Toncoin fell roughly 20% after French authorities arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on Aug. 24, 2024. The reported drop varies by source and measurement window: The Block described a near-20% plunge that Saturday and a roughly 20% fall in the three hours after the news, while Axios reported a decline of more than 20%. The timing and Telegram’s perceived connection to TON help explain the market reaction, but they do not establish that the arrest alone caused the entire decline.
How far did Toncoin fall?
There is no single exact percentage that fits every report. The figures describe different time windows and market observations, so the decline is best described as about 20%, rather than as a precise return from one specified close to another.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
iCoin Hardware Wallet - The Most Trusted Digital Crypto Hardware Wallet with a 3in Color LCD... | $199.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| Source and date | Reported move | What the figure describes |
|---|---|---|
| The Block, Aug. 24, 2024 | Nearly 20% | Toncoin plunged nearly 20% on Saturday before recovering slightly; at publication, it was down 12% over 24 hours. The Block’s contemporaneous report. |
| Axios, Aug. 26, 2024 | More than 20% | A retrospective description of the token shedding more than 20% of its market value after the arrest. Axios’s report. |
| The Block, Sept. 9, 2024 | About 20% in three hours | A later analysis measured the fall in the three hours after news of the arrest and noted broader weak market conditions. The Block’s analysis. |
| Verb Technology Company, Inc., 2025 | 20% | The company’s SEC-filed quarterly report later cited Durov’s arrest as an example of a high-profile event resulting in a 20% Toncoin price decline. The filing. |
Why could an arrest involving Telegram move TON?
The Open Network is a blockchain, and Toncoin (TON) is its native token. Telegram and TON are not the same organization. Kraken’s July 2024 UK crypto-asset statement says TON was initially developed by Telegram’s founders, but Telegram ended its direct involvement and a global developer community runs the network. The token is used for blockchain activity including transaction fees, decentralized applications, governance and staking. Kraken’s TON asset statement.
That organizational distinction does not erase the market association. Traders may treat Telegram-related news as relevant to TON because of the network’s origins and its perceived connection to the messaging platform. Axios noted both that Toncoin is officially separate from Telegram and that traders see a relationship. That helps explain why news about Telegram’s chief executive could affect sentiment toward TON without making Telegram the operator of the blockchain.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- Cryptocurrency cold storage made easy. The iCoin Wallet securely holds your Bitcoin & Ethereum Private Keys encrypted in the device’s memory. This now includes native NFT (ERC-721) as well as ERC-20 support. Because the iCoin Wallet has no Network connection (no WiFi, no cellular antenna, no SD card slot, no microphone, no front facing camera) you can be assured that your Private Keys are not exposed to any Blockchain or Internet.
- A 3" LCD touchscreen display allows direct secure entry of pin codes and seed phrase entropy. The Wallet now offers encrypted Bluetooth support in addition to an Air Gap only functionality which employs the Wallet’s rear facing high-res camera to read QR codes and enable transactions for safe data entry and retrieval.
- Entropy is generated using iCoin’s patented technique, making your key generation cryptographically secure. iCoin Mobile App is your Wallet's gateway to the Blockchain networks. Available on: Apple App Store (iOS) & Google Playstore (Android)
- Leather Pouch Not Included **
In a statement reproduced by The Block and attributed to the TON blockchain’s X account, the community said it “remains strong and fully operational” following the news. That was the community’s response to concern; it does not explain or quantify the price move.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened in the French case?
French authorities arrested Durov on Aug. 24, 2024, in connection with an investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit on July 8. Reuters reported that prosecutors cited suspected offenses related to Telegram, including illicit transactions, child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, fraud, refusal to provide information to authorities, money laundering and cryptographic services to criminals. These were allegations under investigation, not findings of guilt. Reuters’s report on the arrest.
Telegram responded that it complied with European Union laws, that its moderation was within industry standards and improving, and that it was absurd to hold a platform or its owner responsible for abuse of the platform. Those statements represent Telegram’s position, not an independent legal conclusion.
On Aug. 28, Reuters reported that a judge placed Durov under formal investigation and granted him bail subject to a €5 million payment, reporting to police twice a week and a travel restriction. In France, formal investigation does not imply guilt and does not necessarily lead to a trial. This is a historical procedural update; it does not establish the case’s status today. Reuters’s report on the formal investigation.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Does the timing prove the arrest caused the entire drop?
No. The token’s sharp fall followed the arrest news, and Verb Technology’s later SEC filing explicitly associated the arrest with a 20% decline. That supports describing the event as a trigger or significant factor in the market reaction, but it does not isolate the arrest’s effect from other forces. The Block’s later analysis noted that broadly weak market conditions may also have contributed.
The available reports do not establish one exchange-specific price, a uniform start and end time, or a controlled estimate of how TON would have traded without the news. The sound conclusion is narrower: markets reacted sharply after the announcement, with reports putting the move around 20%, while the exact figure depends on the interval and source.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
