UAE Regulators Clarify: Toncoin (TON) Staking Does Not Qualify for Golden Visa Program

United Arab Emirates authorities have firmly denied rumors that staking Toncoin (TON) could provide eligibility for the nation's prestigious Golden Visa program. Both the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) confirmed that cryptocurrency investments are not included in the visa qualification requirements.

The statement came after weekend claims by TON Foundation CEO Max Crown, who implied that staking $100,000 worth of TON for three years—plus paying a $35,000 processing fee—could secure the 10-year residency permit. Following the initial announcement, Toncoin saw a 12% price surge before regulators stepped in to correct the misinformation.

This situation emerges as Telegram's cryptocurrency ecosystem continues to develop, having recently announced a potential collaboration with Elon Musk's xAI. Market analysts suggest this incident underscores the regulatory challenges facing digital assets as governments worldwide work to establish clear frameworks for crypto integration.