In a conversation with Tucker Carlson, Pavel Durov, the elusive CEO of Telegram, highlighted the importance of privacy and security in the crypto sphere, expressing concerns about potential threats from surveillance hardware.

Despite increasing government involvement in privacy matters, Durov remains optimistic, believing that those who prioritize privacy can still safeguard it through technology, similar to solutions already present in the crypto industry.

During the interview, Durov predicted the emergence of new secure hardware communication devices as online privacy becomes more critical. He drew parallels to hardware crypto wallets, indicating that similar devices could be developed for secure messaging and voice calls.

Durov also discussed Telegram's ventures, notably The Open Network, which faced opposition from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2019.

While acknowledging Telegram's previous fundraising efforts through bonds and cryptocurrency projects, Durov clarified that the company didn't relinquish ownership or voting control in exchange for outside funding.

In 2019, the SEC issued a restraining order against Telegram, halting the launch of its planned token, Gram, citing violations of securities laws due to an unregistered initial coin offering (ICO).

Despite the setback, Telegram's blockchain project persisted, initially driven by support from blockchain enthusiasts. Subsequently, Telegram deepened its involvement in the TON ecosystem, integrating Toncoin, the project's native cryptocurrency, into its advertising revenue-sharing system.

The interview covered various topics, including Durov's decision to relocate Telegram's offices to Dubai and an incident involving an attempted robbery following a meeting between Durov and then-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in San Francisco.