TL;DR
- TON Foundation announced a program offering UAE Golden Visas to TON holders staking $100K for 3 years but official confirmation is still unclear.
- The move stirred buzz in the crypto community, with CZ showing interest and others raising red flags over legitimacy.
- If verified, this could be a milestone moment for crypto utility and regulatory bridges but for now, skepticism lingers.
On July 6, Max Crown, CEO of the TON Foundation, posted what might be one of the most ambitious crossovers between crypto and global mobility to date: a “groundbreaking initiative” allowing Toncoin (TON) holders to obtain a UAE Golden Visa by locking up $100,000 worth of tokens for three years.
The announcement, made via X (formerly Twitter), claims that participants can unlock their funds after the lock-up period, earn an estimated 3–4% APY, and pay a one-time processing fee of $35,000. Crown framed the initiative as an exclusive path for TON holders to gain 10-year residency in the United Arab Emirates, a destination that's become a magnet for crypto founders and capital.
How It Supposedly Works
According to details shared in Crown’s post, the program mimics traditional UAE Golden Visa categories but at a much lower cost of entry. For comparison:
- Real estate investors typically need to commit at least AED 2 million (~$545,000),
- Business contributors need to pay ~AED 250,000 annually,
- Skilled professionals require salaries over AED 30,000/month.
By contrast, TON’s offer requires:
- A $100,000 stake in TON tokens,
- A $35,000 one-time processing fee,
- A 3-year lock-up (with the promise of APY returns).
No real estate. No salary thresholds. Just staked crypto. Some in the community quickly began calling it a “whale magnet” especially for those already considering relocating to the UAE.
Enthusiasm and Skepticism
The crypto community lit up after the post. Even Binance founder CZ responded, saying:
Others echoed the sentiment. Many saw it as a creative and forward-thinking bridge between decentralized finance and global residency perks. Bobby Ong, co-founder of CoinGecko, He wrote :
But not everyone bought into the excitement. Meanwhile, Ivan, Head of Strategy at Gearbox Protocol, added his own skepticism. He emphasized the importance of formal confirmation, warning that crypto partnerships often get inflated in headlines before regulatory clarity is established.
Is It Real?
At the time of writing, no official UAE government statement has verified the TON Golden Visa offer. There are also no links to official immigration channels confirming the program. That leaves the entire initiative hanging somewhere between bold innovation and potential miscommunication.
However, there’s precedent that adds credibility. The UAE has been pro-crypto for years, and Dubai specifically has courted dozens of blockchain and Web3 projects under its Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Multiple Golden Visa categories are already live for:
- Startup founders
- Investors
- Academics
- Artists
- Senior professionals etc
It wouldn’t be out of character for the UAE to test crypto-based residency programs. But it also wouldn’t be the first time crypto claims have outpaced regulatory clarity.
Why This Matters
Whether it’s real or not, this episode shows something deeper: crypto isn’t just aiming for financial revolution, it’s pushing into lifestyle utility. If TON can successfully turn token holdings into a gateway for global movement and residency, it sets a precedent that could ripple (no pun intended) across the industry. Imagine a world where:
- Your on-chain assets determine visa eligibility.
- Token staking replaces bureaucratic paperwork.
- Golden Visas become just another on-chain function.
We're not there yet but that’s the vision TON appears to be hinting at.
Final Thought
The real story is crypto starting to grow beyond pure hype. If verified, TON’s Golden Visa program could mark a new era of real-world crypto perks. But until the UAE government confirms the partnership, it remains a fascinating “maybe.” Either way, it’s a reminder that utility will shape the next phase of adoption.
