“The Free Internet Is Dying,” Warns Telegram Founder Durov — Can Toncoin Solve It?

• Pavel Durov warns that governments are tightening control over the Internet, threatening privacy and free speech worldwide.
• Toncoin’s decentralized system is being seen as a possible path to protect online freedom and restore digital independence.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has warned that the free Internet is slowly disappearing. In a message shared on X, he said that what was once a space for open communication is now being turned into a tool for control.

His remarks have sparked new conversations about online privacy, freedom of speech, and whether decentralized systems like Toncoin can help restore what is being lost.

Pavel Durov’s Warning About Freedom Online

Pavel Durov said he did not feel like celebrating his 41st birthday because he believes the Internet is no longer free. He said governments that were once seen as protectors of liberty are now introducing strict digital rules.

Durov listed examples such as digital IDs in the United Kingdom, online age checks in Australia, and the scanning of private messages in the European Union. 

He also said that Germany is targeting people who criticize public officials online, and that the United Kingdom is jailing people for their social media posts. Durov called these developments “dystopian” and warned that the world is slipping into a period of control and censorship. 

According to Durov, people are being made to believe that the real fight of this generation is to tear down what their forefathers built: freedom, privacy, and independence. He said that by doing so, society is walking towards moral and intellectual decline.

Durov’s post has gained wide attention because it reflects the growing fear that the open Internet is being replaced by systems designed to watch and restrict users. His message was emotional but clear: freedom online is at risk, and time is running out to protect it.

While discussions about the free status of the Internet are growing within the crypto community, a new comment also seems to support the role of digital cryptocurrency in the era of the Internet gauge. As noted in our earlier post, the Bank of America (BoA) has compared Bitcoin to major inventions such as the Internet and the electric car.

Can Toncoin Protect the Free Internet?

Toncoin, the digital token linked to The Open Network (TON), has become part of the discussion since Durov’s statement. As detailed in our recent publication, Toncoin was first connected to Telegram’s plan for a faster and safer online platform before the project became independent. 

It is important to add that Toncoin is now a decentralized blockchain network that aims to give users more control over their data and digital transactions. In addition, supporters of Toncoin believe it could help defend online freedom because it is not controlled by any single government or company. 

Additionally, Information on the network is spread across many systems, making it harder to censor or shut down. This idea fits with Durov’s long-standing belief that technology should empower people, not control them.

Even though Pavel Durov did not mention Toncoin directly, his warning has renewed attention around it. Market participants are now speculating on how the project could be used to protect the interests of the Internet. Many are asking whether decentralised technology can truly keep the Internet free, or if global restrictions have already gone too far.

In a separate update around the project, AlphaTON Capital Corp closed $71 million in financing and acquired its first $30 million tranche of TON tokens. As mentioned in our previous news brief, it plans to expand its Toncoin treasury to $100 million by Q4 2025.