Crypto Twitter Hall of Flame

The original SimpDAO queen Irene Zhao says making good memes is harder than trading as you need to understand the market and the audience.

Who is this person anyway?

Irene Zhao, the Simp-Queen mastermind behind the SO-COL platform and a Crypto Twitter influencer, explains that having a celebrity in your corner can turbocharge your NFT collection.

Zhaos first Simp DAO and NFT collection, IreneDAO, started with a floor price that was basically pocket change in ETH.

I think it was about zero-point-something ETH, Zhao recalls.

However, the game changed for Zhao when controversial YouTube star Logan Paul threw in around a quarter of a million dollars in January 2022.

The next day, I woke up, the floor price went up five times when Logan Paul bought about 20 pieces or something. I was really shocked, she explains. 

I cant fix you pic.twitter.com/oyMLut3S2F

Irene Zhao (@Irenezhao_) November 4, 2023

Zhao reveals that Paul stumbled upon the project after billionaire crypto investor Mike Novogratz posted about it on Twitter. That kickstarted a friendship with Paul:

Logan followed me on Twitter and Instagram after he bought my NFTs, Zhao says, adding, however, that theyve never managed to meet up.

I was going to travel to Los Angeles, but at the time, he was somewhere in Puerto Rico. So, we didnt get to meet in the end. But we do have conversations about NFTs.

Rubbing virtual shoulders with big names like Paul is just a regular day in the life of a crypto influencer. Zhao boasts 194,300 Twitter followers, runs her own Web3 NFT platform company, SO-COL, and globe-trots to speak at crypto conferences.

I meet a lot of cool and successful people, and they all have very interesting personalities. Otherwise, they wouldnt choose crypto as a career because its a very dynamic and very fast-paced career industry.

What led to Twitter fame?

Zhao had already built a following as a social media influencer in the Web2 space, and much like Bitcoiners orange-pilling their friends, she has introduced most of her followers to NFTs.

I have been building my own personal branding as a key opinion leader across various social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. So, right now, I have about half a million followers across all platforms.

She jumped into crypto because she wanted to have control over her own content. She was fed up with only monetizing her content by promoting products, which is how Web2 influencers make a living.

Ive built a deep connection with a lot of big brands, but it kind of sucks, because even though I have a very huge following on all other social media platforms, I dont really get most of the benefits. I dont really own my content or my community.

Zhao set up one of the first Simp DAOs, where NFT purchasers could join her Irene DAO fan club and get closer to their Simp Queen. She later spun this idea out for the SO-COL platform.

In my health is wealth era

Im so ready for the road trip with @truck_memecoin pic.twitter.com/2Wh1TqsIps

Irene Zhao (@Irenezhao_) November 1, 2023

Zhao jokingly mentions that shes a big deal in Asia but can roam under the radar in the Western world:

They recognize me, especially in Asia, but in the Western world, the white people cant really recognize Asian people. They think everybody looks the same, she laughs.

What content can people expect?

Zhao isnt a fan of the serious tone of some in the crypto world. In her perspective, those who enjoy technical or trading discussions might not necessarily be the most appealing minds in the crypto community.

I think I like the shitposting. Its pretty funny; its very entertaining to look at all the memes.

Zhao holds the belief that making crypto memes requires a bigger brain than sharing trading tips:

It is a very smart move because you have to understand the market, and you have to understand the audience to come up with the exact meme that people want. So, its a very rare talent to have.

Nasty Beef: Lady of Crypto

Zhao had a public beef with fellow crypto influencer Lady of Crypto in December 2021.

The feud lit up after Zhao lightly teased her on Twitter for dishing out a no-brainer tweet.

She was predicting the price of Bitcoin or something, but it was a super obvious trend. So, I was like, You are stating the obvious, and then she got offended.

The situation took a sour twist when Lady of Crypto fired back with some nasty comments about Zhaos English skills, saying, In your vids, you can barely string two words together.

Zhao didnt let it get to her personally and thought it was super funny.

Ever the businesswoman, Zhao was more interested in the fact that the post accumulated around 4 million impressions.

Predictions?

Zhaos predictions are pretty much in line with common, received wisdom. Shes eagerly anticipating Bitcoin to reach the $100,000 mark.

However, shes also betting big on real-world assets taking off in the next year:

Of course, Im still bullish on BTC, Ethereum and all the basics. People are talking about RWA a lot. I think real world assets are probably going to go big in the next 12 months.

She also believes that NFTs still have room for growth because plenty of celebrities havent hopped on the bandwagon yet.

I think NFTs for creators is going to be a real hype really soon because we havent really experienced it yet, she explains.

