As of February 11, 2026, Russian authorities, via Roskomnadzor, have begun phased throttling of Telegram, the messaging app used by over 100 million Russians...
The regulator accuses Telegram of failing to protect user data, combat fraud, and block "criminal and terrorist" content, violating Russian law. This escalates prior measures (e.g., limiting voice/video calls since August 2025) and aims to push users toward the state-backed MAX messenger for greater surveillance and control, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions!
Pavel Durov's Reaction
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov responded defiantly on February 10 via his channel, stating Russia seeks to force citizens onto a "state-controlled app built for surveillance and political censorship." He reaffirmed: "Restricting citizens' freedom is never the right answer. Telegram stands for freedom of speech and privacy, no matter the pressure."
Future Outlook
Restrictions will likely intensify in stages unless Telegram complies—though past full blocks (2018–2020) failed due to technical workarounds and user resistance. A complete shutdown risks backlash given Telegram's role in news, military updates, and daily communication.
Why TON Remains Bullish
Disruptions could drive users to Telegram's integrated crypto features on The Open Network (TON), including wallets, payments, and mini-apps. In restrictive environments, demand for censorship-resistant tools often boosts TON adoption and ecosystem growth, supporting long-term bullish sentiment despite short-term volatility.
Telegram's Resistance Options
Deploy enhanced proxies, obfuscation, and anti-throttling tech.Maintain global infrastructure for bypasses.Refuse compliance demands while rallying privacy advocates.Rely on user loyalty and technical resilience, as seen in prior bans.
This clash highlights the persistent struggle between state control and open communication in Russia!
#Telegram #TON