He won’t determine these people, but the man put his or her values of Telegram for the $3 billion to $5 billion vary.
“Even for $20 billion, it is not on the market,» they explained. “That’s for years and years guarantee.”
Whenever fb got WhatsApp in 2014, they settled about $40 per owner, that could give an alluring benchmark to importance Telegram, reported on Alexander Vengranovich, a techie expert at Otkritie funds in Moscow. But that is not a great contrast because Telegram happens to be even more of a social-media platform, from the messenger market is previously very soaked, the man explained.
Bitcoin, Taxation
In terms of fortunes become, there’s very little signal that Durov has risked a great deal of their on items apart from several proper purchases. The guy believed the man compensated $750 apiece for his or her bitcoins about four years back, a holding that is surged in value from $1.5 million to a lot more than $35 million. In addition, he spent sufficient in St. Kitts and Nevis getting a citizen of this Caribbean nation.
The world wide web tycoon stated he’s upbeat about bitcoin given that it’s “digital coins.” Run among the many world’s most popular texting apps, this individual mentioned, is very stimulating whenever some thing “completely unstable” happens — “like now, entire blockchain and cryptocurrency society just flipped to Telegram.”
Durov stated he or she decided Dubai to some extent for try their tax-free region, which speaks so much to their laissez-faire philosophy precisely as it should to their the main thing.
“It’s an issue of concept,” this individual mentioned. “A lot of people in the american planet don’t realize the amount of taxes limit her options. You are able to end up paying about half your revenue in fees, which essentially implies you’re working for the federal government for just 6 months one year. I think I Am Able To discover better ways to take advantage of dollars We alllow for the main benefit of people.”
But there’s a flip half to dealing with a country as socially and consistently conservative being the United Arab Emirates, as Durov admits.
“If I comprise gay, eg, it might be somewhat difficult for me personally,” he stated. “Or if I necessary to are drinking alcoholic beverages frequently — or consume pork.”
He’s one of contradictions, posting a photo of themselves bare-chested on Tinder following declining as photographed for the tale, welcoming reporters to his or her new workplace, merely to transform his or her brain.
Security Status
Durov was given birth to inside the Soviet Union along with 1984, two factual and imaginary symbols from the evils regarding the security say. The man turned out to be an idol to a lot Russian millennials as he trolled the FSB for stressful VK owner info in 2011, after opponent leader made use of the network to set up the biggest protests of Vladimir Putin’s now-18-year formula.
He or she taken care of immediately the KGB successor by publishing a photograph of a tongue-wagging German Shepherd donning a hoodie on his or her popular Twitter and youtube feed. But Durov, who had beenn’t even-old enough to choose whenever Putin initial stumbled on run, eliminates speaking government, such as the U.S. election cheats. The man mentioned he’d not a clue if Russia was actually behind the phishing strikes the Democrats, but whoever was actually definitely couldn’t require a state 
mentor.
“We possibly could have inked that after I found myself 12,” they explained. “It’s not difficult.”
What’s fair match for critique, though, are plans similar to the “insane, silly laws” that give Russia’s federal government most spying forces, the man believed. In spite of this, the very last thing Durov would like is going to be considered as a dissident.
The fact is, there’s a crowning paradox Durov delights in: One of the most secretive people on the planet, Putin’s associates in the Kremlin, just makes use of his or her security circle, but praises it widely, albeit with a quality warning.
“Telegram can be quite handy,” Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, claimed via Telegram. “We’re using it for open public details, however for non-public critical information. Online will never generally be absolutely secure anywhere.”