Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France on August 24, 2024. This incident had a significant impact on the TON ecosystem, Telegram’s cryptocurrency project. Here are some of the main impacts:
1. **TON currency price fell sharply**: After the news of Durov’s arrest, the price of TON currency quickly fell by 13-16%, reflecting investors’ uncertainty and concerns about the future of TON. This plunge shows that despite TON’s claims to be a decentralized ecosystem, the market is still highly dependent on Durov’s leadership and influence [82 † source ] [ 85 † source ].
2. **Increased legal and regulatory risks**: Durov’s arrest has raised concerns about greater regulatory pressure on Telegram and its associated projects. French authorities have made serious accusations about the use of the Telegram platform, including its potential role in illegal activity, which could trigger tighter regulatory scrutiny around the world [82†source].
3. **Uncertainty about the future of the TON ecosystem**: Durov’s legal woes may erode trust in the TON ecosystem, especially those projects and developers that rely on the TON blockchain. Although the TON Foundation has always tried to remain transparent and abide by the law, this incident may affect TON's global legality and continued development [83 † source].
4. **Shaking of market confidence**: Durov’s arrest not only has a direct impact on the TON currency, but may also affect the reputation of the entire Telegram platform. This uncertainty may cause more investors to take a wait-and-see attitude towards TON, affecting its long-term growth [84 † source].
Overall, Durov’s arrest has brought huge challenges to the TON ecosystem, and the future development direction is still full of uncertainty. Investors and users need to pay close attention to subsequent developments to deal with possible risks.