Risk research
Scam List
A compact research page for notorious crypto fraud cases, failed trust signals, and the operators named in public court or regulator records.
Ponzi-style crypto scheme
2014-2017OneCoin
- Damage
- $4B+ raised globally
- Operator
- Ruja Ignatova
A fake cryptocurrency sold through a global MLM engine without a real public blockchain.
Exchange fraud and customer-fund misuse
2019-2022FTX
- Damage
- $8B+ customer funds misappropriated
- Operator
- Sam Bankman-Fried
A trusted exchange brand collapsed after customer assets were secretly routed into Alameda Research.
Lending platform Ponzi allegations
2016-2018BitConnect
- Damage
- $2.4B alleged global fraud
- Operator
- Satish Kumbhani
A lending program promised daily returns from a secret trading bot and collapsed after regulatory pressure.
Algorithmic stablecoin collapse
2018-2022TerraUSD
- Damage
- $40B+ market value erased
- Operator
- Do Kwon
An algorithmic stablecoin ecosystem broke under redemption pressure after a high-yield flywheel attracted retail capital.
Centralized crypto lending failure
2017-2022Celsius
- Damage
- $4.7B FTC judgment, suspended for customer recovery
- Operator
- Alex Mashinsky
A crypto lender marketed bank-like safety and high yield while taking risks customers could not easily see.