Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Temporarily Leaves France Amid Legal Troubles, Toncoin Surges

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been granted temporary permission to leave France amidst legal troubles, according to a report by Agence France Presse (AFP). Durov, who has been detained in France since August 2024, is now allowed to travel to Dubai for a limited period. This decision follows a ruling by an investigating judge, who approved Durov’s request to modify the conditions of his supervision.

Shortly after the news of Durov’s temporary release, Toncoin (TON), the digital currency associated with Telegram’s blockchain initiative, saw a significant uptick in its trading volume, increasing by more than 15%. The price of TON surged to $3.34, marking a notable spike in its market activity. In addition, another token related to Telegram’s ecosystem, Notcoin, also saw a price rally, jumping by over 12.7%.

Durov, a Russian billionaire and founder of Telegram, faces multiple serious charges, including terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and the dissemination of child abuse content on the platform. These charges are linked to allegations of facilitating organized crime through Telegram, which has raised significant legal concerns. Telegram, with nearly one billion users, is one of the most widely used messaging platforms globally, making Durov’s legal battles a topic of interest for both tech and regulatory authorities.

Durov has publicly expressed his surprise at the charges and criticized French authorities for bypassing official communication channels with Telegram’s EU representative. In his defense, he emphasized that holding a CEO accountable for illegal content generated by users on a platform, particularly one that operates under outdated legal frameworks, was a flawed approach. Despite his ongoing legal challenges, Durov reaffirmed his commitment to improving the safety and security of Telegram, noting the platform’s continuous efforts to moderate harmful content and its partnerships with NGOs for urgent requests.

While Durov’s legal issues may continue to draw attention, the reaction in the cryptocurrency market suggests growing interest in Toncoin and Telegram’s broader blockchain projects. Whether these legal developments will impact Telegram’s operations or the value of its associated tokens in the long run remains uncertain. However, for now, Toncoin’s rise indicates a positive sentiment surrounding Telegram’s future plans in the crypto space.