Im still bullish on social collectibles because we havent really onboarded all the Web2 creators to NFTs yet. So, I think there is still much room for that.

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Fox Business producer Eleanor Terrett’s following exploded after she began providing commentary on the SESC v. Ripple lawsuit.

Fox Business producer Eleanor Terrett says that, as she gains more recognition in the crypto community, she is becoming a prime target for social media impersonators.

So, I find myself having to tweet more often, saying, Just a reminder, guys, I dont have a private profile; I will never reach out to you, Terrett tells Magazine.

However, she warns that if youre on the hunt for the next runaway altcoin, its probably not going to be her who finds it for you.

I dont have stock trading tips or crypto trading tips, Terrett declares.

Its a pity she cant say the same for all those impersonators floating around out there: Theyre scamming people as well. There is one called Eleanor Terrett Private. They are inboxing people, saying, Subscribe to my trading strategy.

What shocked Terrett even more is that some of these followers have three, four and five thousand followers.

While it might feel kind of nice, shes genuinely curious about how these impostors manage to amass such a following pretending to be her.

Terrett has amassed over 90,000 followers through her consistent commentary on the Ripple v. SEC lawsuit.

Her fanbase is ballooning so fast that people are blowing up her DMs for paid sponsorships, just like those fancy influencers. 

But, for the moment, shes not really vibing with the idea.

I dont want to promote anything at the moment; I have an employer, and, just right now, its just not for me. Maybe one day down the line, I dont know. Maybe Ill move jobs, or Ill take up something else in the crypto space.

However, she openly acknowledges that she receives heaps of requests to partner up.

When Terrett isnt busy with her day job at Fox Business as a journalist and producer for Charlie Gasparino or seeking out the freshest crypto scoops for her followers, she enjoys giving back by spending time with animals.

I volunteer at an animal shelter on the weekends because I just love animals, and I think theyre better than people.

Yet a definite career highlight for her is receiving a cheeky follow from none other than Changpeng CZ Zhao, the CEO of Binance.

Furthermore, he gave her a shoutout and praised her social media commentary. Terrett explains that she cleared up a misconception for her Twitter (now X) followers: [I further tweeted that] CZ doesnt have to show up in person [for his court appearance]. Hes not going to be coming to the U.S. to testify. And I think he retweeted me and said, Eleanors got it right!

However, shes still keeping her fingers crossed for a follow from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong.

What led to Twitter fame?

Terrett says she only had a handful of Twitter followers before venturing into the world of crypto.

I really credit my follower growth to crypto because now Im over 90,000, which is mind-blowing to me. I look at it every day, and Im like, That is crazy.

She says it all began when pro-XRP lawyer John Deaton tagged Charlie Gasparino in a tweet, nine months after the SEC filed its lawsuit against Ripple. 

Deaton urged him to take a peek at the Ripple v. SEC case. Deaton dubbed it the biggest financial story of the century.

Terrett explains that it was her job to really dig into the case, and thats what got her hooked.

It was a rundown of the Ripple case, how it came to be, the timeline, and all the key players involved, she says.

Terrett had no idea that her ongoing updates on the SEC v. Ripple case would eventually catapult her into the spotlight within the crypto industry.

The lawsuit really got me interested in the whole space in the first place. And obviously, Ripple comes with the XRP community following, so that is sort of intertwined, she explains.

Terrett explains that her increase in followers is simply the result of gradually building trust over time:

I like to be reliable and trustworthy. So, its a cool cycle. I do good, and then people follow me. Crypto has been the catalyst for my followers, for sure.

What content can people expect?

Terrett likes to focus on the legal and regulatory side of crypto and admits she isnt really a price analyst person.

She declares that she keeps a vigilant eye on any new regulatory developments in the crypto world:

So, for me, its mostly regulation and policy. So, anything thats coming out of Washington to do with crypto, whether its the SEC, CFTC, the bills going on in Congress, its all very much from a policy standpoint.

What do you enjoy on Twitter?

Terretts passion for crypto regulations means she enjoys keeping tabs on all the big shots in the U.S. government to ensure she doesnt miss any juicy updates on whats happening:

So, its the Tom Emmers, the Bill Huizengas, Warren Davidsons people who, if theyre gonna break news, theyll probably break it on Twitter, right?

Shes also got all the crypto exchange CEOs on her Twitter radar, making sure she doesnt miss any hot gossip to share with her followers.

Predictions?

Terrett refrains from declaring any price predictions on crypto. However, you might catch an indirect hint of excitement about a crypto asset every now and then.

