[Telegram Widely Used Despite Restrictions in Russia and Iran, VPNs Drive Expansion of 'Digital Resistance'] BlockBeats News, April 4: Telegram founder Pavel Durov posted on his personal channel stating that despite long-term restrictions on Telegram in Russia, data shows that approximately 65 million Russian users still access the app daily through VPNs and other methods, with over 50 million maintaining daily messaging activity. At the same time, the Russian government continues to intensify its efforts to block VPNs, but these measures face technical challenges. Reports indicate that recent network blocking actions even temporarily caused payment system disruptions, leading some regions to briefly revert to cash transactions. A similar situation is occurring in Iran. Since the ban on Telegram, authorities initially aimed to promote the adoption of locally regulated communication apps, but instead, VPN usage has surged, resulting in a widespread phenomenon of 'digital circumvention.' Analysts believe that in highly regulated environments, the demand for communication freedom and privacy persists, driving ongoing technological resistance. As more developers engage in building VPNs and proxy tools, the struggle between information access and regulation is intensifying further.