Telegram Founder Leaves France as TON Blockchain Attracts Investments

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has been allowed to temporarily leave France, where he faces serious legal challenges. Meanwhile, The Open Network (TON) blockchain, which powers Telegram’s growing mini-app ecosystem, has secured over $400 million in investments from major venture capital firms.

According to sources cited by AFP, Durov departed France on March 15, 2025, with permission from authorities. He reportedly headed to Dubai after an investigating judge approved changes to his supervision conditions.

Durov had been banned from leaving France since his arrest at Le Bourget airport in August 2024, when he was charged with multiple infractions related to failing to curb extremist and terrorist content on the Telegram platform.

How the Telegram (TON) Blockchain is Growing

While Durov deals with legal issues, the TON blockchain connected to Telegram is gaining significant financial backing.

On March 20, 2025, the TON Foundation announced that several major venture capital firms—including Sequoia Capital, Ribbit, Benchmark, and Kingsway—invested more than $400 million by purchasing Toncoin, the native cryptocurrency of the TON blockchain.

Unlike traditional funding, these investments were made directly in Toncoin rather than through equity or cash. This shows strong confidence in the blockchain’s future potential, especially considering its connection to Telegram’s massive user base.

“The TON team is the best in the world at the intersection of consumer product thinking and crypto infrastructure,” said Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia Capital. “When you combine this with the global distribution of Telegram, we’re very excited to see where they go.”

The TON blockchain has seen remarkable growth in the past year. Active user numbers have exceeded 40 million, while Toncoin has 121 million unique holders. Despite falling from its mid-2024 high of over $8.00, Toncoin currently trades at around $3.75 and remains among the top 20 cryptocurrencies with a market cap exceeding $9 billion.

The popularity of Telegram mini apps built on the TONblockchain increased dramatically last year after games like “Notcoin” and “Hamster Kombat” attracted millions of users. This growth happened as Telegram itself reached 1 billion users, making it an important platform for crypto adoption.

Other investors in the TON ecosystem include Vy Capital, Draper Associates, Libertus Capital, CoinFund, Hypersphere, SkyBridge, and Karatage. The diverse group of backers signals strong interest in TON’s potential to bring everyday utility to cryptocurrency through Telegram’s widespread messaging platform.