The TON Foundation recently revealed a program that promised a pathway to a 10-year Golden Visa in the United Arab Emirates. According to the announcement, investors who staked $100,000 worth of Toncoin for three years and paid a $35,000 processing fee would qualify for the residency.
The offer highlighted that applicants could unlock their staked TON after three years while earning an estimated 3-4% annual yield. TON’s partner, Peravel, described this as a “unique and exclusive route” for Golden Visa access, stating that no educational or career requirements applied.
The program was promoted as a fast-track option, with the processing time expected to take as little as seven weeks. Even Telegram CEO Pavel Durov reposted the announcement.
CZ raises doubts about TON’s offer
When the TON Foundation announced its new Golden Visa program, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) was among the first to question its legitimacy:
CZ stated he had not been able to verify the offer with any official UAE government source. He pointed out that standard Golden Visa applications usually cost around $1,000 when processed through authorised agents, far less than the fee presented in TON’s offer. CZ added that any such program should ideally come with clear government confirmation before being promoted to investors.
UAE government response
Shortly after the announcement, UAE authorities issued a statement through the Emirates News Agency denying that cryptocurrency investors are eligible for the country’s Golden Visa. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security clarified that Golden Visas are issued only under officially approved categories such as real estate investments, entrepreneurship, exceptional talents, science, and other specific qualifications.
The Securities and Commodities Authority and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) also confirmed that digital currency investments are governed by separate regulations, which are unrelated to Golden Visa eligibility. VARA added that TON is not licensed or regulated under its framework.
Market reaction
Following TON’s announcement, Toncoin’s price rose by over 10%, reaching approximately $3.03. However, after the UAE government issued its denial, TON’s price retraced by around 6%, settling closer to $2.80.
UPDATE: Clarification from the TON Foundation
The TON Foundation clarified that its UAE Golden Visa initiative was prematurely announced. It explained the program is an independent collaboration with a licensed partner and has no official endorsement or partnership with UAE government entities. TON emphasised the project is still exploratory and any potential visa issuance remains at the discretion of UAE authorities.
