TON Surges 20% as Telegram Founder Leaves France for Dubai

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has officially left France for Dubai after a court permitted him to do so.

On March 13, a French judge approved his request to change his legal restrictions, allowing him to leave the country for “several weeks.” 

A source told AFP , “He left France this morning with the agreement of the authorities.” Another source confirmed that he took off from Le Bourget airport near Paris.

Durov got into legal trouble in August last year when he was arrested in France. Prosecutors accused him of not doing enough to stop criminals from using Telegram. They claimed the app allowed illegal transactions and other unlawful activities. 

He was released on a $5.5 million bail but was ordered to stay in the country while the investigation continued. Now, the court has allowed him to leave, though it’s unclear if he has fully settled the case or if he will have to return.

The news of his departure made a big impact on the crypto market. Toncoin (TON), the cryptocurrency linked to The Open Network (TON), jumped more than 18%, reaching $3.41. The trading volume also skyrocketed by 200% to $486 million, and the market cap climbed to $8.4 billion. 

TON/USD Price | Source: CoinMarketCap

Durov, who has Russian, French, and UAE passports, has defended himself against the accusations. He insists he has always cooperated with authorities. “I was available and ready to respond to all requests,” he reportedly told investigators. 

However, French officials argued that Telegram wasn’t doing enough. In a December 2024 interrogation, Durov said, “I did not create Telegram for criminals,” but admitted that some people misuse the platform.

His move to Dubai, a city known for its business-friendly environment, has raised questions about privacy and government control. Meanwhile, French officials have not yet issued a formal statement on the matter.