Pavel Durov plans to distribute his fortune of $14 billion among his children: the influence on the future of Telegram and the TON ecosystem.

The founder and CEO of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has decided to bequeath his multibillion-dollar fortune to more than 100 children. According to an interview with the French publication Le Point, the fortune is estimated at $13.9 billion and will be distributed among the children whom Durov considers his, both biologically and through a sperm donation program.

Durov's Legacy: Plans for the Next Generation

According to published information, Durov is officially the father of six children from three different partners, but about 15 years ago he began participating in a sperm donation program. As a result of this decision, more than 100 children have been born to date, whom the founder of Telegram considers legal heirs with equal rights to his fortune.

Interestingly, Durov imposed a 30-year moratorium on access to the inheritance. In his interview, he explained the reason for such a decision: "I want them to develop independently, learn to trust themselves, be able to create, and not depend on a bank account."

Legal Issues and the Fight for Freedom of Speech

Currently, Durov is under legal pressure in France, where he faces 17 charges. Among them are accusations of distributing child pornography, facilitating drug trafficking, and money laundering through the Telegram platform. Durov himself categorically denies these accusations, calling them "absolutely absurd."

The founder of Telegram claims that French authorities impose punishment even before a verdict is reached. He is forbidden to leave the territory of France during the investigation, which, according to him, has separated him from his newborn son and sick parents.

Despite the restrictions, Durov remains steadfast in his position and states that Telegram is actively cooperating with the French police. He criticizes the European Digital Law, warning about the dangers of legalized censorship: "Once you legitimize censorship, it becomes very difficult to go back."

Telegram Ecosystem and TON Development

It is important to note that Telegram is actively transforming into a cryptocurrency super app, which already has over a billion active users. The platform is integrating more and more DeFi protocols on the TON blockchain, providing users access to cryptocurrency services directly within the messenger ecosystem.

The integration of financial instruments such as lending, staking, and generating passive income directly within Telegram creates a unique ecosystem at the intersection of communications and decentralized finance.

However, Durov's legal issues are affecting the market performance of Toncoin. The price of TON has decreased by 47% since the beginning of the year and is currently trading around $2.91. Despite the decline, Toncoin maintains its position as the 18th largest cryptocurrency with a market capitalization of over $7.2 billion.

Durov's Opinion on Technological Leaders

In his interview, Durov also commented on other tech leaders. Regarding Elon Musk, he noted that emotional intensity is both his strength and weakness. About Mark Zuckerberg, Durov said that his ability to adapt masks a lack of deep principles. Concerning Sam Altman, Durov expressed doubts about whether the head of OpenAI maintains a technological advantage for leadership amid growing competition in the field of artificial intelligence.

Unlike many tech entrepreneurs, Durov categorically refuses to sell Telegram and has already developed a plan to ensure the platform's existence after him through a non-profit fund protected from corporate acquisitions.