Pavel Durov Arrested

Pavel Durov, a 39-year-old entrepreneur known for creating the instant messaging service Telegram, was arrested Saturday night at Le Bourget airport. According to the charges, which include terrorism, drugs, complicity, fraud, and money laundering, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

The native token TON, actively used in Telegram, has already reacted, falling 15% in price and 61.3% in total value locked in the blockchain.

The reaction stirred social media, particularly in the crypto space. Max Keiser, known for his maximalist views on Bitcoin (BTC) and as an advisor to Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador, weighed in. In a new post on X, Keiser stressed that BTC remains the only truly secure cryptocurrency. He pointed out that other altcoins, such as XRP and Cardano, are more vulnerable to legal issues while Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, remained anonymous to avoid such risks.

Bitcoin Next?

The wisdom of the anonymous Bitcoin co-founder regarding his incognito has been brought into focus with Durov’s arrest. There are opinions suggesting that if authorities succeed in the Durov case, Bitcoin could also face repercussions. Skeptics argue that if Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity was discovered, he would have been apprehended long ago. Some believe BTC is now in the crosshairs of authorities. If Telegram collapses, the first cryptocurrency might also be affected, even though they are seemingly unconnected. Observers speculate that the government may be encouraged to pursue further actions after their victory in Durov’s case.

This article was originally published on U.Today