Binance Co-Founder CZ Denies Using Telegram, Prompts New Anti-Spam Features After Pavel Durov Response

Market Context

As major figures in crypto increasingly rely on social platforms for communication and influence, issues of impersonation, spam, and account verification are drawing heightened attention. Trust, identity verification, and the integrity of communication channels are becoming more critical for leaders in the industry. CZ’s complaint refects larger concerns among public figures who wish to manage their public communication without sacrificing privacy or being overwhelmed by spam.

Technical Details with Attribution

• CZ said on X that he gets so much spam on Telegram that his phone lags, and that all Telegram accounts claiming to be him are fake. 
• He noted he had raised the issue with Pavel Durov. Telegram responded by implementing features such as paid messages (Stars), where direct messages from outside one’s contacts can be paid, and improved filters for high-profile users to avoid being flooded by messages. 
• One feature allows public figures to paywall their inbox, such that users outside their contacts must pay a fee (in Telegram’s in-app currency “Stars”) to send a message. The maximum fee is 10,000 Stars, about US$130. 
• Telegram also added new controls like info pages for first-time chats, verification details of senders (account age, shared groups, verified status) to help recipients judge authenticity. 

Analyst Perspectives 

Analysts view CZ’s stance as understandable, given the challenges public figures face with impersonation, privacy, and spam overload. The new Telegram features are seen as positive steps toward giving users more control over their message flow. However, some argue that the fee model might not fully deter spammers, especially for public figures with high visibility. There is also caution that impersonation risks remain if verification processes are not robust enough.

Global Impact Note

This episode may prompt other social and messaging platforms to strengthen identity verification, impersonation protections, and message filtering for high-profile users. It raises broader issues for privacy, reputation management, and digital identity in crypto and social media circles. As platforms evolve, public trust could hinge on how well these tools prevent misuse while still allowing open communication.

Thoughts & Insights

• The impersonation issue is real and not just a minor annoyance. For high-profile crypto leaders, fake accounts can lead to misinformation, scams, or misattributed statements.
• Telegram’s move to allow public figures to charge for messages or restrict them outside their contacts is interesting—it introduces friction, which may deter spam, but may also create access barriers.
• The fee of US$130 for messages from outside contacts is moderate—it may stop casual spammers but likely won’t stop well-funded malicious actors. More secure verification systems, or stricter digital identity tools, might be needed.
• It will be interesting to see if this leads to more robust “verified identity” badges on Telegram, or external verification to prevent impersonation.