France Sets Pavel Durov Free... For Now
Toncoin’s price soared, as the founder returned to Dubai
Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder and digital privacy advocate, has been granted permission to leave France after months of legal entanglement - although terms of the release remain unclear.
The 40-year-old tech billionaire wasted no time, and flew to Dubai on March 13 where Telegram headquarters is located.
Toncoin (TON) - the native cryptocurrency of Telegram's ecosystem - shot to $3.50, up 50% from $2.36. The surge pushed its market cap beyond $8.5 billion, reversing months of downward pressure since Durov's August arrest.
"The TON Foundation is delighted to learn that Pavel Durov's passport has been returned to him by French authorities, granting him the freedom to leave the country at his discretion," the organisation posted on X.
Breaking his silence just hours after touching down at Dubai International Airport, Durov addressed his supporters through his Telegram channel.
The Arrest
French police nabbed Durov at Le Bourget airport last August, accusing him of insufficient content moderation on Telegram that allegedly enabled various criminal activities.
The consequences were serious.
Potential 10-year prison sentence
Possible $500,000 fine
Global precedent for platform liability
After posting a $6 million bail, Durov was forced to remain in France, checking in regularly with authorities like a common criminal.
“Yes, we stand by our principles: our experience is shaped by our mission to protect our users in authoritarian regimes. But we’ve always been open to dialogue.” Durov said after his arrest.
In the Numbers
While Durov's departure for Dubai — a business-friendly jurisdiction with limited extradition agreements — offers breathing room, the unresolved French case suggests the battle is far from over.
950 million: Telegram's current global user base
$1 billion+: Telegram's revenue in 2024
$17.1 billion: Durov's estimated net worth
68%: TON's price decline from December 2024 to March 11, 2025
20%: TON's price increase in 24 hours following Durov's release
The #Durovfree hashtag has exploded across X.
While Durov himself remains characteristically silent about his future plans, the crypto community has already started celebrating what they see as a victory for digital rights.