Crypto Influencers Earning $60K Per Post-But Who’s Watching the Watchers?

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Blockchain sleuth ZachXBT, with the precision of a bloodhound on a mission, has uncovered a wild circus of crypto influencers charging up to a whopping $60,000 per post to hype up token projects. They’re raking in the cash, yet somehow, their transparency levels are lower than the odds of a crypto unicorn. 🦄💸

But here’s the kicker: out of over 160 deals, less than five influencers bothered to add the obligatory #ad to their posts. It’s almost like they’re trying to sneak in promotions under the radar, as if market manipulation were just a mild suggestion, not a rule. 👀

Breaking Down the Spreadsheet

Our favorite blockchain detective shared a spreadsheet that reads like a digital soap opera. High-profile accounts charge between $5,000 and $10,000 per post, while the little guys (aka micro-influencers) get paid a pittance-only a few hundred bucks. So much for the “free market” we hear so much about. 🙄

At the top of the food chain, @atitty_ allegedly pocketed $60,000 for some giveaway-style posts meant to farm engagement. It’s the kind of money that could make anyone wonder, “What’s the catch?” Spoiler alert: There is one-zero disclosure. 😏

ZachXBT, in his ever-persistent way, dug into the blockchain to confirm payments, and lo and behold, more than 160 accounts took money from a single project. But here’s the rub: only about five accounts tagged their posts as ads. The rest? Just let the cash flow and the deception grow. 🍀

As ZachXBT points out, this practice is “illegal in most jurisdictions, but rarely enforced.” It’s like getting away with skipping gym class and then still collecting your A+ in ethics. 🍎

Erick, cofounder of The OTC Network, was quick to call out this shadiness, saying that failing to tag posts as ads is nothing short of deception. “It’s wild people in crypto don’t see the need to alert their following with a #ad at the end of the post,” he tweeted. Wild, indeed. 🤯

And let’s talk about the repeat offenders: “dethective” dropped a bombshell, revealing two accounts-@Regrets10x and @lynk0x-were likely operated by the same person, and yes, they were paid twice for the same project. Talk about double-dipping. 🤫

Who’s Selling What? Crypto Narratives for Sale

Paid promotions are as old as the internet itself, but the lack of transparency is the stuff of nightmares. One user put it simply: “I don’t mind promoting posts, but if you get straight payment for that, it’d be nice if you disclosed it.” Imagine being an influencer but still trying to look like a ‘true believer’ while cashing in. Classic crypto move. 💼

And if you think it’s just a few bad apples, think again. One top-tier crypto influencer had to shut down his X account after being caught using bots to inflate his social media numbers. The scandal never ends in this wild west of digital currencies. 🤖

What’s more unsettling is the growing belief that what seems like genuine crypto enthusiasm might actually be manufactured hype. One sharp observer noted that crypto narratives are often “pre-priced, pay-for-play distributions,” created to make insiders rich while the rest of us think we’re witnessing true community excitement. Spoiler: We’re not. 🤨

Some defenders argue that they only promote tokens they “believe in,” but analysts remain unimpressed. The takeaway is clear: promoting tokens for cash without disclosing it is more than just an ethical slip-up; it’s a systemic issue that’s twisting the markets into a giant game of musical chairs. 🎶

Regulators, already under pressure to tighten crypto ad rules, are likely to take a long, hard look at this leak. Last year, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority made it clear that promoting meme coins without approval could lead to criminal charges. So, guess what? They might not be laughing when the music stops. 🎭

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2025-09-02 11:47