In a significant revelation for the cryptocurrency community, on-chain analyst and investigator ZachXBT has shed light on a series of fraudulent crypto ventures linked to an individual known as “Zopp0.” This exposé uncovers how projects like SCALE, NTD, TPU, and OPSEC were orchestrated to exploit naive traders, with the assistance of influencer bots. These schemes, operating under Zopp0’s command, manipulated the market, leading to substantial financial losses for investors.
Using Influencers to Hide Malicious Purpose
Leaked communications reveal Zopp0’s strategic use of prominent social media figures such as CryptoGodJohn, CryptoKazi, and Luke Belmar to champion these dubious projects. Often, these promotions occurred in the absence of robust technical backing, leading to steep declines in value—some losing over 90% in a single trading day. These revelations indicate Zopp0’s deliberate efforts to maintain anonymity while leveraging influential personalities to mask the projects’ true intentions.
Further analysis of these leaked messages highlights Zopp0’s direct involvement in shaping project trajectories. He employed a carefully curated team to present projects like OPSEC to the public. Despite the absence of substantial technical underpinnings, Zopp0 seemed unperturbed by the lack of accountability, dismissing concerns raised by market observers, which further eroded the credibility of these ventures.
Anonymous Private Chat Reveals Panic and Hush-up Process
After a critical post by ZachXBT in March 2024, private exchanges between Zopp0 and his associate SZB surfaced, showing their anxiety over the potential fallout. These discussions revealed their strategies to maintain anonymity, including employing third parties to execute SCALE projects and deploying teams to spread FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) against competitors.
ZachXBT initially withheld these revelations due to the aggressive tactics employed by investors and well-paid influencers to suppress negative narratives. However, the exposure of three projects as rug pulls has now brought the full extent of these manipulations to light. This has heightened concerns about the future of the crypto market’s integrity, as many investors face significant losses due to the misleading promotions by influential social media personalities.
The unfolding of these events underscores the critical need for transparency and accountability within the crypto sector. As the community grapples with these revelations, it becomes increasingly important for investors to exercise caution and thoroughly research before engaging in crypto projects, especially those endorsed by social media influencers.