Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested, Toncoin plunges 20%
The recent arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov in France has sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency world, with Toncoin (TON) plunging by more than 20% in just a few hours. Durov was apprehended at Le Bourget Airport near Paris as part of an ongoing investigation by French authorities into the misuse of Telegram by criminal entities.
The charges reportedly stem from his refusal to cooperate with law enforcement regarding moderation on the platform [❞] [❞].
PAVEL DUROV CHARGES
This arrest is not an isolated incident; Durov has a history of clashes with government authorities over issues of censorship and privacy, particularly in Russia, where he previously faced pressure to provide user data from his earlier social media venture, VK [❞]. This latest legal entanglement has raised concerns about the implications for privacy and free speech in the digital age, drawing reactions from tech leaders like Vitalik Buterin, who warned that it could set a dangerous precedent for software freedom in Europe [❞].
The arrest has also significantly impacted the TON ecosystem. Toncoin, originally developed by Telegram before legal complications led to its abandonment of the project, saw its value drop sharply from around $6.80 to as low as $5.38 within hours [❞]. Despite the downturn, The Open Network has urged the community to remain calm, asserting that the blockchain project remains strong and operational despite the turbulence [❞].
As the story develops, the arrest underscores the volatile relationship between tech innovators and government regulations, particularly in the cryptocurrency sector, where decentralization and regulation often collide.
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Crypto