The recent announcement about TON and the possibility of obtaining a Golden Visa of the United Arab Emirates quickly captured the attention of investors and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. In the context of a growing openness of the Emirates towards the blockchain sector, this proposal of “digital residency” promised a turning point, but the official developments shed light on important limitations and clarifications.
TON, the blockchain created by Telegram, has introduced what it defines as a new way to obtain UAE residency. The conditions were clear: staking $100,000 in Toncoin (the native asset of the network) for three years, plus a one-time fee of $35,000.
In less than seven weeks from the submission of the documents, the path should have led to a ten-year residence visa, managed by local partners in the Emirati territory. This program also promised the involvement of the family: spouses, children, and parents would have been included without additional costs beyond the expected government ones.
Not just residence: the proposal of staking TON guaranteed decentralized control over the funds, validated by a smart contract on the blockchain publicly visible. In addition, participants would benefit from estimated annual returns between 3% and 4%, thus increasing the appeal for crypto investors already active in search of portfolio solutions that combined yield and legislative advantage.
The proposal put forward by TON broke with the usual paradigms of access to residency in the United Arab Emirates. Usually, to obtain the valuable Golden Visa, one must invest at least $540,000 in illiquid assets, generally real estate or long-term fixed deposits. Instead, the threshold of $100,000 in Toncoin represented an 80% reduction in the entry barrier, offering a much more financially accessible solution.
As observed by Bobby Ong, co-founder of CoinGecko:
It is not surprising, therefore, that after the announcement the price of Toncoin jumped by over 10%. On the date of the announcement, the token was trading around $2.98, marking a considerable recovery within 24 hours, even though it remained 60% below the values of the previous year, according to CoinMarketCap data.
The initial enthusiasm was quickly halted by the note from the Emirati authorities. The official news agency Emirates News Agency released a statement issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security along with the Securities and Commodities Authority and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), denying the possibility of granting the Golden Visa in exchange for digital assets.
The authorities also urge anyone interested to rely exclusively on official and credible sources, to avoid the risk of encountering misleading information or outright scams. The institutional response thus clarifies the real limits of the TON proposal, maintaining a clear separation between crypto financial regulation and residence permits.
After the publication, critical comments were not lacking. Joe HedgeHog, partner of the Sigil Fund, mocked the real scope of the initiative:
wrote on the social platform X, highlighting the absence of an official partnership between TON and the UAE government. These doubts are reflected in the community discussions and invite participants to always verify the solidity of innovative offers in the crypto landscape.
While rejecting the specific initiative of TON, the autorità degli Emirati confirm the long-term strategic commitment to embracing blockchain technology and decentralized markets.
In recent months, the Emirati Arabi Uniti are consolidating their position as a key hub for the crypto sector:
This scenario confirms the UAE’s goal of attracting startup, investitori istituzionali and international talents thanks to a modern and regulated territory, capable of driving the growth of decentralized technologies and fintech.
The initiative of TON around the Golden Visa demonstrates how crypto innovation is now a strong narrative lever in the global competition for digital leadership. However, the official statements clarify that rules and protections for participants remain non-negotiable. Consequently, for those considering a move to the United Arab Emirates using digital assets, the path still lies within the sphere of conventional regulations and official channels.
The blockchain sector will, however, continue to be a key player in the Emirati economic transformation. Staying updated through government channels and verified sources is the only effective way to leverage real opportunities.
