declines Following Reports of Charges Against Pavel Durov

cryptonews.ruPublished on 2026-08-24Last updated on 2026-08-24

Abstract

The cryptocurrency Gram (associated with the TON ecosystem and Toncoin) declined following reports that Russian FSB authorities have charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with complicity in terrorist activities. The price fell by approximately 2.29% to $1.42. The article explains that Gram was originally intended as the token for Telegram's TON blockchain project but was halted due to legal pressure from the SEC. Development then shifted to The Open Network and its Toncoin token, though market confusion between the similarly named assets persists. The recent price drop is attributed directly to the news about Durov's legal situation. His lawyer has suggested cooperation with the FSB could mitigate risks, noting Durov's dual citizenship in France and the UAE offers legal protection. Concurrently, Russian lawmakers have suggested Telegram could be declared a terrorist resource, alleging it is used by Ukrainian services to recruit operatives for attacks within Russia. Overall, Gram's value is shown to be highly sensitive to legal and political developments surrounding its associated figure, Pavel Durov, and the Telegram ecosystem.

Gram cryptocurrency, which the market associates with the TON ecosystem and Toncoin, has depreciated amid reports from the Russian FSB about Pavel Durov being charged with facilitating terrorism. According to trading data, by 12:06 Moscow time, the asset's rate had fallen by 2.29% to $1.42, equivalent to 111.75 rubles.

What is $GRAM and How is it Related to Toncoin

$GRAM was initially conceived as the token of the TON blockchain project, linked to Telegram. After SEC claims and legal pressure, the launch of the original Gram was halted, and network development continued around The Open Network and the Toncoin token.

Because of this history, the names Gram and Toncoin are often mentioned together, although it is important for investors to distinguish between the old Gram project and the assets now associated with the TON ecosystem. Before purchasing such a token, it is necessary to check the ticker and availability on a specific trading platform to avoid confusing different assets with similar names.

Why the Gram Project Was Halted

The key reason was SEC claims regarding the token issuance and sale to investors. Legal proceedings essentially prevented Telegram from launching the original Gram in its previous form, and for project participants, this meant abandoning the original launch scheme.

The dynamics of such assets are influenced not only by general crypto market sentiment but also by legal events, news surrounding Telegram, Pavel Durov, and the TON ecosystem itself.

How the Gram Market Reacted

Gram is linked to the TON blockchain project by Telegram founder Pavel Durov. Amid news pressure, the token lost about 2%, and the price decline also affected investor perception of the asset: for such instruments, not only quotations but also market capitalization are important.

The cryptocurrency remains part of the TON ecosystem, also associated with The Open Network. Within such networks, the blockchain facilitates transaction processing, and the blockchain's token is used as a digital asset in the project's infrastructure. A validator, i.e., a device or server for confirming operations, plays a technical role in such a system, but the current dip in Gram is specifically related to the news background surrounding Telegram's founder.

What is Known About the Lawyer's Version

Lawyer Alexander Benkhin previously suggested that Pavel Durov might cooperate with the FSB. In his assessment, such a scenario could reduce the risks of persecution in Russia for the entrepreneur.

The reason for such considerations was the charges of facilitating terrorist activities. At the same time, Benkhin noted that Durov has additional legal protection due to his citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates. According to the lawyer, these countries do not extradite their citizens to other states.

The Political Context Around Telegram

Previously, State Duma deputy Andrey Kolesnik suggested that Telegram might be recognized as a terrorist resource in Russia. He linked this possibility to the charges against the messenger's founder.

According to Kolesnik, Pavel Valeryevich Durov has repeatedly ignored demands to close channels through which, the deputy claims, Russians are being recruited. Kolesnik stated that Ukrainian special services use Telegram to find perpetrators, which, in his version, leads to terrorist attacks on Russian territory.

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Related Questions

QWhat is Gram (GRAM) and how is it related to Toncoin?

AGRAM was initially conceived as the token for the TON blockchain project linked to Telegram. Following SEC claims and legal pressure, the launch of the original Gram was halted. Development continued around The Open Network and the Toncoin token. While the names Gram and Toncoin are often mentioned together, they represent different projects and assets within the TON ecosystem, and investors are advised to carefully check the ticker and availability on specific trading platforms to avoid confusion.

QWhy did the price of the Gram cryptocurrency decline according to the article?

AThe price of Gram declined following reports from Russia's FSB about charges being filed against Pavel Durov for allegedly facilitating terrorism. The news pressure led to a drop of about 2.29%, bringing the price down to $1.42.

QWhat were the key reasons for halting the original Gram project?

AThe key reason for halting the original Gram project was claims from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the token's issuance and sale to investors. The resulting legal proceedings effectively prevented Telegram from launching the initial Gram as planned, forcing a departure from the original launch scheme.

QHow did the Russian political context influence the situation around Telegram and Pavel Durov?

ARussian State Duma deputy Andrey Kolesnik suggested that Telegram could be declared a terrorist resource in Russia, linking this possibility to the charges against its founder. He accused Durov of repeatedly ignoring demands to shut down channels allegedly used for recruiting Russians and claimed Ukrainian special services use Telegram to find operatives, which he alleges leads to terrorist acts on Russian territory.

QWhat legal protections does Pavel Durov have, according to his lawyer Alexander Benkhin?

AAccording to his lawyer Alexander Benkhin, Pavel Durov possesses additional legal protection due to his citizenship in France and the United Arab Emirates. Benkhin stated that these countries do not extradite their citizens to other states. He also suggested that cooperation with the FSB could be a scenario to reduce risks of persecution in Russia for the entrepreneur.

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How to Buy GRAM

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1.6k Total ViewsPublished 2026.06.15Updated 2026.08.20

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