Russia has opened a criminal investigation into Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, accusing him of facilitating extremist and terrorist activity. This comes as Russia's ongoing campaign to restrict and ultimately ban Telegram inside the country.

Russia is trying to block its people from accessing WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging platform, in what the company says is an effort to push users toward the state-backed app Max. The restriction affects tens of millions of Russians who rely on the platform for private communication.

The TON Foundation has launched TON Pay, a new payments tool that lets people pay with Toncoin and USDT directly inside Telegram Mini Apps, without leaving the app or using separate wallets. The system aims to make in-app crypto payments faster and cheaper, with near-instant transactions and fees below one cent.

A Chinese-language crypto guarantee service known as Xinbi has reportedly processed $17.9 billion in blockchain transaction volume despite major enforcement efforts and platform bans, according to a new investigation by TRM Labs.

Telegram has had $500 million of its bonds frozen in Russia because of Western sanctions, blocking payments to Russian holders. The company’s business continues to grow globally, with strong revenues and plans for a future IPO despite the bond freeze.

A Singapore-based entrepreneur has fallen victim to a sophisticated crypto malware scam, losing over $14,000 in digital assets after downloading a seemingly legitimate online game launcher.

France has lifted the travel restrictions on Telegram founder Pavel Durov after holding him under nearly a year of judicial control—marking a partial victory for the tech entrepreneur who spent the past twelve months accused of enabling illicit content and criminal activity through his encrypted messaging platform.

Roman Novak, a self-proclaimed “crypto millionaire,” once known for his luxury-fueled lifestyle and bold promises of digital wealth, was found dismembered and buried in the Dubai desert alongside his wife, Anna. What began as a glamorous tale of fast money and blockchain ambition has turned into one of the darkest chapters in crypto’s wild frontier.

Elon Musk is creating a Bitcoin-esque messaging app called X Chat, which Musk has marketed to be a more private, and improved version of rival messaging platforms Telegram and Whatsapp.

Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, revealed he survived a near-fatal poisoning in 2018 after a suspicious package was left at his home. The attack happened during a dispute with Russian authorities over encryption keys, leaving Durov seriously ill for weeks.