Justin Sun has been sanctioned. Now every stablecoin is at risk of being frozen
The #HTX exchange, owned by Justin Sun, has been subject to UK sanctions due to its ties to Russian authorities. It is alleged that at least $1.5 billion was funneled through HTX's infrastructure to previously blocked Russian exchanges
Meanwhile, banks and other exchanges have already begun en masse blocking transactions related to HTX
HTX is a large international exchange that has been sending $USDT and other stablecoins to various wallets. This could indicate that these funds might be in countless users' wallets
Of course, this won't lead to blocking everyone, but I would highly recommend using specialized services to verify crypto addresses that calculate risk scores
Bybit, OKX, and Binance are already blocking "risky HTX" funds.
Be careful
The #HTX exchange, owned by Justin Sun, has been subject to UK sanctions due to its ties to Russian authorities. It is alleged that at least $1.5 billion was funneled through HTX's infrastructure to previously blocked Russian exchanges
Meanwhile, banks and other exchanges have already begun en masse blocking transactions related to HTX
HTX is a large international exchange that has been sending $USDT and other stablecoins to various wallets. This could indicate that these funds might be in countless users' wallets
Of course, this won't lead to blocking everyone, but I would highly recommend using specialized services to verify crypto addresses that calculate risk scores
Bybit, OKX, and Binance are already blocking "risky HTX" funds.
Be careful
ton & gram rebrand
pavel durov & apple watch
ton pay 2.0 & layer 2
crypto market structural shift
the open network community has officially completed a governance vote with 81.22% approval to rebrand its native token from toncoin back to its original 2018 name gram. the official transition will take place on june 15, 2026. the underlying blockchain name will remain ton, but the token ticker changes to $gram. this change was backed by pavel durov as part of the make ton great again initiative. no action or swap is required from users, and any site asking for token migration is a scam.
pavel durov & apple watch
telegram founder pavel durov announced that telegram has officially launched a fully native app for apple watch. the new version allows users to read messages, send gifs, view media, and access telegram functions directly from their wrist without relying heavily on the companion iphone app. users can log in by scanning a qr code from their watch screen
ton pay 2.0 & layer 2
ton ecosystem is rolling out its highly anticipated ton pay 2.0 upgrade this quarter following the previous network configuration changes on june 4. this layer 2 payment upgrade is aimed at facilitating instant, micro-transactions directly inside telegram mini-apps and bot systems. it is expected to drastically lower transaction fees and boost utility for telegram stars and decentralized application tokens
crypto market structural shift
multiple layer 1 and layer 2 networks are rolling out major upgrades in the first half of june 2026. iotex launched its v2.4.0 mainnet upgrade on june 7, followed by boson protocol going live on mainnet on june 8. additionally, starknet is introducing its strk20 privacy standard on mainnet this week, signaling a massive push towards automated scalability and enhanced user security across the broader web3 space
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Telegram is now on Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch, Xiaomi Watch, and other smartwatches
Earlier: Apple Watch
Earlier: Apple Watch
telegram evolution: 2016 vs 2026
ten years ago in 2016, telegram was a simple 100 million user messenger app focused on speed and basic cloud sync. today in 2026, it has transformed into a massive web3 super-app with nearly a billion users, hosting its own blockchain ecosystem, internal ad networks, and ai-integrated mini-apps.
what changed
what stayed the same
ten years ago in 2016, telegram was a simple 100 million user messenger app focused on speed and basic cloud sync. today in 2026, it has transformed into a massive web3 super-app with nearly a billion users, hosting its own blockchain ecosystem, internal ad networks, and ai-integrated mini-apps.
