Summary: Telegram creator Pavel Durov has left France for Dubai after a court approved him to leave. His departure follows the continuation of an investigation into illicit use of Telegram. Toncoin (TON) reacted with an 18% jump, to $3.41, in response to the news.
Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, has officially left France after receiving court approval to travel. A French judge granted his request on March 13, allowing him to leave the country for several weeks. Sources confirmed he departed from Le Bourget airport near Paris with the authorities’ consent.
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Durov was detained in August 2023 after French prosecutors accused Telegram of enabling criminal activity. He was released on a $5.5 million bail but was prohibited from exiting France until the investigation was concluded. While the court now allows him to travel, it is not clear if he will be required to return.
News of his departure had a strong effect on the crypto market. Toncoin (TON), the cryptocurrency linked to The Open Network, surged over 18% to $3.41. Trading volume jumped 200% to $486 million, pushing its market cap to $8.4 billion.
Durov, who holds Russian, French, and UAE passports, maintains that Telegram is innocent of criminal activity. During a December 2024 hearing, he stated, “I did not create Telegram for criminals,” but conceded that others misuse the platform.
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His move to Dubai, known for its business-friendly policies, has sparked discussions about privacy and regulation. French officials have yet to comment.