Pantera Capital invests $20M in Telegram-linked blockchain TON

The TON blockchain, which is closely linked to the popular messaging app Telegram, remains a hot issue among cryptocurrency investors.

Cryptocurrency venture capital firm Pantera Capital recently raised $20 million to invest in Toncoin, TON’s native cryptocurrency. According to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission dated November 27, the firm secured investments from 29 contributors across two funds. Both funds officially began sales in July.

Earlier reports from The Block indicated that Pantera Capital was soliciting investments as early as June, with a minimum entry threshold of $250,000. This followed a significant earlier investment in Toncoin announced by Pantera in May, which the firm described as its largest in over two decades, although the exact amount was not disclosed.

Requests for comment from Pantera Capital went unanswered.

Durov’s legal troubles and Toncoin’s response

Despite investor enthusiasm, TON experienced setbacks after Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested by French authorities in August. Durov, who is out on bond, is facing preliminary charges for allegedly aiding criminal actions on Telegram, such as the distribution of child sexual abuse material and narcotics sales.

The arrest caused a dip in Toncoin’s value, indicating market uncertainty. However, industry sentiment about TON has remained mainly resilient.

Recovery and renewed optimism

Many in the crypto space remain optimistic about TON’s future. Alex Felix, managing partner at CoinFund, remarked in August that the blockchain’s fundamentals remain compelling. At a November blockchain conference in Dubai, organised by TON Society, co-founder Jack Booth claimed the ecosystem had moved past the controversy surrounding Durov’s legal issues. “It was a rough couple of weeks, but the news cycle moves on,” Booth said.

Toncoin has now recovered, bolstered by broader market gains following Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election. According to CoinGecko, the cryptocurrency temporarily peaked at $6.84, more than 2% higher than its ‘pre-arrest’ value, before stabilising at $6.60. However, it still trades approximately 20% below the July peak, indicating ongoing challenges.

With a market capitalisation nearing $17 billion, TON continues to attract interest, indicating that investors remain confident in the company’s long-term potential despite setbacks.

(Photo by Unsplash)

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