Telegram Founder Pavel Durov's Arrest In France Sparks Reactions From Ethereum Creator Vitalik Buterin And Tron Founder Justin Sun

Aniket Verma

August 25, 2024

Prominent voices from the cryptocurrency space reacted to the arrest of the popular messaging app Telegram‘s CEO and founder Pavel Durov in France.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has expressed concern over the future of software and communication freedom in Europe, following recent developments involving Telegram.

What Happened: Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) co-founder Vitalik Buterin expressed concern over the future of software and communication freedom in Europe via an X post on Sunday.

Buterin said that he had been critical of Telegram’s encryption previously. Still, the charges brought by the authorities for being “unmoderated” and refusing to hand over user data made the issue appear “very bad.”

I've criticized Telegram before for not being serious with encryption.

But (given the info available so far: the charge seems to be just being "unmoderated" and not giving up people's data), this looks very bad and worrying for the future of software and comms freedom in Europe.
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) August 25, 2024

Another well-known blockchain entrepreneur, Justin Sun, also weighed in. The Tron (CRYPTO: TRX) founder proposed a decentralized funding initiative to help Durov in his legal struggles. Sun pledged to donate $1 million to the cause if it garnered sufficient community support.

We should show the cryptocurrency industry's unity by organizing a #FreePavel DAO to help Telegram founder Pavel Durov legally gain freedom. I'll donate $1 million if it's created in a decentralized way with enough community support. @elonmusk @MarioNawfal
— H.E. Justin Sun å™å®‡æ™¨(hiring) (@justinsuntron) August 25, 2024

Some users called out Sun’s proposal as a gimmick, saying that money was not the problem for Durov, whose net worth is estimated to be more than $15 billion.

See Also: Powell’s Rate Cut Signal Sparks Crypto Optimism: Experts Eye Potential Bitcoin Rally

Why It Matters: These responses came after Durov’s arrest shocked many in the corporate world and those advocating for free speech.

Durov, a Russian-French billionaire, was apprehended on Saturday evening while traveling on his private jet. The arrest is linked to an ongoing police investigation in France, which is reportedly focused on the lack of moderators on Telegram, allowing criminal activity to persist on the platform

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also runs social platform X, described the developments as “super messed up.”

Read Next:

Telegram CEO Arrest In France Sends Toncoin (TON) Plummeting By Over 20%: Elon Musk Calls For Freeing Pavel Durov

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photos courtesy: Shutterstock and Flickr

Recommended

Trump's Trinity: How to Triple Bitcoin's Gains - Ad

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market - Ad

RFK Jr Prepping for Big Pharma BLIITZKRIEG? - Ad

Circle stock surges as analyst initiates coverage with Buy rating and $235 price target, predicting growth in stablecoin adoption, stablecoin market cap, and Circle's revenue and EPS by 2026.

Federal judge blocks Trump effort to keep Harvard from hosting foreign students

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to keep from hosting international students, delivering the Ivy League school another victory as it challenges multiple government sanctions amid a battle with the White House.

This Oil Investment Is Crushing Traditional Stocks

This Oil Investment Is Crushing Traditional Stocks - Ad

This is not your average oil play. It's an alternative investment with way more potential than traditional stocks... This oil play offers the best of both worlds -- income and growth. Take a look and discover how this oil investment leaves stocks in the dust.

Oil Prices Jump, European Markets Plummet As US-Iran Tensions Rise: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

With Wall Street shut for Juneteenth, global investors turned their eyes to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, triggering a sharp oil price rally and pulling European stocks to multi-week lows.

As Musk's 'robotaxi' rollout approaches, Democratic lawmakers in Texas try to throw up a roadblock

NEW YORK (AP) — A group of Democratic lawmakers in Texas is asking Elon Musk to delay the in the state this weekend to assure that the vehicles are safe.

Exposed: 3 Cent Crypto to Explode June 24th?

Exposed: 3 Cent Crypto to Explode June 24th? - Ad

Chris Rowe, the man who spotted 44 different coins that have returned over 100%, is now making the biggest crypto call of his ENTIRE career.... Because a powerful crypto event will trigger on June 24th... Sending hundreds of tiny cryptos soaring 5X, 50X, even 100X -- in just days.

Elon Musk's Neuralink Implants Brain Chip In 6th Patient, Enables Paralyzed Man To Move Cursor, Play Game With His Mind

Neuralink implants BCI on 6th person, Rob Grenier, a quadraplegic man who can now play videogame with his thoughts.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Dangled '$100 Million Signing Bonuses' To OpenAI Team Members, Says Sam Altman: Happy 'None' Of Our Best People Took Them

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Meta tried to poach his top researchers with $100 million offers, but none left, believing OpenAI has a better shot at achieving AGI.

