The global Web3 space was thrown into a state of panic on Saturday when Pavel Durov, co-founder and CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram, was arrested around 6 PM GMT at Le Bourget airport, France.
The 39-year-old founder, who is a French-Russian national, was detained by the Air Transport Gendarmerie (GTA) after disembarking from his private jet. Although the full details of the arrest have not been released, some reports suggest that the arrest is connected to his using his social media platform Telegram for criminal activities.
The arrest of Telegram CEO, Pavel Durov sent shockwaves through the crypto community, leading to a significant drop in the price of the platform’s initiative token, TON and Notcoin, a popular token launched on the TON blockchain earlier this year.
Within an hour of the news breaking, TON’s price plummeted by 16%, and $NOT followed suit, symbolizing investors’ concerns over the future of Telegram and its associated projects.
Following the news break, there was apprehension and uncertainty over the future of $DOGS, which is scheduled to launch on all major crypto exchanges on Monday. $DOGS is a web3 project that rewarded users with tokens commensurate with the age of Telegram accounts.
Related post: As Telegram reward token $DOGS prepares to launch on Monday, analysts speculate $0.04 list price
Given the speculation, the $DOGS team announced on Sunday that the project will continue with its price listing on Monday, “no matter what”.
Notably, the web3 space has witnessed an influx of Telegram-based tap-to-earn projects in 2024. From Notcoin to TapSwap, Hamster Kombat to Blum, and now $DOGS. web3 enthusiasts have tapped, and are still hoping to tap their screens for dollars.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrest
Pavel Durov was born in Russia and now lives in Dubai, where Telegram is based. The app, which he founded in 2013 was banned (reversed in 2021) in Russia in 2018, after a previous refusal by him to hand over user data. The app is ranked as one of the most popular social media platforms after Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and WeChat.
The Telegram chief was arrested on Saturday evening after disembarking from his private jet at Le Bourget airport in France. He was reportedly accompanied by a bodyguard and a woman.
Durov’s arrest was triggered by a French search warrant issued by the Office of the French National Judicial Police Directorate (OFMIN), based on a preliminary investigation. The warrant was valid only on French territory, making this arrest possible as Durov landed in France from Azerbaijan.
Durov was listed in the Wanted Persons File (FPR) due to serious allegations against Telegram, Per French authorities. The platform’s features, including its lack of content moderation, use of disposable numbers, and cryptocurrencies, are believed to have facilitated illegal activities such as drug trafficking, child abuse crimes, and fraud.
French investigators claim that Durov’s refusal to cooperate with law enforcement and his failure to moderate illicit content on Telegram made him an accomplice to these crimes.
Following his arrest, Durov was placed in custody by investigators from the National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF). He is expected to appear before an investigating judge.
He is expected to face a multitude of charges, including terrorism, drug trafficking, complicity, fraud, money laundering, and involvement in child abuse content.
$DOGS launch will go on as planned
Telegram is popular for hosting Web3 projects so it didn’t come as a surprise that Web3 enthusiasts and the crypto community took the development seriously, thereby calling for the release of the Telegram founder.
There are speculations that the arrest might affect the launch of $DOGS on Monday. However, the team behind the project announced on Sunday that the price listing on major exchanges like Binance, Bybit, Bitget and Gate.io will go on as planned.
In a post on the project’s Telegram group on Sunday, Durov’s picture alongside this caption was posted:
“We stand with Pavel @Durov, privacy and truth.
Which is particularly important now.
#FREEDUROV”
Later in the day, the team assured its community members with another post:
“Hey Dogs,
Telegram is our home. This is where we build, communicate, and find our community.
We love this place, just as it is.
We stand with privacy and truth. We stand with Pavel and Telegram, in both good times and hard times.
We didn’t want to make it symbolic, but we are sticking to our line. And our pack.
Tomorrow, 26th of August, at 12:00 pm UTC, you will see the Telegram $DOGS on all major exchanges.
Stay strong and united, no matter what.”
We will be here to share updates as announcements are made.
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