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Telegram is gearing up for what its founder, Pavel Durov, has termed the “largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history.” It plans to incorporate a native Gram wallet right into the messaging platform serving more than 1 billion users.
In a post on X, Durov declared that the rollout will commence this summer, making possible instant, zero-fee cryptocurrency transactions inside Telegram. Different from custodial wallets provided by exchanges, this new wallet will be non-custodial, granting users full ownership of their private keys and digital assets.
“This summer will see the largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history. Instant zero-fee crypto transactions for over a billion users are about to become reality. We’re bringing a native non-custodial Gram wallet to every Telegram app,” Durov wrote.
🌍 This summer will see the largest rollout of a non-custodial crypto wallet in human history.
⚡️Instant zero-fee crypto transactions for over a billion users are about to become reality.
We're bringing a native non-custodial Gram wallet to every Telegram app! 💎
— Pavel Durov (@durov) July 21, 2026
By integrating the wallet directly into Telegram, the company seeks to make the transfer of digital assets as straightforward as exchanging a message. Users would no longer have to install separate wallet applications to send or receive supported cryptocurrencies.
The outlook for instant and fee-free transactions could further establish Telegram as a more competitive force in blockchain-based payments, particularly for peer-to-peer transfers, creator payments, and dealings inside Telegram’s expanding Mini App ecosystem.
The announcement signifies yet another milestone in Telegram’s broadening blockchain initiatives.
Although Telegram’s original Telegram Open Network (TON) project was abandoned in 2020 after a legal dispute with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the blockchain persisted under independent developers and was renamed The Open Network (TON).
Since then, Telegram has consistently incorporated TON-powered features into its platform, such as Mini Apps, digital collectibles, tokenized usernames, and crypto-based payment options. Introducing a native wallet would bolster these services even more by minimizing obstacles for users joining the ecosystem.
The rollout also mirrors the rising emphasis on self-custody across the crypto sector.
In comparison to custodial wallets, where a third party manages users’ assets, non-custodial wallets enable individuals to retain their own private keys and connect directly with blockchain networks. This approach gathered pace following the collapse of several major centralized crypto companies in recent years, encouraging many users to shift assets into wallets under their own control.
Given that Telegram reaches more than 1 billion monthly users globally, placing a self-custodial wallet inside the messaging app could introduce mainstream audiences to blockchain technology without demanding technical knowledge or extra software.
Even while presenting the vision, Durov did not reveal a launch date beyond “this summer” or share technical specifics, such as supported cryptocurrencies, wallet architecture, or regional availability.
It also remains uncertain whether the wallet will begin by supporting only Gram or TON-based assets or grow to include additional blockchain networks in the future.
If successfully implemented at scale, however, the initiative could stand as one of the largest mainstream crypto rollouts to date, delivering self-custody and blockchain payments to hundreds of millions of users through an app they already engage with daily.
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