The founder of Telegram was arrested in France, and the cryptocurrency TON responded urgently

Original Title: Breaking: Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Arrested in France, Law Enforcement Agencies Cite Cryptocurrency TON in Urgent Response

Original Author: Wu Says Blockchain

According to reports from French INFO TF1/LCI, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was arrested around 8 PM on Saturday evening as he stepped off a private plane on the tarmac at Le Bourget Airport. The 39-year-old holds dual citizenship in France and Russia, and was accompanied by his bodyguard and a woman at the time.

The arrest was carried out by the Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA). Pavel Durov has a record in France's FPR (Wanted Persons File), having arrived directly from Azerbaijan. He was subject to a French search warrant issued by the OFMIN (Command Center) of the National Judicial Police based on a preliminary investigation. Why is he facing the threat of a search warrant? The judicial authorities believe that Telegram's lack of content moderation, insufficient cooperation with law enforcement, and the tools it provides (such as disposable numbers and cryptocurrencies) make him an accomplice to drug trafficking, child pornography crimes, and fraud.

This search warrant is only valid while Pavel Durov is on French territory. "He made a big mistake tonight. We don't know why… was this flight just a stopover? In any case, he was caught!" a source close to the investigation revealed to TF1/LCI. Aware of his unpopularity in France, Pavel Durov has been accustomed to traveling between the UAE, former Soviet countries, and South America… He rarely visits Europe, especially avoiding countries that monitor Telegram. So what now? Investigators from ONAF (National Anti-Fraud Office under Customs) notified and placed him in detention. He is expected to be handed over to an examining magistrate on Saturday night and may be formally charged on Sunday with multiple offenses: terrorism, drug trafficking, conspiracy, fraud, money laundering, harboring, child pornography… "Pavel Durov will definitely be temporarily detained," a source close to the investigation commented to TF1/LCI. "Countless crimes and illegal activities have occurred on his platform, and he has taken no measures to moderate or cooperate," an insider analyzed.

In fact, it is almost a foregone conclusion that he will be temporarily detained after being charged. Pavel Durov is a billionaire with substantial resources to flee, and his bail is unlikely to convince a judge.

This internationally significant operation has multiple objectives for investigators. Firstly, it can deter and prevent criminals who are still freely communicating on Telegram. Secondly, they hope to pressure European countries to strengthen cooperation and jointly address the issue of terrorism on secure communication applications.

In fact, Telegram is a hotbed for criminal content. Currently, the platform has made headlines for illegally broadcasting Ligue 1 matches. However, many accounts on this encrypted messaging platform are used by organized crime groups. Besides terrorism, the most dangerous child pornography criminals also use Telegram to communicate and share content. "For years, it has become the number one platform for organized crime," a source commented. In Europe, particularly in Germany, Telegram is under investigation for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), concerning the processing of user data and privacy protection issues. Additionally, Telegram's inadequate response to illegal content (such as hate speech, fake news, etc.) has also raised legal issues. Germany has threatened to impose fines of millions of euros on Telegram for failing to comply with local content removal and reporting mechanisms.

Telegram was launched in 2013 by Russian brothers Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov as an encrypted instant messaging application. Pavel Durov was one of the founders of the Russian social network VK but left VK due to conflicts with the Russian government and focused on creating Telegram. The original intention of Telegram was to provide a more private and secure communication platform to counter government and other entities' invasions of privacy.

Telegram was released on the iOS platform in August 2013, followed by the Android version in October of the same year. The app quickly gained widespread attention for its speed, simplicity, and security. One of Telegram's key features is its end-to-end encryption, which ensures that users' messages are secure during transmission. In addition, Telegram allows the creation of large group chats, channels, and cloud-based storage and transmission.

As of 2024, Telegram has over 800 million monthly active users worldwide. Telegram's user base is distributed globally, but the following regions have a higher concentration of users:

• Russia and CIS countries: As the founders' homeland, Russia and CIS countries (including Ukraine, Belarus, etc.) have always been one of Telegram's important markets. Especially in Russia, due to the government's strict control over the internet and information, Telegram is seen as a tool for free communication.

• Middle East: Telegram also has a large user base in Middle Eastern countries such as Iran and Turkey. In these regions, Telegram's encryption features are very popular due to concerns about government censorship and control. Iran was once one of Telegram's largest single markets.

• India and Southeast Asia: India, as one of the countries with the most internet users globally, is also an important source of Telegram's user growth. Several Southeast Asian countries (such as Indonesia, Malaysia, etc.) also have a significant number of users.

• Europe: Western European countries (such as Germany, France) and Eastern European countries (such as Ukraine) have a broad Telegram user base. Many users use Telegram to evade data collection and privacy invasions on traditional social media platforms.

• South America: Telegram has also gained a significant user base in South American countries such as Brazil and Argentina, especially among political activists and journalists, where it is widely used as a tool for information dissemination and organization.

Telegram's success is partly attributed to its commitment to privacy and security, as well as the continuous introduction of new features (such as voice chats, video calls, paid subscriptions, etc.), which have attracted a large number of users globally.

In 2018, Telegram announced plans to develop a blockchain platform called TON, aimed at creating a decentralized internet ecosystem. TON's goal was to provide fast and scalable blockchain technology through its native cryptocurrency Gram, supporting various decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. To develop TON, Telegram conducted two rounds of private investor token pre-sales, raising approximately $1.7 billion. However, the TON project encountered significant legal obstacles in 2019. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit, accusing Telegram of illegal fundraising through unregistered securities offerings, arguing that the Gram token was essentially a security and that Telegram failed to register as required. After a legal battle with the SEC, Telegram announced in May 2020 that it would abandon the TON project. Pavel Durov stated in a public announcement that Telegram would no longer participate in TON or any related developments. Telegram also agreed to return most of the raised funds to investors and pay a $18.5 million fine.

Nevertheless, TON did not perish and has rapidly developed since 2023, currently ranking among the top ten cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with a flourishing ecosystem of cryptocurrencies such as mini-games and wallets. Telegram has also collaborated extensively with TON. Although there appears to be no direct relationship, Pavel Durov's strong support for TON is undoubtedly the main reason for its rapid rise. Whether France's actions will impact the thriving TON ecosystem remains to be seen. TON issued a statement saying: "In light of the recent news regarding Telegram founder Pavel Durov, we want to assure everyone that the TON community remains strong and fully operational. As a community committed to freedom of speech and decentralization, we firmly support Pavel during this challenging time. Pavel has always been a staunch advocate of these values, and we believe his efforts to promote an open and decentralized internet will continue to inspire millions. The TON community remains focused on our mission, and we will continue to strive to uphold these principles globally. We encourage everyone to stay calm, united, and continue building as we collectively navigate this situation. Thank you for your continued support."