Working Alternatives in 2026: How to Earn TON/GRAM Without Mining
Since Toncoin (GRAM) mining ended in 2022, earning Gram today generally comes from staking/validation or other ecosystem activities – not PoW mining.
1) Delegated Staking (Beginner-Friendly)
The most common method for regular users is to delegate TON/GRAM to a validator via a staking pool. You lock your coins with a chosen validator and automatically share in its rewards. The validator runs the node, and you earn rewards proportional to your stake (after any pool fees). This is simple and requires minimal technical work on your part.
2) Liquid Staking (e.g. Hipo Finance)
Liquid staking platforms let you stake Gram and receive a tradable token. For example, Hipo Finance issues hTON (also known as hGRAM) to represent staked TON/GRAM. As you earn staking rewards, your hTON balance effectively grows. You can later swap hTON back to TON (subject to market liquidity). This approach provides flexibility, but comes with smart contract and liquidity risks.
3) Running a Validator (Advanced)
Running your own validator can earn rewards directly, but it requires a very large stake and professional infrastructure. Validators must follow all operational procedures (using tools like MyTonCtrl), maintain high uptime, and secure their keys. This is suitable only for organizations or users with the resources to meet the network’s strict requirements.
Scam & Safety Checklist
- No “TON/Gram mining” since 2022: As noted, official TON mining stopped in 2022. Any site or app claiming to mine TON/GRAM is false advertising. The TON community warns that any service asking to convert or "receive" TON/GRAM is likely a scam.
- Never share your seed phrase: Legitimate staking or wallet setups never ask for your private keys or recovery phrase. Keep your credentials secure and only use trusted, official wallet apps.
- Verify links and sources: Always use official domains and well-known services. Double-check URLs and avoid unknown Telegram bots or shady apps. Refer to the official TON documentation or community channels for guidance.
How to Stake TON/GRAM (Step-by-Step Guide)
Here is a general process to start staking your tokens:
- Choose a staking service or validator: Options include liquid staking platforms like Tonstakers (tsTON), CoinUnited.io, YouHodler, etc. Make sure your choice supports TON/GRAM staking and is reputable.
- Set up a wallet: Install a TON-compatible wallet such as Tonkeeper or Tonhub, and securely transfer your TON/GRAM into it.
- Delegate your tokens: In the staking interface, select a validator to delegate to. Enter the amount to stake and confirm the transaction. The network will lock those tokens for staking.
- Earn rewards: Once staked, you will earn rewards based on your validator’s performance and the amount you staked. Rewards typically accumulate over time and can be claimed or restaked.
Staking Pools & Delegation
Staking pools (nominator pools) allow multiple holders to combine their tokens for staking. By pooling resources, users who cannot meet the high minimum stake can still participate and earn rewards. Delegation simplifies staking: you do not run a node yourself, but you benefit when your chosen validator earns rewards. Pools help decentralize the network by enabling many users to stake indirectly.
TON (Gram) Staking Ecosystem
The TON ecosystem offers a variety of staking options: solo validators, staking pools, liquid staking protocols, and custodial services. Whether you have a small or large amount of GRAM, there are ways to stake. For example, Tonstakers provides liquid staking for retail users, while corporate validators may operate single-nominator pools for large holders. All these contribute to a robust staking ecosystem.
InfinityTON Mining Pool (TonWhales)
The InfinityTON pool by TonWhales is an initiative to allow continued mining of Gram via alternative algorithms. They enable GPU/ASIC miners to allocate hashpower (e.g. Ethash, KAWPOW, SHA-256) and receive GRAM. TonWhales notes "InfinityTON pool is the only pool where you can continue to mine Gram". Remember, this is not part of the official TON network protocol. It effectively converts other coin mining into GRAM. Always research any mining pool or conversion service carefully – official sources warn that unverified "TON mining" schemes are likely scams.
Liquid Staking Platforms
Platforms like Bemo and Hipo Finance offer liquid staking on TON. Users stake GRAM and receive a token (e.g., tsTON from Bemo or hGRAM from Hipo) that represents their stake. These tokens can be traded or used in DeFi while their underlying GRAM is staked. As the network rewards accrue, the value of these liquid tokens increases. Liquid staking provides flexibility but carries smart-contract and liquidity risks.
Cloud Infrastructure (Renting Hardware)
Some users consider renting cloud servers (e.g. AWS, Google Cloud) to participate in TON. You could rent machines to run validator nodes or full nodes without owning physical hardware. While this offers scalability, it involves pay-as-you-go costs. Importantly, because TON (GRAM) no longer supports PoW mining, you cannot rent cloud hardware to mine TON directly. If using cloud resources, focus on staking or hosting validator nodes.
Important: Ignore any "cloud mining" services for TON/GRAM. Since mining is impossible, these are scams. Instead, if renting cloud servers, use them for running nodes or staking infrastructure.
You can use our TON calculator to estimate staking rewards and compare costs of different participation methods.