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Ahmed Barakat
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The Russian Federal Security Service officially accused Pavel Durov of facilitating terrorist activities and placed him on the international wanted list. The move sent GRAM, formerly known as Toncoin, lower in early trading and extended its recent weekly losses. The case represents a major escalation in the ongoing investigation in France, shifting the focus from the platform’s moderation to terrorism-related allegations.
The FSB said the charges stem from Telegram’s alleged failure to remove material used by Ukrainian special services and terrorist or extremist groups to coordinate sabotage, mass murders and online fraud within Russia. Official on Telegram X The account responded by posting a photo of Durov making an obscene gesture but did not issue a written statement.
Durov’s whereabouts remain unclear. A Telegram post dated May 16 mentioned him in Dubai, while an update dated July 23 indicated he was in Georgia and expected to return soon. He holds Emirati and French passports and has not resided in Russia for more than a decade.
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Silent price decline hides greater risks for Pavel Durov
GRAM’s initial decline seemed relatively under control compared to the market’s reaction to Durov’s arrest in 2024. When French authorities detained him at Paris Le Bourget Airport in August 2024, Toncoin fell sharply before the token was later renamed to GRAM, wiping billions of dollars off its market value. The smaller reaction suggests that investors have already priced in some founder-related risks.
However, terrorism allegations create a completely different situation. Even without publicly released evidence outside Russia, these accusations raise new concerns for the banks, securities on-ramps, and exchanges that back GRAM. The 2026 rebrand revived the coin’s original identity and tied it more closely to Durov’s long-term vision, leaving less of a disconnect between the founder’s legal woes and the token’s narrative.
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What will happen next for GRAM and Telegram
Unlike the French investigation, which focuses on Telegram’s alleged cooperation with law enforcement, Russia’s case centers on allegations of state security and wartime terrorism. Russia has placed Durov on an international wanted list, although whether other countries will act on it remains uncertain. The development comes after months of mounting pressure, including reports that he was already under terrorism investigation and a summons in April that he was extradited to a former Russian address.
The political backdrop adds another layer of uncertainty. Russia has repeatedly tried to restrict Telegram since 2018 while continuing to use the platform for official communications. In April, Durov said authorities appeared to accuse him of defending constitutional protections for freedom of expression and private correspondence, adding that he was proud to be guilty of doing so. He has not commented publicly on the latest accusations.
The immediate question for GRAM is whether terrorism allegations trigger compliance-based restrictions on exchanges or payment service providers operating under AML/CFT rules. Telegram’s reported user base includes more than one one billion It can still support adoption, but the legal status of the founder will likely remain a continuing source of major risk. Right now, markets seem more focused on continuing uncertainty rather than finding a quick solution.
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