Telegram founder Pavel Durov has announced the upcoming launch of a new decentralized network named Cocoon—short for Confidential Compute Open Network—which will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) with the TON blockchain. Speaking at the Blockchain Life 2025 forum in Dubai, Durov revealed that the project is set to go live in November, marking another strategic step in blending AI capabilities with decentralized infrastructure.
Durov expressed concern over what he described as a troubling global trend in the erosion of digital freedom. He emphasized that centralized control over technology and data was increasingly restricting individual autonomy online. In his view, only decentralized technologies could effectively protect these freedoms and ensure user privacy in the digital age. He reportedly noted, with irony, that he had once considered naming the project Private AI Network—abbreviated as “PAIN”—a reflection of the challenges facing digital independence.
According to the project’s presentation, Cocoon will rely on GPU miners to support its computational infrastructure. These miners will be compensated in Toncoin (TON), the native token of the TON blockchain. The Telegram ecosystem is expected to play a crucial role in driving the platform’s visibility and adoption by providing what was described as both “demand and hype.” Cocoon aims to make AI tools accessible to application developers at an affordable rate while ensuring that end users can interact with AI systems anonymously and securely.
The initiative is viewed as an extension of Durov’s long-standing commitment to privacy-centric technology. Over the years, he has advocated for open, user-protected ecosystems that counterbalance increasing surveillance and data centralization by major corporations and governments. Cocoon’s fusion of blockchain and AI is designed to create a computing framework where privacy and transparency coexist, enabling decentralized AI processing without compromising confidentiality.
Durov’s announcement at the Dubai forum followed his previous appearances at high-profile blockchain events. In 2024, during the Token2049 crypto conference, he unveiled plans to launch the USDT stablecoin on the TON blockchain, as well as the introduction of tokenized gifts within Telegram. Despite his influence in the crypto and tech sectors, public engagements by Durov remain infrequent, with most of his communications typically delivered through his personal Telegram channel or select interviews.
In a conversation with Lex Fridman in September, Durov had discussed the unexpected popularity of NFT-based gifts on Telegram, noting that the messenger app itself continues to operate at a financial loss. He disclosed that his personal expenses are sustained through his Bitcoin investments and shared his belief that the world’s first cryptocurrency could eventually reach a valuation of $1 million.
The Blockchain Life 2025 forum, held in Dubai on October 28–29, served as a major gathering for the digital asset sector. The event attracted developers, traders, investors, and financial institutions, with attendance projected to surpass 15,000 participants. The program featured business discussions, expert keynotes, and thematic sessions covering the evolving intersections of blockchain, AI, and digital finance.
Durov’s introduction of Cocoon has been interpreted as a declaration of intent to shape the future of decentralized AI infrastructure. By leveraging the TON blockchain’s scalability and Telegram’s vast ecosystem, the project aims to provide a secure environment for AI computation while restoring control to users. The initiative reinforces Durov’s broader vision of a freer and more decentralized digital landscape—one where privacy, innovation, and transparency coexist beyond the influence of centralized power structures.