Circle’s Gold and Silver Scam: Real or Fake? ๐Ÿ’ฐ๐Ÿ’ธ

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What to know:

  • A counterfeit missive, cloaked in the guise of legitimacy, proclaimed that Circle, the venerable issuer of USDC, had unveiled a novel platform called CircleMetals, offering tokenized gold and silver trading. ๐Ÿง™โ™‚๏ธ
  • The release, distributed on Christmas Eve-a date when the world is half-asleep and crypto enthusiasts are sipping eggnog-used Circle branding and quoted executives, only to be debunked by the company as a farcical fabrication. ๐ŸŽ„
  • The fake platform, a gilded cage of promises, appears to be a scam, with links to a swap platform and rewards, but no evidence of actual gold or silver tokens. ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ

A press release published on Christmas Eve, the holiest of holy days for crypto scammers, claimed that Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, had launched a new platform offering tokenized gold and silver trading. ๐ŸŽ

However, it is “fake,” a Circle spokesperson told CoinDesk, their voice trembling with the weight of existential dread. ๐Ÿคฏ

The platform, launched under the name CircleMetals, was promoted through a press release distributed on Dec. 24, a date when U.S. businesses are as active as a sleeping bear. ๐Ÿป

The release described a new service enabling 24/7 swaps between USDC and purported gold (GLDC) and silver (SILC) tokens, supposedly backed by COMEX-linked liquidity. Oddly, it prompted users to swap on the platform and receive “1.25% in $CIRM rewards.” CoinDesk couldn’t verify the said CIRM token, which doesn’t appear to be listed on major data aggregators. ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ™‚๏ธ

The website asks users to connect their wallets to enable their ability to swap for the supposed precious metals tokens. It is generally considered a bad idea to connect wallets directly to unverified websites, as malicious actors can then drain user wallets. ๐Ÿบ

The release even used Circle branding and claimed to quote executives, including CEO Jeremy Allaire. ๐Ÿงต

“Confirmed this is not real,” a spokesperson told CoinDesk when asked, their patience worn thin. ๐Ÿคทโ™‚๏ธ

The press release announcing the product, distributed via a crypto-focused PR wire, includes links to what appears to be a swap platform that allows users to connect their addresses and offers rewards for swaps of the supposed tokenized gold and silver tokens. ๐Ÿงพ

The PR firm that originally listed the press release, ChainWire, declined to comment. ๐Ÿค

While the website remains live, there is no evidence to suggest that GLDC or SILC tokens exist or that any legitimate financial institution is involved. ๐ŸงŠ

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2025-12-24 22:19