Movie star-backed cryptocurrencies usually tend to be scams, survey says

New analysis reveals that there’s a hyperlink between movie star endorsements of crypto initiatives and the chance that they’re fraudulent.

An investigation titled “The Impact of Movie star Endorsements on the Crypto Business” carried out by two former SEC economists – Joshua T. White and Sean Wilkoff – investigated the impact celebrities have boosted numerous ICOs.

They discovered that “celebrity-endorsed ICOs have been related to a 23-26% improve in ICO fraud via September 2019 and a 39-40% improve in ICO fraud via April 2023.”

This “suggestive proof” presents a “purple flag for buyers,” the researchers wrote.

The analysis examined the conduct of 21 celebrities from 2016 to 2018, together with Floyd Mayweather, Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton and Lionel Messi.

“We assumed that celebrities may improve the visibility of cryptocurrencies given their attain on social media and inflicting concern of abandonment (FOMO),” Joshua T. White informed Decrypt through electronic mail. “Given the novelty of blockchain know-how and cryptocurrencies, we have been not sure whether or not celebrities would have the expertise to determine an actual and credible mission (or) if their administration crew had time to grasp the authorized dangers of exposing a specific cryptocurrency with out disclosing that it was sponsored. .

One other key discovering is that movie star endorsements usually tend to be fraudulent when the movie star’s career doesn’t match the ICO product, in line with a pattern of researchers.

Nevertheless, when a star’s career matches an ICO product – corresponding to a soccer participant supporting an ICO that will fund a blockchain-based sports activities betting web site – it’s much less more likely to transform a rip-off.

“This means that when celebrities perceive the use circumstances of tokens, they seem like extra avid or extra educated in regards to the product they’re endorsing,” White informed Decrypt. “The analogy is a soccer participant promoting cleats versus a soccer participant promoting shampoo (any irony with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo should not be mere coincidence). They most likely have a greater understanding of the soccer boots they’re selling than the chemical compounds within the shampoo.”

In concluding the analysis, they highlighted the necessity for buyers and celebrities to higher perceive the dangers that include cryptocurrencies and to train due diligence earlier than endorsing digital property.

“If token creators are utilizing celebrity-driven promotions, this may very well be an indicator of poor token high quality, probably an try to divert consideration from it with the assistance of movie star glamor,” White informed Decrypt.

Movie star backed ICO raises cash

Focusing solely on ICOs, or preliminary coin choices, analysis has additionally discovered that movie star disclosures improve the amount of cash raised, in addition to the chance of tokens being added to exchanges.

“We’re not shocked that celebrities are rising the visibility of crypto initiatives, however we’re shocked by the extent of their affect,” mentioned White. “Movie star engagement was related to 53% extra capital raised in ICOs, which equates to roughly $9 million extra for token issuers in our pattern.”

Apparently, movie star backed tokens are additionally 37% much less more likely to go on a pre-sale. As an alternative, many initiatives select to substitute pre-sales for movie star promotions. Nevertheless, it additionally implies that buyers are lacking out on essential data and high quality value indicators that pre-sales usually generate, the researchers mentioned.

That mentioned, Wilkoff explains, “not all supported ICOs are scams, and never all scams are endorsed by celebrities.”

“Taylor Swift was even supplied a deal to help FTX, which was turned down after her crew carried out analysis on the matter,” mentioned Wilkoff. “Celebrities ought to conduct due diligence and analysis on any digital property associated to cryptocurrencies or exchanges earlier than disclosing them, and buyers ought to by no means blindly belief movie star endorsements.”

*Translated by Gustavo Martins with permission from Decrypt .

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Cryptocurrency posts endorsed by celebrities usually tend to be scams, analysis says first showing on Portal do Bitcoin.

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