Telegram has begun rolling out Money, a built-in wallet for sending Gram directly inside chats and buying items that already belong to the messenger's digital economy, including gifts and collectible usernames. According to a report by The Defiant, the feature is arriving as a native Telegram wallet rather than another standalone crypto app. The design embeds payments alongside the actions users already perform in the app.

The rollout follows Telegram's earlier plan to make Gram transfers work directly inside conversations. Interface text published through Telegram's translation portal confirms the flow: users open the attachment menu, choose “Money,” and transfer Gram to another person in the chat.

That positioning makes Money a payment feature before it is a trading product. Someone who wants to send Gram, buy a gift, or purchase a collectible username should not have to navigate token charts, order books, or a list of hundreds of assets to complete the action. The wallet is organized around everyday actions rather than around market activity.

Money and Walt serve different users

The rollout is easier to understand once the two roles are separated. Money is designed for simple, Telegram-native actions, while Walt remains the service for users who want a wider set of crypto functions.

Money, inside Telegram, covers sending Gram in chats, buying Telegram gifts, and purchasing collectible usernames, with a focus on simple in-app actions. Walt, available through @walt, offers buying, selling, and exchanging crypto, multi-asset services, access to trading and earning products, and management of a broader crypto portfolio.

Walt's September announcement set out that division in advance. The company said the Gram Wallet would become Telegram's straightforward entry point for buying and using Gram, while Walt would continue as the more extensive crypto platform available through @walt.

That split gives Telegram a clearer product structure. Money can stay focused on sending and spending, while Walt serves users who actively want exchanges, investment products, and a larger selection of assets.

Gram is a new name for TON, not a new token

The naming change creates one point users should understand before moving funds. Gram is the new name for Ton, while the blockchain remains TON. Existing balances, addresses, and assets do not need to be migrated.

According to Walt's documentation, the rename did not involve a swap, bridge, or newly issued token. Any message claiming that a holder must exchange TON for “new Gram” should be treated with caution, especially if it directs the user to a website or asks for recovery details.

Users should keep three points in mind: there is no TON-to-Gram token swap to complete; wallet features should only be used through Telegram's official interface; and a recovery phrase, private key, or Telegram login code should never be sent to a chat contact.

Chat payment convenience does not remove crypto risk

Telegram founder Pavel Durov described the Gram wallet as a non-custodial product in an earlier announcement. That gives users more control over their assets, but it also means they need to treat wallet access and recovery information carefully.

A payment made to the wrong recipient may be difficult to reverse, while a compromised account or an exposed recovery phrase can put funds at risk. Users should confirm the recipient and amount before sending Gram, then wait for the feature to appear through Telegram's normal rollout rather than installing copycat apps or following links sent in unsolicited messages.

Making crypto useful before making it complex

Money does not prove that Telegram's large audience will begin using Gram, and it does not turn every chat into crypto market. It gives the token a clearer everyday role inside the messenger: a way to transfer value and buy digital goods that already exist on the platform.

Whether that role gains traction will depend on the rollout, regional access, and how easy Telegram makes it to acquire and protect Gram. For now, the product strategy is clear: Money handles the simple payment moment, while Walt remains available for users who want to go further into crypto.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment or financial advice. Feature availability may vary by region and account.