Russia Cracks Down on Telegram Amid Crypto Community Struggles

Russia has been ramping up pressure on messaging app Telegram under the pretext of non-compliance with local rules. The country's telecom watchdog, Roskomnadzor (RKN), has been slowing down traffic to the messenger and threatening full blocking since April 1. However, user reports indicate difficulties accessing the service well ahead of this deadline.

The RKN claims Telegram is not complying with Russian law, particularly regarding content removal. Voice calls through the platform were limited in August due to allegations of it being used by fraudsters, extremists, and cybercriminals. The agency has been actively blocking Telegram since March 20, according to data compiled by the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI).

Despite the challenges, Telegram remains popular among Russian crypto enthusiasts, with over 95 million active users in January. However, finding a suitable alternative is not straightforward due to the restrictions on other platforms like Viber, Signal, and Discord. Members of the crypto community are employing tools such as VPNs to maintain communication through their favorite messenger.