Telegram’s $500 million bonds blocked in Russia due to sanctions
6 January 15:08
Telegram’s bonds worth about $500 million are blocked in Moscow due to sanctions against Russia. This shows that the messenger still depends on Russian capital.
This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the Financial Times.
According to the publication, Telegram has issued bonds worth more than four billion dollars since 2021. In particular, in May 2025, the company placed debt securities worth $1.7 billion.
According to Financial Times sources familiar with the course of negotiations between Telegram’s management and investors, as of today, Telegram has redeemed most of the bonds maturing in 2026.
But some of the securities were blocked at the National Settlement Depository (NSD) due to sanctions.
“This shows “how much Telegram is still dependent on Russian capital,” the Financial Times writes.
According to Telegram’s report, the messenger’s revenue in the first half of 2025 increased by more than 65% to $870 million. At the same time, Telegram posted a net loss of $222 million compared to a net profit of $334 million in the first half of 2024.
According to one of the publication’s sources, the loss was caused by the write-off of Toncoin cryptocurrency stocks, whose price fell amid a general decline in the cryptocurrency market in 2025.
As a reminder, the European Union has officially approved the 19th package of sanctions against Russia and is preparing the 20th to increase pressure on the Kremlin and support Ukraine.
According to media reports, the new package is expected to be adopted by the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, i.e. by February 24, 2026.