The day after Ripple scored a partial win against the SEC, she spilled the beans that a crypto exchange had a little hiccup, likely because of a crazy rush of people trying to buy XRP.

However, after diving headfirst into nearly every crypto-related court filing this year, shes made some predictions about the industry for the next 12 months:

I think the SEC has got a little bit of egg on its face in terms of its recent losses with crypto enforcement cases.

Just like how taking baby steps can lead to success, Terrett firmly believes that all these little crypto victories, like Ripples recent victory, will stack up over time, creating a path to a more transparent industry.

She particularly notes the recent Uniswap class action lawsuit being thrown out as a good step forward for the industry:

The judge said you cant blame software for your losses. That was sort of a landmark case in that sense. That is basically what DeFi is, right? Its software.

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Tim Draper’s first big Bitcoin prediction came off without a hitch, but he says the current administration is making his second one look bad.

Tim Draper is a prominent venture capitalist, the founder of Draper University and the creator of the Meet The Drapers television series. He invested early in Tesla, SpaceX and Coinbase and has 254,000 followers on X.

Let me get my second prediction to actually happen, and then well move on to other predictions, Tim Draper tells Hall of Flame, refusing to be drawn on price predictions for XRP and Ethereum.

This makes sense, given its been six years since he forecast that Bitcoin would reach $250,000 by 2022.

Spoiler alert: It didnt.

Which is not to say it wont happen eventually, as Draper has been pretty far-sighted in the past.

Back in 2014, Draper scooped up around 30,000 Bitcoin for $19 million after the U.S. Marshals took down Silk Road. Fast forward to today, and those Bitcoin have increased 4,165% in value to be worth a whopping $810.5 million.

Around the same time, he made a prediction that Bitcoin would reach $10,000 in three years, and lo and behold, it hit that mark in 2017.

Draper explains that he only dropped the $250,000 prediction because people kept asking after he totally nailed his first Bitcoin price guess.

The only reason Ive given the second prediction was that the first one was so good. I had a lot of pressure to put another one out there, Draper declares.

He has politely requested a deadline extension on Bitcoin reaching a quarter of a million, with a timeline that would give a university lecturer a heart attack.

Give me until the end of June next year, he says.

Draper accuses the U.S. government of messing up his price prediction. He had expected the growth of blockchain to be reminiscent of the internet era, similar to when he made his earlier investments in companies like Hotmail and Skype.

He emphasizes the significant benefit that the United States reaped by maintaining a hands-off approach to overregulating the internet.

I expected a much more light touch, the way Bill Clinton was with the internet; they said, hey, we got the internet! We regulated the internet, and Bill Clinton smartly left it alone, and it was fantastic for the whole world.

Investing Alpha

Despite the media coverage, Draper doesnt spend his days making predictions; in fact, his schedule is quite packed.

At 65 years old, he remains highly active, renowned as a serial investor who chucked cash early in companies like Tesla, SpaceX, Coinbase, and, well … Theranos.

He enjoys playing basketball because it energizes him and puts him in an investment mindset.

When I play basketball, Im thinking about how I can get the defender to move one way, and then I’ll move another, he explains.

Draper claims he possesses alpha instincts both on the basketball court and in the investment world.

Im very aggressive; if I see something I like, I go right after it, he says.

I guess as an investor, I invest like a chess move because Im always evaluating not just the entrepreneur or the idea. But what happens if it’s successful? how great could it be? What does the world look like then?

What led to Twitter Fame?

Draper started with a very modest Twitter following.

I think I had one Twitter follower, and it was my mother, he jokes.

While you might assume that one of Drapers investments or media appearances helped his following to skyrocket, he describes his growth as very natural, attributing it to the content he has been consistently posting over the years, which has kept people coming back for more.

He is proud of how truly organic his following is.

I think I have the most steady increase of Twitter followers of any influencer, he declares.

What type of content can people expect?

Draper isnt here to clutter up his followers feeds with nonsense.

Hes all about adding a little sprinkle of value to their lives, and he sticks to only posting about three times a week.

I tend to post where its something I feel like people should see or where one of my startups has done something extraordinary, and I want to promote them, he explains.

What content does Tim Draper like?

Within the 2,400 accounts he follows on Twitter, he relies on a select group of trusted people to keep him informed about the crypto industry.

Among his trusted crew are Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen and Silicon Valley investors Brad and Bart Stephens.

Tim Draper predictions

Draper is backing his 250,000 Bitcoin prediction so hard that if it doesnt hit, hell bow out of predictions altogether.

If it’s not $250,000 or higher, then dont listen to me ever again on that kind of prediction, he laughs.

