Thomas Daniels
The TON Foundation, steward of The Open Network, has clarified the status of its proposed UAE Golden Visa initiative, describing it as an independent, early-stage venture lacking any formal endorsement or governmental backing.
In a recent blog post, TON confirmed it is collaborating with a licensed private partner to explore the potential development of a Golden Visa program for UAE residency. However, it emphasized that all regulatory authority, approval, and issuance of visas remain solely under the jurisdiction of UAE government bodies.
This clarification followed widespread speculation after TON announced an offer promising a 10‑year Golden Visa for those staking $100,000 in Toncoin for three years, along with a one-time processing fee. The announcement prompted swift responses from key UAE regulators, including the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, the Securities & Commodities Authority, and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. These entities issued a joint statement confirming that digital asset holders are not currently eligible under any Golden Visa scheme.
Industry figures such as former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao criticized the initial announcement, describing it as “aggressive/misleading marketing.” The situation escalated further when Telegram CEO Pavel Durov amplified the original message on X, sparking a temporary surge in Toncoin’s price of 10–12% over the weekend. However, the token later declined by approximately 6% after regulatory clarification.
The TON Foundation now stresses that its Golden Visa concept is exploratory in nature and does not represent an active or officially sanctioned visa pathway. It also highlighted that no guarantees exist regarding visa issuance, as all final decisions rest with UAE authorities.
In comparison, official UAE Golden Visas generally require public investments of at least AED 2 million (approximately $544,000), ownership of significant real estate, or eligibility as entrepreneurs, researchers, or individuals with specialized talents.
