Telegram

Russia is trying to block its people from accessing WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging platform, in what the company says is an effort to push users toward the state-backed app Max. The restriction affects tens of millions of Russians who rely on the platform for private communication.

The TON Foundation has launched TON Pay, a new payments tool that lets people pay with Toncoin and USDT directly inside Telegram Mini Apps, without leaving the app or using separate wallets. The system aims to make in-app crypto payments faster and cheaper, with near-instant transactions and fees below one cent.

A Chinese-language crypto guarantee service known as Xinbi has reportedly processed $17.9 billion in blockchain transaction volume despite major enforcement efforts and platform bans, according to a new investigation by TRM Labs.

Telegram has had $500 million of its bonds frozen in Russia because of Western sanctions, blocking payments to Russian holders. The company’s business continues to grow globally, with strong revenues and plans for a future IPO despite the bond freeze.

A Singapore-based entrepreneur has fallen victim to a sophisticated crypto malware scam, losing over $14,000 in digital assets after downloading a seemingly legitimate online game launcher.

France has lifted the travel restrictions on Telegram founder Pavel Durov after holding him under nearly a year of judicial control—marking a partial victory for the tech entrepreneur who spent the past twelve months accused of enabling illicit content and criminal activity through his encrypted messaging platform.

Roman Novak, a self-proclaimed “crypto millionaire,” once known for his luxury-fueled lifestyle and bold promises of digital wealth, was found dismembered and buried in the Dubai desert alongside his wife, Anna. What began as a glamorous tale of fast money and blockchain ambition has turned into one of the darkest chapters in crypto’s wild frontier.

Elon Musk is creating a Bitcoin-esque messaging app called X Chat, which Musk has marketed to be a more private, and improved version of rival messaging platforms Telegram and Whatsapp.

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, revealed he survived a near-fatal poisoning in 2018 after a suspicious package was left at his home. The attack happened during a dispute with Russian authorities over encryption keys, leaving Durov seriously ill for weeks.

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has made a bold prediction: one day, governments around the world will be forced to stop printing money — and when that moment comes, Bitcoin will step in as the global currency.