Cryptocurrency

During the week of the Capitol building riot, 11.9M users downloaded the crypto industry's popular messenger app, Telegram.

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During the week of the Capitol building riot, 11.9M users downloaded the crypto industry's popular messenger app, Telegram.

  • Cryptocurrency played a not insignificant role in the events leading up to the riot on Jan. 6. Chainalysis reported on at least $500,000 of donations to alt-right celebrities the week prior to the riot.
  • In June 2020, a judge ordered Telegram to return $1.2B to investors after the SEC charged it with an illegal securities offering targeting U.S. investors ⏤ one of the largest disgorgement orders in cryptocurrency history.
  • Telegram is owned by Pavel Durov, a Russian citizen, and co-founded by Dr. Nikolai Durov, his brother.