Telegram users in the United Kingdom are also barred from using the platform’s in-app wallet due to financial regulations.
Telegram Wallet will be temporarily restricted for users in the United Kingdom due to a corporate restructuring.
According to a Sept. 25 announcement, the wallet will be available again after the company registers as a crypto asset provider.
Telegram has decided to comply with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations and will disable in-app wallet features for UK residents until the necessary licenses are obtained.
In the meantime, UK users can withdraw funds to external wallets without fees, and Telegram will keep customers updated regarding their accounts.
Significant Changes to Telegram’s Policies and Features
Following the arrest of Pavel Durov, Telegram recently announced policy changes, including plans to share user data with law enforcement when presented with a “valid legal request.”
This data includes phone numbers and IP addresses, sparking concerns among privacy advocates due to potential misuse by government authorities.
Durov defended the decision, stating that it would help protect the platform from criminal activities. In a message to users, he wrote:
“These measures should discourage criminals. Telegram Search is meant for finding friends and discovering news, not for promoting illegal goods. We won’t let bad actors jeopardize the integrity of our platform for almost a billion users.”
In September 2024, Durov also revealed that Telegram would remove the personal geolocation feature and replace it with a “businesses nearby” option.
Additionally, the company discontinued the “Telegraph” blogging tool, citing misuse by a small fraction of users to spread illicit material.
Although Durov noted that most users had not abused the feature, he emphasized that the “0.001%” who did posed a significant threat to the broader community.
