Crypto news sites are erasing stories on scam study removal without a whisper, as sources point to external pressure from the paid PR machine. Articles that exposed how high-risk projects dominate press releases have vanished from outlets like Investing.com and CryptoPotato, leaving readers none the wiser. This isn’t just sloppy archiving; it’s a symptom of deeper issues where journalism bends to advertiser demands in the crypto space.
Meanwhile, the flood of promotional fluff continues, fueling FOMO and market pumps with little regard for truth. Chainstory’s analysis laid bare the rot, but now even that critique is being scrubbed. In an industry built on hype, this scam study removal reveals how fragile credibility really is.
The Shadow Pipeline Fueling Crypto Hype
The crypto PR ecosystem operates like a well-oiled machine designed to manufacture excitement. Chainstory dissected 2,893 press releases from June 16 to November 1, 2025, using AI to tag sentiment and risks against blacklists. What they found was a pipeline dominated by dubious actors, creating a loop of fake legitimacy that preys on retail traders chasing the next big thing. This isn’t organic buzz; it’s paid amplification blurring lines between news and ads.
Projects buy placements across dozens of sites, then flaunt ‘As Seen On’ badges to lure in FOMO-driven investors. Headlines packed with buzzwords like ‘AI-Powered Revolution’ slip past editorial gates because dollars trump scrutiny. As markets wobble, like the recent dips seen in why is crypto market down today, this manufactured narrative keeps the pumps going.
Understanding this pipeline is key to navigating crypto’s information wars, where perception often dictates price over fundamentals.
High-Risk Dominance in Press Releases
Of those 2,893 releases, 62% came from high-risk (35.6%) or confirmed scam projects (26.9%), with low-risk ones scraping by at just 27%. Niches like cloud mining were worse, with scams and high-risk content claiming nearly 90%. Tone analysis showed neutrality in only 10%, overstated claims at 54%, and overt promotion at 19%.
Content was mostly trivial: 49% on minor product tweaks, 24% spam exchange listings, and a measly 2% on real events like funding or M&A. This data paints a picture of an industry awash in noise, where bots scrape keywords like ‘partnership’ to trigger algo buys, pumping prices short-term before inevitable dumps. Retail investors, mistaking volume for validation, pile in.
Compare this to traditional finance, where SEC data linked 73% of penny-stock pumps to press releases from 2002-2015. Crypto amplifies it with algorithmic trading, turning PR into market movers. FTC rules demand disclosure for native ads, but crypto sites often bury it, granting sponsored content undue credibility.
Retail FOMO and Market Manipulation
These releases don’t just inform; they engineer sentiment. Bots react instantly, buying on buzzword triggers, creating pumps that savvy insiders exploit. Once hype fades and projects underdeliver, prices crater, leaving bagholders. Sources allege this cycle thrives because media depends on PR fees, especially in lean times like the current institutions calling bear market crypto 2026.
A Twitter post from August 2025 nailed it: the top 100 crypto info sources by engagement are all scammers, many exposed by ZachXBT. Retail follows these voices into traps. Verification via on-chain data or independent audits is rare; instead, ‘As Seen On’ logos seal the deal. This scam study removal only deepens the opacity.
Traders spotting patterns, like whale accumulation in crypto whales buying January 2026, must cut through this noise for real edges.
PR Dollars Trump Editorial Integrity
Advertiser influence isn’t new, but in crypto, it’s blatant. Outlets rely on PR distribution for revenue, making them vulnerable to pushback. Chainstory’s report got initial pickup on TradingView, KuCoin, MEXC, but then poof—gone from key sites. No 404s, no archives; just digital vanishing acts that scream external meddling.
Sources told BeInCrypto an implicated executive leaned on outlets, crying bias or bad data. Editorial teams folded, prioritizing revenue over truth. CryptoPotato’s Yuval Gov dodged with ‘I’ll ask about it,’ highlighting the tension. In a sector prone to 2025 crypto theft losses worst year, this self-censorship erodes trust further.
The lesson? Follow the money, always. Critical reporting threatens the golden goose, so it gets culled quietly.
Specific Cases of Article Disappearances
Investing.com ran ‘Crypto press releases dominated by high-risk projects, Chainstory study finds’—now erased. CryptoPotato detailed how wire services commodify placements—also scrubbed. These weren’t errors; they were deliberate. Sources confirm pressure from pay-to-play players citing ‘flaws.’
This mirrors TradFi scandals but hits harder in crypto’s nascent media landscape. Bear markets tighten budgets, amplifying leverage. Outlets can’t afford to bite the PR hand that feeds, leading to preemptive censorship. Readers left with sanitized feeds miss the scams lurking in plain sight.
Broader Implications for Crypto Journalism
FTC guidelines exist for a reason, yet crypto ‘Press Release’ tabs masquerade as neutral. Retail equates domain authority with vetting, falling for the illusion. As crypto money laundering billion scheme stories proliferate, unvetted PR drowns out real journalism.
Outlets must disclose sponsorships transparently, but few do. Investors need tools like Chainstory’s AI tagging to pierce the veil. Until then, skepticism is the best defense against hype-fueled rugs.
Nadav Dakner and the Chainwire Empire
At the nexus sits Nadav Dakner, Chainwire CEO, peddling ‘guaranteed coverage’ across crypto and TradFi sites. Their pitch: broadcast news to industry-leading pubs. Sources finger him in the takedowns, though no direct proof ties Chainwire to Chainstory’s erasure. Timing and ecosystem overlap fuel suspicions.
Chainwire snagged ‘Best PR Wire’ at 2026 CoinGape Awards, boasts G2 praise. Yet Dakner’s history raises eyebrows: co-founded MarketAcross, InboundJunction; ICO’d Gladius Network, raising $12.7M ETH. SEC settled for unregistered securities in 2019—no fines, but Gladius dissolved without full refunds.
Court docs link him to Krypton Capital; reports tie proximity to fraud figures like Gery Shalon indirectly. 2025 saw Chainwire scam allegations over unpaid campaigns. No charges against Dakner, but it spotlights PR’s dark underbelly.
Dakner’s Controversial Track Record
Gladius v. Krypton filings cast Dakner as de facto CMO and investor introducer. InboundJunction featured in whitepapers. FinTelegram and CryptoTicker (Oct 2025) probed SEC loopholes and fraud nexus ties—no direct accusations. Chainwire echoes Chainstory critiques: syndication for visibility, influencing retail.
Despite heat, they thrive amid Swapnet smart contract exploit DeFi attack chaos, where legit coverage is gold. Critics say their model incentivizes junk floods.
Chainwire’s Influence Persists
Awards and ratings insulate them, but sources whisper of ghosting publishers. No Chainwire response to queries. As crypto eyes quantum computing threat bitcoin, PR empires like this shape narratives unchecked.
Retail must demand better, supporting independent voices over paid pipes.
What’s Next for Crypto Media Integrity
The scam study removal saga underscores crypto’s maturity test: can media stand firm against PR cash? As markets consolidate amid bearish calls, transparency is non-negotiable. Investors armed with on-chain verification and skepticism can sidestep traps, but outlets must prioritize ethics over easy revenue.
Expect more clashes as regulation looms, like Clarity Act debates. True progress demands exposing these loops, not erasing them. Stay vigilant—your portfolio depends on seeing through the spin.
