TON Coin Experiences Sharp Decline After CEO’s Arrest in France 📉
The native cryptocurrency of The Open Network, TON Coin, faced a significant drop following the reported arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France. CoinGecko data revealed that TON hit a low of $5.31 in the early hours of Sunday, marking a nearly 20% decrease after news of the arrest emerged.
Durov is confronting various charges, including terrorism and money laundering, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the cryptocurrency.
Currently, the coin is being traded at $5.63, showing a minor recovery from its lowest point but still reflecting a decline of over 15% within the last 24 hours. Alongside the price slump, TON Coin’s market cap also took a hit, dropping from over $17 billion to $13.4 billion before rebounding above $14 billion.
More Insights into TON Coin Development 🚀
- TON Coin has a strong affiliation with Telegram, originally being part of the messaging app’s initiatives before branching out to develop its unique cryptocurrency.
- The project now operates under the management of the TON Foundation, demonstrating independence from Telegram but retaining key collaborative features.
- Despite its separate entity, TON has seamlessly integrated with Telegram to offer users access to TON Coin wallets, facilitating crypto transactions and interactions with decentralized applications (dApps).
- Both TON and Telegram are poised to introduce new enhancements in the future to enrich the utility and accessibility of TON Coin within the Telegram ecosystem.
Impact on NOT Coin and the Broader Ecosystem 🎮
Similar to TON Coin, NOT Coin—an asset operating on the TON blockchain—forms part of the ecosystem fostered by Telegram. NOT Coin introduces a “tap-to-earn” game integrated into Telegram, engaging millions of users globally, with a peak user base of approximately 35 million.
Following Durov’s detention in France, NOT Coin experienced a downturn of over 20%, dropping from $0.012 to $0.0091. Presently, the cryptocurrency is trading around $0.0095, while its market cap slipped from $1.2 billion to below $950 million according to CoinGecko data.
Unraveling Pavel Durov’s Arrest 🚔
- On August 24, French authorities apprehended Durov at Le Bourget airport upon his arrival from Azerbaijan, based on reports from judicial sources later confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
- The arrest followed a search warrant issued by France’s L’Office Mineurs as part of an investigation into accusations against Telegram, including inadequate content moderation fostering illicit activities like fraud and drug trafficking.
- While no official statement from Telegram has been released, the TON blockchain remains operational, with continued support shown by the TON community for Durov.
Show of Support from Industry Leaders 🌟
- Elon Musk, the X (formerly Twitter) owner, shared Durov’s interview with Tucker Carlson, emphasizing innovations in X and advocating for Durov’s freedom with the hashtag ‘#FreePavel.’
- Musk regarded Durov’s arrest as a testament to the importance of the First Amendment, safeguarding free speech rights.
- Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, expressed concerns over the charges against Durov, emphasizing the significance of software freedom in Europe.
- Durov staunchly upholds user privacy through Telegram, affirming that user data would never be shared with external entities, including governments, and prioritizing encrypted communication to safeguard user conversations.
Hot Take: Looking Ahead in the TON Ecosystem 🧐
As developments unfold in the aftermath of Pavel Durov’s arrest, the TON community remains resilient, with ongoing advancements and collaborations anticipated within the TON and Telegram ecosystem. The repercussions of this event on the cryptocurrency space will continue to resonate, underscoring the intersection of technology, regulation, and privacy in the digital era.