The last thing we time we heard of Pavel Durov back in August 2024, where it was reported that the founder of the messaging app Telegram was placed under judicial supervision, his passport was confiscated by the French authorities, and he refrained from leaving the country.
Since then, there has been no new news about the case. But now we are finally getting some exciting plot twist. According to media outlet Barron's who have cited unknown sources, Durov is not only getting back his passport but he has also been granted permission from the French court to leave the country.
Without being given any context, different media sources are making their own speculation on what could really be going on. While some are speculating that Durov was only granted permission to leave the country for two weeks, others have speculated that the Durov has already been vindicated and now is a freeman.
According to AFP reports, unnamed sources confirmed Durov's departure from the European country this morning. This new revelation also sparked a new thread of debate revolving around the destination of Durov's choice, with many saying he would return to his home in Dubai, where he is believed to hold a citizenship.
Dubai has been the choice for many controversial crypto leaders because of its attractive tax environment and the absence of extradition agreements with many countries. For Durov, who is seeking to escape the indictment of the French authorities, it is not hard to see why he has chosen Dubai.
But it remains to be seen whether this decision ends the proceedings or if Durov will face further legal complications.
The crypto market responded positively to Durov’s departure. Toncoin (TON), the native cryptocurrency of The Open Network (TON), surged over 18% in value, whereas this crypto lost 20% following his arrest last year.
Following the news of the Telegram founder's arrest in France on August 2024, the price of TON plummeted by over 35% from roughly $6.88 to $4.44 by September 2024.
The digital asset reached a high of $7.20 on December 4, 2024, amid a historic rally in the crypto market in response to the re-election of President Donald Trump in the United States.
However, TON's price collapsed by roughly 67% after the post-election rally, reaching a low of $2.36 on March 11, 2025.
Toncoin is the cryptocurrency of the Topen Network, which is separate from the Telegram platform, but has become a staple for users of the messaging app.
Durov's "victory" and approval to leave the country was applauded by Telegram and TON users as a win for freedom of speech, while the debate between online security and freedom of expression continues to foment.
Durov, now 40, holds Russian, French, and UAE citizenships. Shortly after his arrest, the Russian government expressed willingness to assist him, complicating the legal proceedings due to his dual nationality.
This also begs the question if Durov's current release has something to do with the Russian government. For example, Russian cryptocurrency kingpin Alexander Vinnik was recently released by the U.S as part of an exchange deal the Russian government had with the United States.
Durov’s departure follows the recent release of Alexander Vinnik, the former operator of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, finally returned to Russia just a month ago after years of legal battles stemming from his 2017 arrest.
Hence, could we expect the same result from Durov case as well?
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