Cryptonews Features

TON Price Jumps 20%, Durov in Dubai – A Fresh Start?

Pavel Durov Telegram TON

Experts believe that the blockchain has a strong foundation for growth.

Last updated: March 18, 2025 12:09 EDT

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Olga Primakova

Features writer

Olga Primakova

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Olga started writing about cryptocurrency and finance in 2021.

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Last updated:

March 18, 2025 12:09 EDT

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Key Takeaways

Toncoin surged 20% after Pavel Durov left France, restoring investor confidence in the ecosystem.
TON’s activity has declined, with a 28% drop in new users and a 35% decline in transactions over the past month.
Experts see a strong 2025 roadmap, with TON focusing on payments, DeFi, and interoperability, but it must rebuild trust and regain market position.

Will Toncoin (TON) price repeat its 2024 performance after Pavel Durov left France?

On March 15, it was reported that Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram and the TON blockchain (The Open Network), left France with official permission.

Durov had been under scrutiny for alleged insufficient moderation on Telegram, which was used by cybercriminals. He is currently in Dubai.

Following this news, Toncoin’s price jumped from $2.9 to $3.5, an increase of about 20%.

Tim Delhaes, CEO and Co-founder of Grindery, attributed the growth to renewed investor confidence:

“This surge is largely driven by renewed investor confidence in the project’s stability and long-term vision. With Durov’s situation no longer casting uncertainty over the ecosystem, the market is responding with optimism, betting on a stronger future for TON.”

Q3 and Q4 2024 were challenging for TON. The price declined amid Durov’s legal issues in France and controversies surrounding the Humster Kombat and Catizen airdrops. However, the blockchain still ranked among the top-performing networks last year.

According to CryptoRanks, TON was among the top 10 blockchains by revenue in 2024, recording a 2,499% increase. Only Solana (SOL) posted a higher growth rate at 2,844%.

This growth was largely driven by Telegram, which integrates mini-dApps with TON as the primary currency. Dmitrij Radin, CEO of Zekret, told Cryptonews.com that Telegram’s user base could further boost TON’s liquidity:

“Telegram’s strategy works in two directions: it attracts developers and content creators by simplifying their ability to contribute, while also drawing in users with its intuitive onboarding and accessible content ecosystem.”

Can TON Make a Full Comeback?

TON blockchain data shows a decline in user activity over the past few months. According to Dune, new users in the first week of March totaled 26,826, down from 37,214 at the start of February—a 28% drop in a month.

Transaction volume also fell, a key metric for TON, as the blockchain built its reputation as a leading network for transfers. Dune data shows 2.4 million transactions on March 1, compared to 3.7 million on Feb. 1, a decline of 35%.

With Pavel Durov now in Dubai and seemingly resolving his legal issues in France, this could have a stabilizing effect on TON’s price and ecosystem.

Dmitrij Radin believes that, in the long run, the blockchain and Durov may seek to distance themselves from each other:

“However, Pavel Durov, as Telegram’s driving force, remains a pivotal figure. Any developments tied to him are likely to influence TON’s price. Looking ahead, it wouldn’t be surprising if he pushes toward decentralization in the next phase, reducing his personal impact on TON’s trajectory.”

How much this influence can be reduced remains uncertain. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, for example, is no longer officially involved in the exchange’s management, but his posts on X continue to affect BNB’s price.

Still, such a move would align with TON’s future in decentralized finance (DeFi). Tim Delhaes believes the blockchain is positioning itself as a major player in payments and DeFi:

“TON is gearing up for a big year in 2025, rolling out a series of major upgrades. The roadmap includes a layer-2 payment network, more advanced smart contracts, Bitcoin cross-chain support, and better validator tools, all aimed at improving scalability, security, and interoperability. These developments could make TON a serious contender in payments and DeFi.”

However, TON has significant ground to cover in order to rebuild its reputation and growth. The blockchain was once in the top 10 for Total Value Locked (TVL) in DeFi but ranked 33rd as of March 18, according to DeFiLlama.

One of the key signals for recovery will be the progress TON demonstrates once Durov’s situation fully stabilizes. Tim Delhaes believes this could accelerate:

“After facing its fair share of hurdles, the project is now doubling down on innovation and adoption, setting the stage for a potential comeback in space.”