The platform was launched in 2018, and according to Pavel Durov, it was 70% ready to launch the test network.
By October 2019, the U.S. Securities Commission (SEC) announced that it considers the Gram cryptocurrency as a security, and at the beginning of January 2020 interrogated Pavel Durov (in Dubai, UAE) for the purpose of the TON platform. The answers received did not satisfy the authorities. Based on the fact that investors purchased tokens and then resold them for speculation, Gram was declared as a security and the fundraising – illegal.
The TON blockchain project was officially closed on May 12, 2020. From that moment, Pavel Durov refused to further participate in the development of the platform.
The community decided to keep the potential of the idea, and launched Free TON project. It is based on the original Telegram Open Network (TON) source code. The platform's token with decentralized statehood was named Crystal, and participants sign a declaration to join the community. The new ecosystem is funded and managed independently by a team decision.