On March 15, the TON Foundation confirmed that Pavel Durov finally got back his passport from the French government, allowing him to leave the country.
Following this development, the French news outlet Le Parisien reported that Pavel Durov visited Dubai despite months of legal prohibition.
Why Pavel Durov Was Stuck in France
Durov’s legal problems began in August 2024, when French police arrested him and said Telegram failed to stop illegal activities on its platform. Later, Durov’s case started a worldwide conversation about digital privacy and free speech. Critics said the charges were an attempt to control platforms for encrypted messaging.
However, the French authorities charged him with neglecting to implement sufficient security measures to stop fraud and illicit transactions. He could face a ten-year sentence and significant fines if found guilty.
At the time, to secure his release, Durov paid a multimillion-dollar bail, but he had to stay in the country and follow all the legal procedures.
In addition, Telegram changed how it moderates content because of what happened. Telegram’s Frequently Asked Questions page has been updated to reflect a stricter policy on reporting illegal content.
Previously, Telegram said that all chats were private and would not entertain content-related requests. The new strategy now asks users to use the “report” button to flag infractions.
The case may not have been dropped yet since he has left the country, but it is still unclear if more legal action will be taken.
Emphasizing that blockchain technology is still a tool for digital freedom, the TON Foundation confirmed its dedication to safe communication even if there was some controversy.
“There is no change in our dedication to these basic principles, and we’re proud to be a part of an ecosystem that enables people to communicate securely and freely since we believe that blockchain is #freedom technology, an innovative tool capable of changing how we defend personal rights.” the foundation stated.
Toncoin’s Impact on the Market and Potential for the Future
After the news of Durov’s departure, the TON community responded very positively, and we saw the price of Toncoin go up to $3.58 today, which is a 15% rise from the weekend. Still, the token stays 10% less than it was a month ago. With declining interest in Telegram mini-games and TON projects, the price of the token continues to drop.
This increase shows that investors are feeling more confident again, but Toncoin’s long-term path is still unclear. The founder of crypto investment company Bitwise Invest, Junai Dar, said that activity on the TON blockchain had reached its lowest points, with some in the industry even calling it “dead.”
Dar also asked, “Will there be a return? These events could be the start of a TON comeback. And are we going to see TON reclaim Web3 supremacy with Durov back in action?”
And it might mark a turning point for Toncoin as Durov takes a more active role. Telegram-based games like Hamster Kombat drove this change, boosting user involvement last year. This led to rapid adoption of the network.
Durov’s release from France is a big moment for Telegram; privacy advocates and TON celebrate Durov’s departure from France. His return may revive the TON blockchain, but investors are hopeful. Now it’s exciting to see: will Toncoin rise again, or is this only a temporary rise?
