Toncoin (TON) is a decentralized first -level blockchain, which was developed by the encrypted communication platform Telegram in 2018. It aims to provide fast, scalable and secure payment and smart contracts, and achieve cross -chain communication and interoperability through a series of special blockchain (called shards). Toncoin, formerly known as Gram, is a local cryptocurrency of TON network. The project was abandoned by Telegram for regulatory issues in 2020 and was taken over by an independent community called Ton Foundation.