TON Price Surges 10% Amid UAE Golden Visa Program Skepticism

Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, has raised questions about the legitimacy of The Open Network’s (TON) recently announced UAE Golden Visa program, which is linked to staking Toncoin (TON). TON has proposed a scheme that offers 10-year UAE residency visas to individuals who stake $100,000 worth of TON tokens for three years and pay a $35,000 processing fee. The program promises visa approval within seven weeks.

CZ, who holds a UAE Golden Visa himself, expressed his skepticism on social media, noting the absence of official confirmation from UAE government sources. He pointed out that there were no announcements on official UAE government websites and questioned which regulatory body had authorized the program. CZ described the offer as potentially “too good to be true” and emphasized the importance of “trust but verify” before endorsing the initiative.

Despite CZ’s doubts, the announcement led to a significant increase in Toncoin’s price, which surged over 10% shortly after the news broke. Some community members cited Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s repost of the announcement as a form of informal confirmation, although no formal government endorsement has been made public.

The TON Foundation’s program significantly lowers the traditional UAE Golden Visa investment threshold from approximately $540,000 in illiquid assets to $100,000 in staked cryptocurrency. This offers an estimated 3–4% annual yield during the staking period. The visa extends to immediate family members without additional fees beyond standard government charges, and staking is managed via decentralized smart contracts on the TON blockchain for transparency.

However, industry experts caution that the program appears to be facilitated by third-party providers rather than being an official UAE government initiative. CZ highlighted that staking activities typically require regulatory licenses from UAE authorities such as VARA, SCA, and ADGM, none of which have publicly recognized this TON-linked visa pathway.

The UAE continues to position itself as a leading hub for crypto and blockchain innovation, with initiatives spanning DeFi, Web3, tokenized real estate, and machine economy projects. The country’s regulatory environment remains attractive, but this latest visa offer underscores the ongoing scrutiny and the need for clear government validation in crypto-linked residency schemes.

In summary, while TON’s UAE Golden Visa proposal has generated excitement and market movement, Changpeng Zhao’s reservations reflect broader calls within the crypto community for official confirmation and regulatory clarity before embracing such programs.