Pavel Durov is a prominent Russian technology entrepreneur, best known as the founder of the social networking platform VKontakte (VK), the messaging app Telegram, and the blockchain The Open Network (TON) .
Pavel Durov is one of the icons of the modern technological world. Born in 1984 in Leningrad, a historic city in Russia (now Saint Petersburg). Durov graduated from Saint Petersburg State University, where he majored in linguistics and had an excellent academic record.
Now 40, he is a citizen of multiple countries including Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saint Kitts and Nevis, a Caribbean nation. With an estimated net worth of $15.5 billion according to Forbes, Durov is a global billionaire with a major influence in the fields of technology and freedom of expression.
Pavel Durov began his tech journey by founding VKontakte (VK), Russia’s most popular social network. However, after refusing the Russian government’s demands to control opposition communities on VK, Durov was forced to leave the country in 2014. He gave up his stake in VK and started a new life abroad, where he could continue pursuing his vision of a technology platform that protects privacy and freedom of expression.
The idea for Telegram was born in 2013, when Durov felt the need for an encrypted messaging app to protect personal communication from government pressure. With the help of his brother, Nikolai Durov, who designed the encryption system, Telegram quickly became a messaging platform trusted by millions of people around the world. Initially, only about 15 people were involved in the development of Telegram, but the app has grown rapidly, becoming one of the most popular communication tools today.
Telegram is more than just a messaging app; it is a symbol of freedom of speech and privacy. Durov built the platform on the principle of not adhering to any government censorship requirements. He emphasizes that Telegram is a tool for an open and decentralized internet where people can express themselves freely without fear of being controlled.
In 2017, Pavel Durov moved to Dubai, one of the world’s economic and technological hubs, to live and set up Telegram’s headquarters. He chose Dubai not only because of its favorable business conditions but also because it was a place where he could maintain the neutrality of his platform. With its security and safety, Dubai became the ideal place for Durov to develop Telegram without being affected by political pressures.
Telegram’s meteoric rise, however, has come with its own challenges. From 2014 to 2021, Telegram faced increased scrutiny from governments around the world, especially as the platform became a major tool for groups to organize protests and Chia extremist content. Durov has steadfastly refused to be censored, even in the face of pressure from powerful governments like the US and EU. He has continued to maintain his image as a strong advocate for free speech, despite the challenges and threats.
In 2022, when Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, Telegram became a vital communication tool for both sides in the conflict. The platform became not only a place for governments to disseminate information but also a fierce “virtual battlefield” where information and propaganda were rampant. This increased pressure on Telegram as governments demanded stricter censorship to prevent illegal content.
After his success with VKontakte and Telegram, Pavel Durov didn’t stop at building secure social media and messaging platforms. He continued to expand his vision of a decentralized internet with The Open Network (TON), an ambitious blockchain platform designed to compete with traditional financial and social media systems.
The idea for the TON Blockchain began to take shape around 2017 when Durov saw the potential of blockchain technology to create a decentralized ecosystem where users could have full control over their data and assets without relying on intermediaries. With his experience in building secure and privacy-respecting platforms, Durov wanted to take this idea to the next level by developing a blockchain system capable of processing millions of transactions per second, faster and more efficiently than any existing blockchain.
The TON Blockchain is designed to be the foundation for a new cryptocurrency called Gram. Gram is not just a digital currency, but also the center of an ecosystem of various services, from payments, decentralized data storage, to financial services and social networks. Gram is expected to become a powerful financial tool, opening up opportunities for millions of users of Telegram and other decentralized applications.
Despite a clear vision and strong support from the tech community, the TON Blockchain project has faced significant challenges from regulators, especially in the United States. In 2019, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Telegram, alleging that the sale of Grams during the ICO violated U.S. securities laws. The SEC argued that Grams should be registered as securities and that the sale of Grams was not conducted legally.
The legal battle with the SEC was long and bitter, putting a lot of pressure on Durov and the Telegram development team. Despite careful preparation and community support, Pavel Durov and Telegram eventually had to accept a settlement with the SEC in May 2020, in which they agreed to return $1.7 billion to investors and terminate the TON Blockchain project as part of the settlement.
Although the TON Blockchain project under Telegram’s direct leadership was discontinued, Pavel Durov’s vision of a decentralized platform did not disappear completely. The open source development community continued the legacy of the project, creating The Open Network (TON), a decentralized version that is not directly related to Telegram (indirectly, it is very large, and Pavel has always publicly supported TON on his personal Telegram page with millions of Watcher ).
The community-driven TON Blockchain has continued to grow and gain widespread adoption among blockchain enthusiasts. Developers and tech enthusiasts around the world have worked together to perfect and improve TON, turning it into a powerful platform with superior features in speed and scalability.
In an April 2024 interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, Durov expressed his belief that Telegram would reach one billion monthly active users by 2025. He described Telegram's growth as "wildfire," spreading at breakneck speed around the world. However, Durov also warned of increased attention from US security agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He alleged that these agencies had attempted to hire one of Telegram's engineers to gain access to the platform, something the FBI declined to comment on.
On August 24, 2024, in a shocking incident, Pavel Durov was arrested at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, a suburb of Paris, as he arrived from Azerbaijan on a private plane. The French police carried out the arrest warrant at the request of OFMIN, the agency responsible for preventing violence against minors. The agency alleged that Telegram had insufficient moderators and a lack of cooperation with the authorities, leading to the platform being used for criminal activities such as drug trafficking, cyber violence, fraud, organized crime, and inciting terrorism. According to OFMIN, Durov's failure to properly control his platform could result in him being considered an accomplice in these illegal activities, and he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Durov's arrest came as a shock to the tech community and free speech advocates around the world. Billionaire Elon Musk is the most prominent name among Durov's supporters.
The arrest also raises questions about the future of Telegram, a platform that has become an indispensable tool for hundreds of millions of users. With 900 million monthly active users, Telegram has come a long way from its early days with just 15 developers.
Durov has previously stated that he does not take orders from any government, which may be why he is facing his current difficulties. While the future of Pavel Durov and Telegram may be uncertain, his contributions to free speech and online privacy will continue to be remembered as an important part of modern internet history.
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