Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was reportedly charged with 12 crimes in France related to financial and cybercrimes following his arrest last weekend.
Toncoin (TON), the native cryptocurrency of Telegram-endorsed The Open Network, fell by up to 5% following the news of Durov’s indictment by French authorities. According to crypto.news price data, TON traded below $5.59, marking a decline of 32% from its all-time high set in June.
Durov’s supposed charges
Following Durov’s arrest at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, crimes allegedly committed by an unnamed person speculated to be the founder were released.
The 12 charges included three crypto-related offenses: “providing illegal cryptology services for confidentiality, providing a cryptology tool without prior declaration, and importing cryptology tools without prior declaration.”
If Durov is indeed suspected of these crimes, the charges are likely connected to TON, a blockchain network integrated with Telegram’s private messaging app.
The unnamed individual was also charged with money laundering, criminal complicity, and refusal to cooperate with law enforcement. Reports said Telegram’s founder may remain in custody until Aug. 28 as investigations progress. If tried and convicted on these charges, the founder could face 20 years in prison.
At press time, the charges many believed have been levied against Durov remain unconfirmed as the story continues to develop.
— Baptiste Robert (@fs0c131y) August 26, 2024Finally the charges against Pavel Durov has been published:
– Complicity – Administration of an online platform to allow an illegal transaction in an organised band,
– Refusal to communicate, at the request of the authorised authorities, the information or documents necessary… https://t.co/BZzZ8pAjLL pic.twitter.com/v3AXM2BS5X
Community blasts flawed logic used against Telegram CEO
Since Durov’s arrest over the weekend, billionaires and pro-crypto voices have criticized the move as an assault against personal privacy in Europe.
Figures like Elon Musk and Justin Sun amplified the public chorus in support of freeing Durov and ending the investigation into Telegram. The backlash from social media communities only increased after Durov’s supposed charges were disclosed.
The consensus among outraged observers argued that the logic behind Durov’s rumored crimes made little sense and could be applied to several other founders.
— Steven Lubka ☀️ (@DzambhalaHODL) August 26, 2024They are throwing the book at Durov as complicit in every bad behavior users conducted over Telegram
Unless he was somehow involved in fraud, pornography of a minor, drugs, and gang activity – every internet company CEO is guilty of the same thing by this logic https://t.co/hGdCWG9F9U
Will TON on Telegram survive?
While Durov has garnered significant support, the legal challenges he faces raise questions about the future of TON on Telegram.
TON’s success is closely tied to its integration with Telegram and the platform’s 900 million users. This legal threat could pose a significant challenge for The Open Network. However, Durov’s victory could lead to greater adoption of TON and signal a crucial victory for crypto and decentralized privacy initiatives.