Bitcoin as a Lifeline
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has revealed that Bitcoin played a key role in sustaining his personal lifestyle over the years. Speaking about his early investments, Durov said he bought several thousand bitcoins back in 2013, when each coin was trading at around $700.
Even when the price later dropped below $200, he never lost faith in the cryptocurrency. “I didn’t sell because I believed in it,” Durov explained, adding that this long-term conviction turned out to be a crucial financial safety net.
Funding a Costly Lifestyle
Durov admitted that Telegram’s operations have been running at a loss for years, meaning the company itself never directly financed his personal expenses. Instead, his Bitcoin holdings provided the resources to cover what he described as a demanding lifestyle — including premium rents and private air travel.
In his words, Bitcoin effectively became a “financial bridge” that allowed him to maintain a standard of living he otherwise couldn’t sustain through Telegram alone.
A Bold Prediction: $1 Million Bitcoin
Looking ahead, Durov expressed strong confidence in Bitcoin’s future. He argued that unlike traditional currencies, which governments can print endlessly, Bitcoin has a fixed supply and predictable inflation control.
Because of this scarcity, he suggested the possibility that Bitcoin’s price could one day soar as high as $1 million per coin. While such a prediction remains speculative, Durov’s comments highlight his enduring trust in the cryptocurrency.
The TON Blockchain and Future Plans
Beyond Bitcoin, Durov also discussed Telegram’s blockchain initiative — the Telegram Open Network (TON). Originally launched in 2018–2019, the project faced regulatory hurdles in the United States, preventing its full rollout. Still, "Pavel Durov Runs a Billion-User Telegram App with Just 30 Engineers"
Today, however, it continues under the name The Open Network, with an active role in NFT and crypto transactions. Its native token, Toncoin (TON), is currently trading at around $2.67, giving it a market capitalization of roughly $6.8 billion.
Conclusion
Pavel Durov’s journey underscores how Bitcoin has served not only as an investment but also as a strategic financial reserve during difficult times. His belief in Bitcoin’s long-term value, coupled with his bold $1 million forecast, reflects both optimism and the high-stakes volatility of the crypto market.
