07.07.2025 18:55
A highly anticipated merger of cryptocurrency and global mobility has unexpectedly unravelled. Initial reports suggested a groundbreaking program: staking $100,000 worth of TON cryptocurrency for three years, along with a $35,000 processing fee, would secure a ten-year UAE Golden Visa. This seemingly straightforward path to residency, including family eligibility and swift processing, was widely publicized, even featuring prominently on a TON Foundation website. The announcement sent the TON token price soaring.
However, a significant retraction followed on July 7th, 2025. The TON Foundation issued a statement clarifying that, despite earlier claims, no official agreement exists between TON and the UAE government. While the initiative was genuine in its experimental aim, the program remains in its developmental stages and lacks any endorsement or authorization from any UAE governmental body. The initial excitement generated by this news proved short-lived.
This correction carries considerable weight for TON, the cryptocurrency market, and the UAE. The original announcement suggested a paradigm shift; it would have represented the first instance of a decentralized cryptocurrency staking mechanism directly granting access to a government residency program. This held the promise of a future where digital assets could unlock tangible real-world advantages, a clear intersection of Web3 technology and government policy.
The TON Foundation's swift and unequivocal retraction, however, underscores the critical distinction between ambitious experimentation and official government partnerships. The Foundation stressed that the initiative, currently being developed in conjunction with a licensed blockchain partner, is purely exploratory and lacks governmental approval or involvement. A joint statement from the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, the Securities and Commodities Authority, and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority further substantiated this lack of official sanction. The project, therefore, remains firmly in the experimental phase.
