Durov's Arrest Shakes the Tech Industry

The arrest of Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, was a major story last night, as some may already be aware. The whole thing began when Durov while refueling on a private plane in France, was wanted only minutes before touchdown.

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has expressed concern over the arrest of Pavel Durov, highlighting its implications for the future of software and free speech in Europe.

Durov's arrest, a major story on Monday night, came as he was refueling a private plane in France and was reportedly wanted just minutes before landing. The Telegram founder, who is also a French citizen, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on all charges.

Everyone who matters in the tech industry, and the cryptocurrency industry in particular, has had something to say about the situation. But Vitalik Buterin's (Ethereum co-founder) perspective is the most interesting, according to U.Today.

Buterin's concern, as he explained, is over what this arrest might mean for the future of software and free speech in Europe.

Buterin on the dangers of centralization

This case, according to Buterin, highlights the changing nature of the internet industry, where platforms are being taken to task for being overly centralized and failing to comply with regulations.

Buterin has previously spoken out about other technology concerns, such as the risks of centralized artificial intelligence and surveillance, government identification systems and attacks on encrypted messaging. He has touted decentralized technology and finance as solutions to these problems.

Toncoin price falls after Durov's arrest

Meanwhile, Toncoin (TON), the native token of the Telegram-linked TON blockchain, has seen its price drop by around twenty percent following the news.

Each coin is now trading at $5.68. The total value locked in the TON blockchain also saw a significant drop overnight, falling from $790 million to $297 million as a direct result of the observed network crash.