Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov, arrested in France last year over allegations of illegal content sharing on the app, has been permitted to travel to Dubai for two weeks starting July 10. This marks the second such allowance since his detention, following a similar arrangement in April. French authorities accuse Telegram of insufficient content moderation and Durov of unauthorized cryptography use. The app has since tightened controls, sharing user data with authorities for illegal content. Durov, a billionaire advocating civil liberties, has drawn criticism from figures like Edward Snowden and Elon Musk. Telegram remains popular in crypto circles, supporting mini-apps for token earnings and linked to The Open Network (TON) blockchain, now community-run.
about Telegram CEO Durov Allowed Dubai Travel Amid Legal WoesThe Open Network
0 in Finance and 0 in Crypto last weekAffluent Launches DeFi App on Telegram for Easy Crypto Yields
Affluent, a money market protocol built on The Open Network (TON), has launched to bring seamless DeFi lending and yields to Telegram users. Co-founded by former TON Foundation executive Justin Hyun, the platform enables trustless crypto asset management with a single-click deposit feature. By combining TradFi simplicity with DeFi innovation, Affluent aims to attract users seeking passive income without the usual complexities of decentralized finance. The app’s integration with Telegram could expand crypto adoption by leveraging the messaging app’s massive user base.
about Affluent Launches DeFi App on Telegram for Easy Crypto YieldsTether Launches Omnichain Gold Stablecoin XAUt0 on TON
Tether, in collaboration with the TON Foundation, has unveiled XAUt0, an omnichain iteration of its gold-backed stablecoin XAUt. Built on LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token standard, XAUt0 enables transfers across blockchains without wrapping or intermediaries. XAUt, the original Ethereum-based version, remains the largest gold stablecoin by market cap at $832 million, slightly ahead of Paxos’s PAXG ($811 million). This expansion aims to enhance accessibility and liquidity for gold-pegged digital assets across multiple ecosystems.
about Tether Launches Omnichain Gold Stablecoin XAUt0 on TONTON Network Outage Resolved, No Funds Affected
The Open Network (TON), an independent layer-1 blockchain with ties to Telegram, faced a temporary outage on June 1 due to an error in the masterchain dispatch queue. Block production was halted but restored within approximately 40 minutes after the issue was identified at 12:51:00 UTC. TON’s development team confirmed that no user funds were affected and transactions submitted during the downtime remained secure. The incident highlights the resilience of decentralized networks in maintaining transaction integrity despite technical disruptions.
about TON Network Outage Resolved, No Funds AffectedToncoin Surges 12% Amid Telegram’s $1.5B Bond Plan & xAI Deal
Toncoin (TON) experienced a 12% price surge as Telegram, its affiliated platform, announced plans for a $1.5 billion bond issuance and a $300 million partnership with xAI. Telegram’s financial performance has rebounded, reporting $540 million in profits on $1.4 billion revenue in 2024, alongside rapid user growth. However, legal challenges persist for founder Pavel Durov, facing charges in France. Meanwhile, TON’s adoption has been bolstered by viral tap-to-earn games on Telegram, such as Catizen and Hamster Kombat, which attracted millions of users. The network, initially created by Telegram in 2018, has regained traction despite earlier regulatory scrutiny.
about Toncoin Surges 12% Amid Telegram's $1.5B Bond Plan & xAI Deal