When questioned about the chances of a Bitcoin ETF getting approved, he doesnt sound hopeful.

It might have to wait for [Republican candidate] Nikki Haley to be president, he declares.

Maybe its the cushy relationship they have with banks, maybe it’s the fact that they have uncertainty about it. Maybe a lot of our government is pretty old, maybe theyre just out of touch. But they’re missing something very, very important for the good of society, and I’m hoping they all come around.

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Gracy Chen is managing director of crypto exchange Bitget and judge of Web3 reality show Killer Whales.

Gracy Chen, managing director of global cryptocurrency exchange Bitget, advised her followers and friends not to scan their eyeballs in exchange for a few Worldcoin tokens.

Theres a huge privacy concern, she tells Magazine, adding that she isnt optimistic about its price prospects given the anticipated influx of WLD tokens in the near future.

There will be much more released in the upcoming year or two, she explains.

Chen admits that her gig with Bitget is pretty cool, but it also means her American pals constantly bug her for favors.

Since we stopped onboarding U.S. customers, Ive had lots of friends who hold a U.S. passport ask if they can get a little back way to open an account.

I refuse a lot of requests like that. It is a red line that we just dont cross, Chen says. 

Before she started steering strategy at Bitget, Chen worked as an anchor and producer at Phoenix TVs tech and finance channel, a major player in Chinas media scene. 

However, a billion-dollar idea came knocking and quickly led Chen away from journalism.

In 2015, she co-founded a tax startup designed for freelancers, and it skyrocketed to unicorn status in just three years.

Its a financial tech company. So, what they do is they provide services for freelancers. They serve the freelancers and provide taxation and salary automation services, she says.

However, one of her proudest achievements was having football legend Lionel Messi join the Bitget team as a partner.

Chen says Messi faced stiff competition from many candidates, but Bitget ultimately selected him due to his paternal qualities and similarities with the exchange. 

He had a good reputation as a father, husband and team leader, and also we kind of see some similarity between Bitget and Messi, she states.

Chen says that Bitget started in a bear market, and similarly, Messi suffered from growth hormone deficiency when he was young and first starting out in the sport.

Hes not tall. He is at a disadvantage, so he had a very hard starting point as well.

What led to Twitter fame?

Chen explains that she discovered her love for Twitter, now X, only after snagging her high-ranking crypto position.

My Twitter following began in crypto. I guess I wasnt really active on Twitter when I was a journalist because I was mainly covering the Asian market and reporting in Mandarin, says.

Chen has a very friendly-natured approach to X, explaining breaking events in broken-down, easy-to-understand threads for her followers.

However, she observes that her Twitter following surges during the same periods Bitgets business activity spikes.

My followers grew during a certain period of time, from the end of last year to earlier this year. Thats a period of time when I see a singularity point where you see exponential growth, and thats also when we had growth in our company.

So, I would contribute my success or any sort of achievement or following number mainly to Bitgets growth, she adds.

What type of Twitter content can you expect?

Chens Twitter account offers serious variety. Youll get a glimpse into her jet-setting escapades, and who knows, you might even stumble upon some wild travel inspiration. 

But when the crypto world goes haywire whether its lawsuits, exchanges going down or everything in between Chen serves up honest breakdowns in bite-sized portions.

What type of content do you like?

Chen has mixed feelings about Twitter, thinking it can sometimes become a raucous battleground.

Twitter is basically a very noisy place. Everyone is changing their opinions and trying to be attention grabbers, Chen declares.

She reveals that she enjoys seeing updates from Altcoin Daily and Coin Bureau, but she advises hardcore Crypto Twitter addicts to tear their eyes away from the screen every now and then.

I would highly recommend anyone who is a heavy user of crypto information on Twitter to spend at least one hour or two away from social media and do fundamental research and talk to a group of trustworthy friends.

Predictions

Chen firmly believes that Bitcoin exchange-traded funds are on the path to approval, though 2023 might not be the year it happens.

Not this year we only have three months left this year. Maybe early 2024, she predicts.

She hints that it could be a very good driving force for the next bull market. 

When it comes to Coinbase and Binances showdown against the SEC, Chen suggests Coinbase might be in safe waters but Binance could be in for a rollercoaster.

I personally think that Coinbase is a pretty well-regulated, U.S.-driven crypto exchange, so the lawsuits might be settled by some fines. As for the SEC vs. Binance, it is much trickier.

However, she is confident that Binances legal warriors will put up a good fight:

I think they have a very, very big and strong legal team to battle this fight.