what changed
2016 was just text, stickers, and simple bots. 2026 is fully integrated with ton blockchain, offering native crypto wallets, nft collectibles, and the telegram stars economy
2016 privacy meant secret chats. 2026 privacy faces intense global scrutiny, leading to a new era of high-volume moderation, massive channel takedowns, and AI-driven enforcement while maintaining its core appeal for privacy-conscious users
2016 was a messenger. 2026 is a social platform with stories, professional business tools, and mini-app games that rival app store experiences
what stayed the same
the core philosophy remains cloud-based, cross-platform, and obsessed with speed. the interface, despite thousands of new features, still feels like the telegram we knew a decade ago. we have moved from simple chat to a global digital infrastructure
interesting facts about telegram
did you know telegram was this much ahead of the curve? stay updated with the latest in the ecosystem at @teleintel
the secret origin: telegram was built in 2013 by pavel and nikolai durov after they left vk, russia's largest social network, because they refused to comply with government censorship. it started as an act of digital independence
zero marketing budget: unlike its competitors, telegram has never spent a single dollar on advertising. its growth from a small messenger to nearly one billion users has been entirely organic, fueled by people switching for better features and privacy
the trendsetter: almost every major feature you see on other apps today—like animated stickers, message reactions, and advanced bot ecosystems—was pioneered by telegram long before others adopted them
from messenger to super-app: while it started as a way to send text, it has morphed into a digital infrastructure. today, it hosts decentralized finance (defi) platforms, high-performance gaming, and an entire digital economy powered by telegram stars and the ton blockchain
infinite capacity: while apps like whatsapp struggle with small group limits, telegram handles 'super-groups' of up to 200,000 members. it is essentially a global town square that never sleeps
the cloud architecture: telegram does not store your history on your phone; it stores it in the cloud. this is why you can switch from your laptop to your phone to your tablet and find every single message, video, and file instantly waiting for you without needing manual backups
the gold standard for bots: the bot api is the most advanced in the world. in 2026, you aren't just talking to friends; you are using bots to trade crypto, manage professional workflows, and even play high-fidelity games—all without ever leaving the chat interface
true customization: telegram is the only mainstream app that lets you control everything—from the bubble colors and app icons to the way media is handled, making it the most personalized experience in the app store
did you know telegram was this much ahead of the curve? stay updated with the latest in the ecosystem at @teleintel
Durov might use Musk's rocket to send $GRAM to the moon
Elon Musk with SpaceX started a new era of finance... again
Pre-IPOs are a new trend. Essentially, it's similar to the pre-market for Notcoin and other Telegram games in 2024-25. Hype and greed compel people to join. However, the volumes are quite different - Binance alone earned $1.7B on SpaceX pre-IPO.
Now we're looking forward to hyped IPOs from Anthropic and OpenAI - focusing on this with a low-entry barrier (for users who previously participated in mini-apps pre-markets) will certainly help TON.
Crypto is bleeding
But the ultimate superpower of Web3 - especially TON - is its massive retail base and frictionless onboarding.
Right now, the smartest move is to channel the energy of young degens into hyped assets: AI IPOs, SpaceX stocks, etc.
TON has the infrastructure to lead this transition and capture the narrative. Who else can bring Wall Street hype directly to Telegram?
Elon Musk with SpaceX started a new era of finance... again
Pre-IPOs are a new trend. Essentially, it's similar to the pre-market for Notcoin and other Telegram games in 2024-25. Hype and greed compel people to join. However, the volumes are quite different - Binance alone earned $1.7B on SpaceX pre-IPO.
Now we're looking forward to hyped IPOs from Anthropic and OpenAI - focusing on this with a low-entry barrier (for users who previously participated in mini-apps pre-markets) will certainly help TON.
Crypto is bleeding
But the ultimate superpower of Web3 - especially TON - is its massive retail base and frictionless onboarding.
Right now, the smartest move is to channel the energy of young degens into hyped assets: AI IPOs, SpaceX stocks, etc.
TON has the infrastructure to lead this transition and capture the narrative. Who else can bring Wall Street hype directly to Telegram?
Why the TON blockchain deserves your respect:
The key word in crypto right now is disappointment.
In a market like this, devs stop large-scale innovations - the prices don’t justify the effort.
But @Durov keeps delivering anyway.