Nvidia's Plan to Dominate the World of Robotics ...

Nvidia's Plan to Dominate the World of Robotics ... - Ad

Robots just had a coming-out party in Las Vegas. From household helpers to rescue bots, they're now essential-not just novelties. Forbes says it's a $24T opportunity. And Nvidia's CEO says one $7 stock is key to building the world's first trillion-dollar robot.

Kevin O'Leary Once Said That Business School Graduates Know Nothing Until The Real World Smacks Them, Something He Learned The Hard Way— Now He Can Spot A Winner In 15 Minutes Flat

Kevin O'Leary says real-world experience—not business school—taught him to trust his intuition, which now allows him to spot winning entrepreneurs in just 15 minutes with near-perfect accuracy.

Chipotle CEO Says AI Is Fueling Rapid Expansion As Company Aims To Open Nearly 1 Restaurant Every Day In 2025

Chipotle CEO plans to open 300 new restaurants in 2025, aided by AI hiring platform Ava Cado.

Judge Blocking DOGE From Revealing THIS FDA Secret?

Judge Blocking DOGE From Revealing THIS FDA Secret? - Ad

Democrats just filed a lawsuit to bring DOGE to a halt-and an Obama-appointed judge looks ready to help. It may be a rigged move to stop DOGE from exposing the FDA's biggest secret-a threat to billions in profits and political donations. That's why we're going public now.

Amazon Extends Prime Day In July As Tariff-Hit Shoppers Hunt Bargain Deals

Amazon expands Prime Day event to four days, offering millions of deals across various categories, including popular brands.

In rural Alaska, a village turns to solar and biomass energies to cut diesel and save money

GALENA, Alaska (AP) — Eric Huntington built his dream cabin nestled in the wilderness of central Alaska, eventually raising two daughters there. But over the years, he learned that living in this quiet, remote village came with a hefty cost.

A Trump Order Could Send This $7 Stock Soaring

A Trump Order Could Send This $7 Stock Soaring - Ad

An executive order from Trump could unleash a $1.2T robotics boom-impacting 65M lives and reshaping entire industries. And one $7 stock, already backed by Nvidia, FedEx, and Toyota, is perfectly positioned. The order could hit this August... or sooner.

The Next Palantir? Does This Under $5 AI Stock Have The Potential To Rise And Shine

This micro-cap AI stock is being increasingly touted as the next Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), but some analysts disagree with this framing.

Trump vs. Musk: Trump Hints at Canceling Musk's Contracts: 'We'll Take a Look at Everything, He's Got a Lot of Money.' Here's How Musk Responded

Elon Musk has responded to President Donald Trump's comments about potentially canceling his federal contracts, stating, "Fair enough."

How high will Bitcoin go in 2025?

How high will Bitcoin go in 2025? - Ad

A new coin is emerging in the crypto bull market. Investing now could be like buying Bitcoin in 2013. Before it took off. Or scooping up Ethereum in 2017.. before it soared.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Rangebound As Fed Chair Jerome Powell Highlights Tariff-Induced Uncertainty: Analyst Says These 2 Levels Are Key For BTC

Leading cryptocurrencies moved sideways Wednesday as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled slower growth and hotter inflation after the central bank left interest rates unchanged.

Sig Sauer, faced with lawsuits over a popular pistol, gets protection in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Faced with mounting lawsuits over a popular pistol, New Hampshire-based Sig Sauer asked for — and got — protection in the form of a new state law that makes it harder to .

Maverick Trader Reveals 97% Accurate System

Maverick Trader Reveals 97% Accurate System - Ad

This man's simple strategy makes money in any market...With a 97% accuracy at hitting winners over the past 8 years!

Moon May Contain $1 Trillion Worth Of Precious Metals, Could Spark Global Space Mining Race

The moon's surface may hold $1 trillion worth of precious metals, deposited by ancient asteroid collisions.

Chewy's Loyalty Engine, $1B Pharmacy Business Have JPMorgan Staying Bullish Before Q1

JP Morgan's Anmuth sees Q1 sales upside and stronger FY25 margins for Chewy, driven by Autoship, high-margin segments, and cost efficiency.

Why BlackRock is Hoarding 6X More Bitcoin Than Miners Produce

Why BlackRock is Hoarding 6X More Bitcoin Than Miners Produce - Ad

A Bitcoin supply shock is building. Institutions and ETFs are buying faster than miners can keep up - creating a shortage most investors haven't noticed. If Bitcoin hits $300K, altcoins could explode 1,000%+. We wrote Crypto Revolution to help you prepare.

