TON Foundation Leadership Urged to Uphold Transparency and Responsibility Amid Misleading Visa Claims

The recent statement by Max Crown, CEO of the TON Foundation, claiming that one can obtain a 10-year golden visa for the United Arab Emirates simply by staking TON, has been publicly denied by UAE authorities. The TON Foundation clarified in their blog that this initiative was a collaboration with a private partner, not a government entity. As active members of the TON ecosystem, we at Hipo find that such misleading communication is unacceptable. We feel responsible to speak out. If TON truly aims to be a community-driven ecosystem, it must avoid actions that deceive the public—especially in the absence of accountability—since they undermine the trust and credibility everyone strives to build. Transparency, honesty, and responsibility are essential, particularly from leaders. Misleading statements harm users, damage the ecosystem's reputation, and threaten the entire community. We call on Max Crown and other key leaders to act responsibly, acknowledge mistakes, and publicly take responsibility instead of ignoring or rewriting the narrative. For TON to thrive, high standards must be maintained—including honesty when errors are made.