Read their paper, they stated form the beginning that TON isn't able to launch decentralized. The initial investment to run a node is to high so they can't just

Read their paper, they stated form the beginning that TON isn't able to launch decentralized. The initial investment to run a node is to high so they can't just put some binary on the net and ask people to run it. They planed to run every node in the beginning to show that it works and then everyone can join (with no control over who joins) but to join you have to have GRAMs so by stooping them to distribute grams they basically made it impossible to decentralized. Although they could still give out GRAMs, start the network and just ignore the SEC. Technically the network would decentralize over time but for that to happen there must be a market for GRAMs. Who's gonna obtain "illegal" GAMS to run a node and get paid with "illegal" GRAMs which can only be sold "illegal" again. And even people would do the services on TON are meant to be used by the masses if they can't simply buy GRAMs the whole thing can't fuel itself.