TON is now the fastest chain, and gas fees were cut by 6x.
In a bull market, $GRAM would be trading at $5-$7 , But now it's a struggle for survival
The key word in crypto right now is disappointment.
In a market like this, devs stop large-scale innovations - the prices don’t justify the effort.
But @Durov keeps delivering anyway.
TON is now the fastest chain, and gas fees were cut by 6x.
In a bull market, $GRAM would be trading at $5-$7 , But now it's a struggle for survival
Ki Young Ju, head of CryptoQuant, stated that while the era of altcoins isn't over, projects lacking fundamental value are likely to disappear
The most reliable are large internet companies that use their own tokens as part of the ecosystem
Examples include Binance's $BNB and TON's $GRAM, which have established user bases and stable revenue streams
The most reliable are large internet companies that use their own tokens as part of the ecosystem
Examples include Binance's $BNB and TON's $GRAM, which have established user bases and stable revenue streams
Top 10 richest individual crypto holders
From Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto to unfortunate crypto losers Rain Lohmus and James Howells, these are the 10 richest on-chain individuals:
From Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto to unfortunate crypto losers Rain Lohmus and James Howells, these are the 10 richest on-chain individuals:
1. Satoshi Nakamoto — $69,000,000,000.
Satoshi Nakamoto is the richest holder of crypto in the world. The entirety of this is from the Bitcoin he mined from 2009 and 2010 and is stored across 22,000 addresses.
2. Justin Sun — $2,700,000,000.
Justin Sun is a Chinese entrepreneur and cryptocurrency pioneer best known as the founder of TRON. He is also the CEO of BitTorrent and the owner of two crypto exchanges.
3. James Howells — $500,000,000.
An IT worker from Wales, he was an early pioneer of Bitcoin mining in 2010, using his personal laptop to mine approximately 8,000 BTC.
4. Stefan Thomas — $440,000,000.
Stefan Thomas, a German-born programmer and early Bitcoin developer, is another individual whose vast on-chain wealth is locked away. In 2011, he was paid 7,002 BTC for creating an animated video explaining how Bitcoin worked.
5. Rain Lohmus — $425,000,000.
Rain Lohmus represents one of crypto's most famous cautionary tales. The Estonian banker and co-founder of LHV Bank was an early believer in Ethereum, participating in its 2014 ICO. He invested approximately $75,000 and received a staggering 250,000 ETH.
6. Vitalik Buterin — $384,000,000.
Vitalik Buterin is the visionary programmer who co-created Ethereum. As one of the project's co-founders, he received an allocation of ETH at its genesis.
7. Clifton Collins — $316,000,000.
Clifton Collins is an Irish drug dealer who became a significant Bitcoin holder after acquiring 6,000 BTC in 2011-2012 with proceeds from selling cannabis. Bitcoin was valued at around $5 then.
8. Shixing Mao — $166,000,000.
Shixing Mao, also known as DiscusFish, is the co-founder and CEO of Cobo dot com, a prominent crypto wallet and custody solutions provider. Mao is also the founder of China's first Bitcoin mining pool — F2Pool.
9. Patricio Worthalter — $107,000,000.
Patricio Worthalter is an Argentinian entrepreneur and the founder of POAP (Proof of Attendance Protocol). POAP is a widely used protocol in the Ethereum ecosystem that allows event organisers to distribute crypto-badges (NFTs) to attendees, creating a verifiable record of life experiences.
10. James Fickel — $66,000,000.
James Fickel is a prominent cryptocurrency investor and trader. His journey to the crypto rich list started in 2016 when he invested $400,000 in Ethereum when the token was trading at around $0.80.
whatsapp usernames update — quick facts
keep checking your app store for updates and secure your rare handles as soon as it arrives!
fresh rollout: meta officially started rolling out username reservations on june 29, 2026.
not in your app yet?: it is launching gradually in phases. if you do not see it yet, do not worry—whatsapp will notify you in the app as soon as it hits your account.
you still need a number: you still need a phone number to create and setup a whatsapp account.
hidden phone numbers: once you set a username, you can chat with new people and strangers without revealing your actual phone number.
added privacy pin: you can set an optional 4-digit pin so strangers cannot spam your username without knowing the code.
keep checking your app store for updates and secure your rare handles as soon as it arrives!