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Irina Heaver moved to crypto after she could no longer “sit in the boardroom listening to that corporate bullshit.“

I live in Switzerland. I have guns at home. Anybody who shows up at my home with violent intentions risks being literally shot at, Heaver warns altcoiners who send her death threats online.

Speaking to Magazine, Heaver explains that she blames memecoin founders for fueling the fiery users on Crypto Twitter.

I mean, theres so much responsibility on these community leaders and altcoin leaders. Theyre egging on their followers to send threats and intimidate people, Heaver declares.

As a prominent crypto lawyer in Dubai and Switzerland, Heaver has 41,200 followers more than your average lawyer. Though not as famous as your Buterins and Heilperns, its still fairly impressive considering she has a care-free attitude toward it:

If somehow they cancel me, I will continue posting on LinkedIn because I have a huge following on LinkedIn.

Heaver is a self-proclaimed Bitcoin maxi who speaks at crypto conferences all over the world. She says that most of the threats she gets online are because she warns people to steer clear of dodgy altcoins. 

When a token founder gets sued or faces legal action, she unpacks the legal jargon and spills the tea to her followers.

Most recently, she was a target of the Hex community after founder Richard Heart was hit with a lawsuit.

I had people sending death threats against my children, saying they know which kindergarten they go to, she says.

Heaver states she works with law enforcement to bust scammy memecoins projects.

Before jumping into crypto in 2016, Heaver worked as a lawyer in the oil and gas industry for 13 years.

I was general counsel of the largest shipping group in the world, and I just couldnt do it anymore. I couldnt sit in the boardroom listening to that corporate bullshit.

Heaver explains that her colleagues couldnt believe she ditched her well-paying lawyer gig to work in the crypto industry. She recalls them telling her it was just filled with money launderers and drug dealers.

What led to Heavers Twitter fame?

Heaver brought her old Twitter account back to life around a year ago, even though she has had it for almost a decade.

In July last year, I started posting for the first time, although my Twitter account is very old. I joined in 2014.

I made a conscious decision to post once a day, Heaver says, despite not expecting to rack up any followers.

She explains that while she takes her crypto work with governments in the Middle East and Eastern Europe very seriously, Twitter is just a bit of fun for her.

She figures thats probably why online threats aimed at her make the senders so furious  she just couldnt give a damn.

What type of content do you do?

Heaver believes the crypto community gets way more pumped up for fun and easygoing content than all the heavy-duty stuff.

Every time I post something very meaningful and very intelligent about the laws and very meaningful analysis, I get two likes. I get a lot more posting fun content and just making jokes and actually being myself.

Heaver says her content is pretty chill, and she likes to give insights into her interesting life, whether shooting a rifle or hiking in Switzerland.

But every so often, she will let you know about the latest person or government she has orange-pilled.

What type of content do you like?

Heaver reveals that her Twitter feed is a blend of Bitcoin-only accounts and various political commentators.

She explains that she finds political commentary more interesting than tracking crypto prices. She asserts that in the grand scheme of things, broader political decisions hold greater significance than coins pumping 1,000x.

I follow a lot of political commentary. That actually interests me more than which coin is doing what, because it doesnt matter which coin does what on the biggest scale of things. What matters is the political direction.

She particularly enjoys content from Swan Bitcoins Cory Klippsten, Bitcoin Archive and the Elon Musk (Parody) account. 

Heavers predictions for major exchanges

As for the ongoing lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase brought forth by the SEC, Heaver anticipates both will settle without acknowledging any sort of wrongdoing on their part, and the SEC will leave them alone.

Heaver reveals this stems from her inside knowledge of how the SEC operates, gained during her time in the oil and gas industry.

She recalls a specific Swiss company she worked with, engaged in business in the Middle East, that drew the attention of U.S. regulators.

Heaver explains that the SEC and DOJ decided that they have jurisdiction over this company and basically chased them for seven years.

The outcome was a $250 million settlement and the company denying any fault. Heaver emphasizes that it was a pretty sweet payday for regulators:

Thats how they get their budgets. Thats how they get the money to pay the salaries and God knows what on the Christmas bonuses.

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Crypto Banter host Ran Neuner takes aim at Ripple and FatMan Terra, tips his hat to ZachXBT and explains his young kids can read charts.

Ran Neuner is the CEO of Onchain Capital, founder of Crypto Banter, and a vocal crypto commentator on X. 

Crypto Banters Ran Neuner has a problem with the structure of XRP and Ripple.

While he appreciates Ripple sticking it to the SEC, he is hung up on the moral and ethical side of things with Ripple.

He thinks Ripple is giving a bad deal to those holding XRP.