New BLOX ETF Lets You Earn Income While Investing In Bitcoin And Ethereum

Nicholas Crypto Income ETF (ARCA: BLOX) launched to provide access to crypto market with options-based approach for generating income. XFUNDS brand.

Dutch government recommends children under 15 stay off TikTok and Instagram

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government advised parents on Tuesday not to have children under 15 use , citing psychological and physical problems among children using them, including panic attacks, depression and difficulties sleeping.

A Better Hedge Than Gold?

A Better Hedge Than Gold? - Ad

While the whole world is piling into gold as a hedge... White House documents reveal Trump is betting big on a completely under-the-radar resource. This little-known resource is minting 1,600 millionaires every single day... And investors have a rare opportunity to take advantage before everyone else catches on.

Asian shares decline after mixed Wall Street finish and tensions simmer in the Middle East

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares retreated Thursday as worries persisted about conflict in the Middle East.

Peter Schiff Says He Intends To Launch Gold-Backed Stablecoins, Deems Dollar As A 'Flawed' Fiat Currency

Financial commentator Peter Schiff expressed his intent to launch a gold-backed stablecoin Thursday, questioning the value of those backed by the U.S. dollar. What Happened: Schiff responded to a comment on X that he should launch a gold-backed stablecoin.

Elon Just EMBARRASED NASA (But This Is So Much Worse)

Elon Just EMBARRASED NASA (But This Is So Much Worse) - Ad

This is unbelievable... FalconSpaceX just rescued two astronauts after NASA left them stranded in space for months. But even more shocking? Elon Musk is being granted access to NASA as part of his DOGE initiative - and he's poised to expose a decades-old Apollo mission secret they've kept buried.

Amazon begins to ramp up its Zoox robotaxi factory as it prepares to challenge Waymo

HAYWARD, Calif. (AP) — Amazon is gearing up to make as many as 10,000 robotaxis annually at a sprawling plant near Silicon Valley as it prepares to challenge self-driving cab leader Waymo. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is also vying to join the autonomous race.

Trump's 'Numbskull' Insult Comes Back To Bite—In Record Time

Oil prices surged after Israel's airstrikes on Iran, reigniting inflation fears and complicating Trump's push for rate cuts. Powell's caution now seems more justified.

Trump's Trinity: How to Triple Bitcoin's Gains

Trump's Trinity: How to Triple Bitcoin's Gains - Ad

Bitcoin just hit $100K. Trump pledged a U.S. Bitcoin Reserve. And his new crypto TRUMP boosted his net worth 9X in 48 hours. Together, this "Trump Trinity" could launch Bitcoin to $500K by the end of his term. But one little-known trade could triple Bitcoin's gains-faster, cheaper, and from any brokerage account.

Judge tosses lawsuit over Trump's firing of US African Development Foundation board members

A federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit over President Donald Trump's dismantling of a U.S. federal agency that .

JPMorgan, Bank of America, and TD Bank Warn of Data Breaches Impacting Customer Information, Is Your Account Safe?

Several customers' critical information has been compromised, leading to data breach alerts issued by JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and TD Bank.

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market - Ad

One co-founded Zillow. The other sold his company to Zillow for $120M. Now they're transforming a $1.3T market via co-ownership. Pacaso's already earned $110M+ in gross profit and reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

Marco Rubio's 'We Are Not Involved' To Trump's 'We Knew Everything' About Israel's Strikes On Iran

Donald Trump revealed knowledge of Israel's planned attacks on Iran and tried to delay them for a nuclear deal.

Federal judge blocks Trump's firing of Consumer Product Safety Commission members

BALTIMORE (AP) — A federal judge has blocked the terminations of three Democratic members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission after they were fired by President Donald Trump in his effort to assert over independent federal agencies.

RFK Jr Prepping for Big Pharma BLIITZKRIEG?

RFK Jr Prepping for Big Pharma BLIITZKRIEG? - Ad

RFK Jr just joined Trump's cabinet and wasted no time filing an executive order to overhaul American health. But what's coming next has Big Pharma terrified. RFK may expose their top secret-one that could save lives and cost them billions. That's why we're going public now.

RFK Jr. Champions 'Medical Freedom' While Curtailing Access, Say Public Health Experts

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has championed "medical freedom" while simultaneously limiting access to COVID-19 vaccines and restricting food stamp purchases, creating what public health experts call a dichotomy in his approach to healthcare policy.

Trending Now

Apple Hardware Executive Says iPhone Maker Plans To Use AI For Speeding Up Custom Chip Design: 'High Potential In Getting More Design Work In Less Time'