Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who had been detained in France since August last year, has been granted temporary permission to leave the country and travel to Dubai, according to a report by Agence France Presse (AFP).
Toncoin Soars Following the Announcement
Shortly after the news broke, the cryptocurrency market reacted swiftly. Toncoin (TON), the digital token associated with Telegram’s Telegram Open Network (TON), saw its trading volume surge by more than 15%. At the time of writing, the TON token is valued at $3.34, marking a significant increase as investors responded to Durov’s temporary departure.
Additionally, Notcoin (NOT), the token behind a tap-to-earn mini-app on the Telegram platform, experienced a sharp rally, jumping by over 12.7%.
Durov Faces Ongoing Legal Challenges
Durov, the 40-year-old billionaire Russian exile, founded Telegram in 2013 and has since grown the platform into one of the most widely used messaging apps globally. However, he is currently facing multiple legal charges in France, including accusations related to terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and child abuse content facilitated on the Telegram platform.
Following his indictment in August, authorities barred Durov from leaving the country. However, a recent ruling by an investigating judge allowed him to modify his supervision conditions, granting him temporary travel permission to Dubai.
Durov Responds to Charges
Durov has publicly addressed the allegations, expressing his surprise and frustration over the charges. In a September statement on his official Telegram channel, he criticized French authorities for bypassing Telegram’s official EU representative and instead directly implicating him.
He argued that holding a CEO personally responsible for crimes allegedly committed by third parties on a messaging platform is a flawed approach, especially considering Telegram operates under pre-smartphone-era regulations.
Additionally, Durov defended Telegram’s content moderation efforts, emphasizing the company’s daily work in removing harmful content and its established cooperation with NGOs to address urgent security threats.
What’s Next for Telegram and Its Crypto Ecosystem?
Despite his legal challenges, Durov reaffirmed his commitment to Telegram’s future and its nearly one billion users worldwide. However, as the investigation continues, the impact on Telegram’s operations and its cryptocurrency projects remains uncertain.
The recent price spikes in Toncoin and Notcoin indicate investor confidence in the Telegram Open Network’s blockchain initiatives. Yet, whether Durov’s legal battle will have lasting repercussions on Telegram’s crypto ecosystem is yet to be seen.
As Durov’s legal troubles unfold, his temporary departure to Dubai raises questions about the future of Telegram, its regulatory stance, and its blockchain ambitions. With growing scrutiny on messaging platforms and their role in digital transactions, Telegram’s journey will be one to watch in the coming months.
