Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Arrest: Polymarket Predicts Delays

Polymarket odds suggest that Pavel Durov may not be released in August, as the Telegram CEO remains detained in France. This comes despite comments made on Monday by French President Emmanuel Macron and other authorities.

The charges against the Telegram co-founder seem to be specific to France and unrelated to the European Commission.

Telegram CEO Release Odds According to Polymarket

Polymarket’s prediction platform puts the odds of Pavel Durov’s release in August at just 35%, signaling a low probability. Despite this, the prediction market has been gaining popularity, with key metrics like active traders and monthly volume seeing rapid growth.

Optimists are betting on Durov’s release, citing France’s tendency to frequently release high-profile individuals and the involvement of the UAE in the matter.

“The UAE is closely following Durov’s case. France may not be able to hold him prisoner for long,” former Coinbase and Andresen Horowitz executive Balaji Srinivasan wrote.

These bets persist despite French authorities hinting at a possible release on Wednesday. Crucially, no formal charges have been filed against Durov so far.

Several figures, including X (formerly Twitter) CEO Elon Musk, have demanded more transparency regarding the arrest. On Monday, President Emmanuel Macron clarified that the case has no political undertones.

“The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter,” President Macron explained.

Interestingly, Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski fled Europe following Durov’s arrest, citing threats from France. As BeInCrypto reported, the arrest is linked to an investigation involving alleged crimes organized or facilitated via Telegram, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and non-cooperation with law enforcement.

Durov’s Arrest Exposes Centralized Systems’ Vulnerabilities

A press release from the Paris Judiciary Tribunal on Monday suggested that the charges against Pavel Durov may be specific to France and unrelated to the European Commission. The inclusion of cryptography-related charges hints at a possible attack on fundamental security technologies, which are essential for encrypted messaging platforms. The implications for decentralization and privacy protections have also raised concerns.

“If Pavel Durov was arrested on free speech issues, that’s horrible, but Telegram is NOT secure encrypted chat as marketed. Your private communications are probably in plaintext on their servers,” a builder on the ICP network commented.

The Ontology Team echoed similar concerns in a Medium post on Monday, stating that Durov’s arrest underscores the urgent need for decentralization and privacy protections. The report points to a growing global crackdown on privacy-focused platforms, with Durov being a well-known advocate for digital freedom.

Read more: What Are Telegram Mini Apps? A Guide for Crypto Beginners

The arrest highlights the ongoing tension between centralized control and the push for decentralization. Like many centralized platforms, Telegram operates in a delicate space where user privacy is often at odds with regulators’ demands for access and control.

In Durov’s case, the situation exposes vulnerabilities in centralized systems and raises questions about the balance between security and regulatory oversight.

Read more: 6 Best Toncoin (TON) Wallets in 2024

BeInCrypto data shows that Toncoin (TON) is down nearly 5%, currently trading at $5.41. Since news of Pavel Durov’s arrest surfaced, TON has dropped by 20%.