The recent announcement about TON and the possibility of obtaining a Golden Visa of the United Arab Emirates quickly captured the attention of investors and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. In the context of a growing openness of the Emirates towards the blockchain sector, this proposal of “digital residency” promised a turning point, but the official developments shed light on important limitations and clarifications.
The proposal of TON: a revolutionary offer for the Golden Visa UAE
TON, the blockchain created by Telegram, has introduced what it defines as a new way to obtain UAE residency. The conditions were clear: staking $100,000 in Toncoin (the native asset of the network) for three years, plus a one-time fee of $35,000.
In less than seven weeks from the submission of the documents, the path should have led to a ten-year residence visa, managed by local partners in the Emirati territory. This program also promised the involvement of the family: spouses, children, and parents would have been included without additional costs beyond the expected government ones.
Not just residence: the proposal of staking TON guaranteed decentralized control over the funds, validated by a smart contract on the blockchain publicly visible. In addition, participants would benefit from estimated annual returns between 3% and 4%, thus increasing the appeal for crypto investors already active in search of portfolio solutions that combined yield and legislative advantage.
Golden Visa at a reduced cost: a comparison with traditional routes
The proposal put forward by TON broke with the usual paradigms of access to residency in the United Arab Emirates. Usually, to obtain the valuable Golden Visa, one must invest at least $540,000 in illiquid assets, generally real estate or long-term fixed deposits. Instead, the threshold of $100,000 in Toncoin represented an 80% reduction in the entry barrier, offering a much more financially accessible solution.
As observed by Bobby Ong, co-founder of CoinGecko:
“The entry is five times lower compared to real estate or term deposits: the big investors will definitely consider TON.”
TON che ottiene una partnership di 10 anni per il Visto d’Oro degli Emirati Arabi Uniti con il governo degli Emirati Arabi Uniti è davvero una storia di partnership straordinaria. L’ingresso è 5 volte inferiore rispetto a un investimento immobiliare / FD equivalente e attirerà sicuramente l’attenzione delle whales per dare un’occhiata a TON e considerare questo… pic.twitter.com/U89Ta8oGhg
— Bobby Ong (@bobbyong) 6 luglio 2025
It is not surprising, therefore, that after the announcement the price of Toncoin jumped by over 10%. On the date of the announcement, the token was trading around $2.98, marking a considerable recovery within 24 hours, even though it remained 60% below the values of the previous year, according to CoinMarketCap data.
The institutional clarification from the Emirates (UAE): no Golden Visa for digital investors of TON
The initial enthusiasm was quickly halted by the note from the Emirati authorities. The official news agency Emirates News Agency released a statement issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security along with the Securities and Commodities Authority and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), denying the possibility of granting the Golden Visa in exchange for digital assets.
The residenze dorate cannot be obtained through the possession of cryptocurrencies or other digital assets.
Investments in digital currencies are subject to dedicated regulations, but are disconnected from the criteria for the Golden Visa.
The company TON itself is neither regulated nor authorized by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
The authorities also urge anyone interested to rely exclusively on official and credible sources, to avoid the risk of encountering misleading information or outright scams. The institutional response thus clarifies the real limits of the TON proposal, maintaining a clear separation between crypto financial regulation and residence permits.
The reactions of the market and the operators in the sector
After the publication, critical comments were not lacking. Joe HedgeHog, partner of the Sigil Fund, mocked the real scope of the initiative:
“A third-party provider is just using TON to facilitate access to the golden visa for entrepreneurs. They could have used any coin,”
wrote on the social platform X, highlighting the absence of an official partnership between TON and the UAE government. These doubts are reflected in the community discussions and invite participants to always verify the solidity of innovative offers in the crypto landscape.
Blockchain and crypto, the UAE aim for primacy in digital
While rejecting the specific initiative of TON, the autorità degli Emirati confirm the long-term strategic commitment to embracing blockchain technology and decentralized markets.
In recent months, the Emirati Arabi Uniti are consolidating their position as a key hub for the crypto sector:
In June 2024, the Dubai Financial Services Authority authorized the stablecoin RLUSD by Ripple, expanding the range of regulated digital products.
In the same period, the crypto regulatory authority of Dubai updated its guidelines to include the tokenization of real assets, a formula that allows for the digitization and fractionalization of even real estate.
The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre free zone now hosts over 600 crypto companies, with more and more firms establishing themselves in prominent financial districts such as the Dubai International Financial Centre and One Central.
This scenario confirms the UAE’s goal of attracting startup, investitori istituzionali and international talents thanks to a modern and regulated territory, capable of driving the growth of decentralized technologies and fintech.
The future prospects for blockchain and digital residency in the UAE
The initiative of TON around the Golden Visa demonstrates how crypto innovation is now a strong narrative lever in the global competition for digital leadership. However, the official statements clarify that rules and protections for participants remain non-negotiable. Consequently, for those considering a move to the United Arab Emirates using digital assets, the path still lies within the sphere of conventional regulations and official channels.
The blockchain sector will, however, continue to be a key player in the Emirati economic transformation. Staying updated through government channels and verified sources is the only effective way to leverage real opportunities.