Here is a centralized company that was selling tokens to fund the operations of a CENTRALIZED company for the benefit of the shareholders and not necessarily for the benefit of the tokenholders. I have an issue with that morally and ethically.

Eventually, the shareholders are going to get dividends it is despicable, Neuner tells Magazine.

Neuner isnt afraid to go against the norm and speak his mind. It is a trait that has helped him accumulate over 720,200 Twitter (now X) followers. Not that hes bothered by follower numbers:

To be honest, I dont really care about the growth. I use Twitter as a platform to tell people what I think. Its uncensored, unfiltered, and its not for everyone, says Neuner.

Neuner serves as the CEO and co-founder of Onchain Capital, a crypto investment fund and consulting service. He also co-hosts a daily live broadcast on the Crypto Banter YouTube channel to hundreds of thousands of people.

Somehow, he still manages to also host a two-hour live Twitter Space session on a daily basis and he has four children under the age of eight.

His kids know that dad is involved in the world of broadcasting and have picked up chart reading skills by osmosis. 

I woke up on Saturday, the market was all green, my son said, Oh oh, all the bubbles are green, does that mean you have to go to work today?

What led to Twitter Fame?

Neuner says he started a Twitter account for work.

I started my Twitter account when I started the first televised crypto show in the world [Crypto Trader] on CNBC. I needed a Twitter account. In the beginning, I had reasonably fast growth, he tells Magazine.

Despite lacking a formal growth strategy, Neuner now sees a constant flow of followers thanks to his daily live broadcasts on YouTube and his regular sessions on Twitter Spaces.

It is a great place to test your opinion, and it is a great outlet when I feel strongly about something. I rally people in the community.

Twitter Beefs

Spicy Beef: FatMan Terra

Neuner isnt a fan of anonymous sleuth FatMan Terra.

He hides behind an avatar, no one knows who he is well, we know exactly who he is, Neuner says.

FatMan Terra began investigating Neuner over his ties to Terraform Labs, shortly after its native token, LUNA, collapsed.

He believes he can just spread misinformation to create narratives and stories about people, says Neuner.

Neuner says that during a bear market, people are always looking for someone to blame, and FatMan Terra targeting influential people does more damage than he thinks.

We get threats all the time because of his actions, Neuner explains.

Beef with pleasant aftertaste: ZachXBT

Neuner has had a wild ride with crypto scam investigator ZachXBT but admits that he is still a fan of him at the end of the day.

Even in my worst times of being attacked by ZachXBT, I believe the service that ZachXBT does is a really valuable service in the community, Neuner declares.

Neuner explains that he ended up in a mediation process with ZachXBT after the investigator accused him of pumping and dumping on his followers. Neuner was considering suing because of the damage he sustained.

In the mediation, we showed him his tweets and allegations were wrong, and he was man enough to write a thread about it saying he is wrong.

What type of content do you do?

Most of his content is crypto-related and occasional veers into financial advice:

90% of my tweets are crypto-related, Neuner explains, adding that the other 10% is complaining about bad culture.

I have a passion for good service. I have a complete dislike for getting bad service. So, I hate flying on any type of American airline. They dont want your business.

What content do you like?

Neuner explains he much prefers to follow people whom he disagrees with.

The more people you hate on your Twitter feed, the better your experience will be. This is because Twitter becomes an echo chamber, and markets love echo chambers. Surround yourself with people you dont agree with they will show you why you dont agree with them.

Adam Cochran and Cory Klippsten are a couple of good examples. Cochran is a neurotic, hysterical person who acts like everything is the end of the world. 

Neuner cant stand reading his tweets but forces himself to anyway. Klippsten, meanwhile, seems to think he is the chief Bitcoiner.

He genuinely believes that he is the CEO of Bitcoin and has more of a share of Bitcoin than anyone else. I listen to him to understand what the Bitcoin Maxis are thinking.

But there are accounts he follows for useful and insightful market commentary.

If I want on-chain analysis, Ill go to Dylan LeClair or Will Clemente, Neuner says.

Predictions?

Neuner thinks that the raging bull markets era is finished, blaming it on regulatory uncertainty.

There is less money in because of regulation uncertainty, [so the next bull run] will not be as violent. We will have a slow, sustained market, he says.

He hints that it might be wise to keep a close eye on Solana, Aptos, Sui and Ethereum as potential game changers. Its probably going to be one of them, he says.

If I was going to put my money on one of them, Id say Sui over Aptos. I think technically, the people working there are better.

Neuner explains the whole space is still waiting for that one killer application to get mass adoption for blockchain.