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France is the worst country for #crypto investors
The French Interior Minister reported 77 attacks on cryptocurrency participants in 2026—compared to 45 such incidents in all of 2025
Earlier, a tax official in France was arrested on charges of sharing confidential data on crypto investors with organized crime groups.
Video shows an attempted kidnapping of the daughter of the head of a French crypto company and her two-year-old child
The French Interior Minister reported 77 attacks on cryptocurrency participants in 2026—compared to 45 such incidents in all of 2025
Earlier, a tax official in France was arrested on charges of sharing confidential data on crypto investors with organized crime groups.
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A Waymo self-driving taxi in California turned two drunk teenagers over to the police after they were driving around the city shooting toy guns. The car identified the 15-year-olds as a threat, stopped, and called the police
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17-Year-Old Robbed While Exchanging Cash for Cryptocurrency
A 17-year-old in Moscow was robbed while attempting to exchange 1,500,000 rubles (~$19,000) for cryptocurrency. Three suspects followed the teen and his friends from a building, pulled him from their taxi, and stole the cash. Police detained the suspects and recovered most of the money. All three face grand larceny charges, punishable by up to 12 years in prison.
A 17-year-old in Moscow was robbed while attempting to exchange 1,500,000 rubles (~$19,000) for cryptocurrency. Three suspects followed the teen and his friends from a building, pulled him from their taxi, and stole the cash. Police detained the suspects and recovered most of the money. All three face grand larceny charges, punishable by up to 12 years in prison.
telegram t.me links are blocked: the complete guide
the short links for telegram channels that start with t.me have stopped working in web browsers like chrome, safari, and edge globally. here is the complete breakdown of what happened, why it happened, when it will be fixed, and what you need to do.
the key facts
why did it happen?
when will it be fixed?
the short links for telegram channels that start with t.me have stopped working in web browsers like chrome, safari, and edge globally. here is the complete breakdown of what happened, why it happened, when it will be fixed, and what you need to do.
the key facts
the app still works: the main telegram app is working perfectly. inside the app, all chats, channels, and links function normally.
browsers are blocked: if you click a t.me link from facebook, twitter, or any website, it will show an error and will not open.
the new fix: telegram has replaced the broken links with a longer version: telegram.me when you copy a link inside the app now, it automatically updates to the new address.
why did it happen?
the official registry that manages all ".me" web addresses has placed the t.me domain on a technical status called serverhold. this means the registry has completely removed t.me from the internet's global phonebook.
a registry usually triggers a serverhold block for a few specific reasons:
abuse and reports: telegram hosts thousands of public channels, some of which get flagged for copyright issues, spam, or financial scams.
legal compliance: the registry might have received legal complaints or government orders to suspend the domain until telegram addresses specific security concerns.
identity verification: sometimes domains are temporarily frozen for mandatory compliance checks.
neither telegram nor the registry has released an official statement yet, but the block was a deliberate action taken by the domain registry, not a technical bug or an app crash.
when will it be fixed?
there is no official timeline for a fix. because the block is controlled by an outside registry and not by telegram's own engineering team, telegram cannot fix it with a simple app update.
if telegram resolves the legal or compliance issues with the .me registry, the t.me domain might start working again in a few days or weeks. however, because registry suspensions can sometimes be permanent, telegram has already built a permanent backup by shifting entirely to telegram.me
what you should do right now
if you share your telegram channel links on external social media, websites, or profile bios, you must manually update your links.
old broken format: t.me/yourusername
new working format: telegram.me/yourusername
make sure to update your shared links immediately, or your followers will get an error screen when they try to click through to your channel from outside the app.