If we get an app where we get 500 million retail people not knowing it is on a blockchain, whatever app that blockchain is written on, is going to fly to the moon, he predicts.

That could be the moment where overnight we see one go from $29 to $290, Neuner adds.

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Former globe-trotting DJ Scott Melker — The Wolf Of All Streets — worries about the circumstances leading to Bitcoin topping $1 million.

Scott Melker is the host of The Wolf Of All Streets Podcast and author of The Wolf Den newsletter.

If I tweeted about a small cap [crypto] of some sort right now, the price would probably change by like 50%, says Scott Melker, better known to his 904,800 Twitter followers as The Wolf Of All Streets.

Melker says he takes this responsibility seriously and wont share tweets that might impact the market but this makes Twitter a lot more boring from his end. In fact, Melker declares that Twitter stopped being fun when he reached 100,000 followers.

Thats when I went through a phase of a real love-hate relationship with Twitter because thats when I guess 10% of the people who respond to comments were trolling at any given time.

All you can really post to 900,000 followers is Bitcoin and inspirational quotes because everything else will land you in hot water. 

After graduating from Penn State University with an Anthropology degree in 1999, Melker tried his hand at a million other things finding the most success in his 20-year stint as a DJ.

Shortly after finishing university, he also started his own magazine in Philadelphia called 101 Magazine, focusing on street culture and city vibes.

It caught the attention of a huge magazine called Frank 151, which acquired it, and Melker became the editor-in-chief of both. 

During that time, he had the opportunity to attend insane parties and rub shoulders with legendary acts like the Wu-Tang Clan and Outcast.

The music industry led him to try crypto trading in the first place.

I just happened to look into crypto because there was a bunch of DJs trading it, he says.

He first started trading on the Gemini crypto exchange in 2016 and recalls buying Bitcoin to send it to another exchange, Bittrex, so he could buy Ethereum and Ripple. ETH was under 20 bucks back then, he notes in a cheeky humble brag.

Rather than some lofty higher purpose, he says the main attraction was making cold hard cash.  

I was really just trading, trying to make money to support a new family; it had nothing to do with what Bitcoin was or what the asset class was.

What led to Twitter fame?

Melker initially started stacking up followers when he was trading the market well and posting about it on Twitter. At that point in time, his content was 100% charts and trades. 

However, Melker didnt want his account to be based on trades because its fickle.

So, he transitioned toward a more holistic approach to his content within the crypto industry.

I would love to tell you there was some strategy that I took to grow my account, but it was always just me doing whatever I enjoyed doing the most at any given time.

Melker has observed a direct correlation between his follower growth and the performance of the crypto market.

During previous bull markets, he has experienced an insane influx of daily followers. 

There was a time when I was getting a hundred thousand [followers] in two months, he says.

Melker used to literally respond to everybody who commented on his tweets or messaged him, but that ship has now sailed.

Thats like a full-time job, and then you just get to the point where you literally cant open all your DMs anymore, he says.

But its best not to refer to him as an influencer.

I hate the term influencer because, to me, Im just a student of crypto, and its something Im passionate about and want to learn more about.

What type of content do you do?

Melkers content revolves around crypto news and keeping people up-to-date with whats happening in the market.

He likes to share his take on whats important, and whats kind of noise and not signal.

[My content includes] all the lessons that Ive learned in my streams and podcasts, but I would say its generally educational/informational content about this market.

Melker emphasizes the overwhelming pressure he faces whenever he decides to fire off a tweet, considering how many followers he has amassed on Twitter.

Twitter is like a movie where you throw a grenade in a room and walk away, and theres a huge explosion behind you. Thats how I feel every time I send a tweet now, Melker says.

Extreme beef: Gary Gensler

Melker is not a fan of United States Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler. 

He admits that his Twitter is filled with many angry tweets against Gensler. 

I literally contributed to aggressively getting #firegarygensler trending on Twitter, he declares.

He explains that his problem with Gensler is his recent regulatory actions, which he perceives as a massive overcorrection targeting crypto firms. 

He believes that it stems from a sense of embarrassment over the fact Gensler was meeting with Sam Bankman-Fried before the collapse of FTX and didnt realize he was a fraud.

Spicy beef: ZachXBT

ZachXBT, a pseudonymous on-chain researcher, accused Melker of pumping and dumping shit coins to his followers in 2021. It was a troubling time for Melker, who received threats and became the target of white-hot anger.

Melker vehemently refuted the claims and announced he would steer clear of tweeting about projects with small market caps altogether.

Melker says he doesnt want his audience to get the wrong idea and prefers to focus on the educational stuff. He reiterates that he was passionate about trading altcoins, but says it can be difficult to navigate the boundaries of what you should and shouldnt talk about as your following grows.

You dont just show up with 900,000 followers one day and understand what you can and cannot tweet about.

Price predictions?

Theres nothing that makes you look dumber than a price prediction, Melker states. He should know, given he took an optimistic swing at predicting Ethereum would hit five figures in 2021.

However, he is bullish on Bitcoin hitting six figures in the next bull run.

I think the next cycle would be somewhere between 100 (thousand) and 250 (thousand), he declares. 

But Melker believes that after that, the market will see another huge decline before it hits half a million.

Then we drop down to 60 (thousand), and its boring forever. Then, we pop up to half a million, like we continue these four-year cycles.

However, Melker doesnt want to live in a world where Bitcoin is a million dollars.

The faster it happens, the worse the world is, Melker says.

Because if Bitcoin goes to a million dollars. It means that everything else has exploded, including the United States dollar, and were living in some Mad Max dystopian future.

Where you and I are those guys without faces painted going to gas town, fighting off the enemies, he describes, referring to the 2015 movie Mad Max: Fury Road.

But maybe in a couple of decades.

I would like to see Bitcoin at a million dollars in 20 years, following reasonable cycles, he adds.

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Coin Stories host Natalie Brunell explains why she doesn’t want her own prediction of a new Bitcoin ATH within two years to come true.

Coin Stories host Natalie Brunell who has 302,600 followers on Twitter recalls feeling very tense before meeting with Salvadoran President and Bitcoin maximalist Nayib Bukele in March 2022.

It was very formal, there were guards outside his office. What is funny is it felt very formal outside of his actual office. Then you walk in, and hes very warm, very gracious and very humble, she says.

Brunell was blown away by Bukeles knowledge of Bitcoin.

He was very educated and well-read on the topic of Bitcoin and economic theory, and he seemed to genuinely want positive change for his country through expanding monetary freedom.

Brunell, who is also the host of the Hard Money show, took an unconventional approach to get the meeting, relying on the power of memes suggesting Bitcoiners will all end up working at McDonalds every time the price goes down so she put out a call on Twitter asking which McDonalds she could find Bukele at.

Surprisingly, it worked out very well.

Brunell used to work as an investigative journalist covering politics, particularly public corruption and public officials engaging in things like bribery and manipulation. But as Bitcoin is trustless, she points out theres no actual need to trust politicians who embrace it.

Im naturally skeptical of politicians, especially because of my news background. […] I think its a very powerful statement that hes chosen to make sure its legal tender and protected in El Salvador.

Despite her best efforts, Brunells attempt to contact ARK Invests Cathie Wood using the same method proved to be unsuccessful in June.

What led to Twitter fame?

Brunell never imagined that her follower count would blow up in the way that it has.

I think the biggest shock, honestly, was when I reached 100,000 followers because I didnt intend for the Bitcoin and the podcast work to be my full-time job.

She reckons she was so caught up in her obsession with Bitcoin that when her Twitter follower count reached six figures, it caught her by surprise.

Im really passionate about Bitcoin, and I love teaching people about Bitcoin, and I love interviewing people about the topic, and I didnt know what would happen. So when that following was reached, I was really grateful.

What type of content can I expect?

The majority of her content is a lot about Bitcoin.

Whether she is dishing out her opinions on the latest developments, sharing video interviews of cool people in the space, or calling on prominent Bitcoiners to join her on her podcast, Brunells Twitter is a one-stop shop for all things Bitcoin.

However, theres a wholesome vibe to her Twitter content thats missing on some of the other orange-pilled accounts.

I try to keep it real and try to keep it positive, and I try to talk about the things that can really be fixed in our society. And a lot of it can be fixed with Bitcoin.

What content do you enjoy on Twitter?

Brunell says that she loves the Twitter content from prominent Bitcoiners such as MicroStrategys Michael Saylor, economist Lyn Alden, Bitcoin advocate Jeff Booth and Bitcoin Fundamentals host Preston Pysh.

They are generous with their knowledge, and Im grateful to learn from them, she says.

I am a fan of Bitcoin memes, and I love how genuinely clever some accounts are in this space, she says.

Price predictions?

Brunell predicts that Bitcoin will face a lot of headwinds over the next six to 12 months, but believes it will hit six figures and new all-time highs within the next 24 months.

While many cannot wait for the return of the bull market, Brunell finds herself in a slightly different boat.

I dont want Bitcoin to hit an ATH anytime soon because I didnt start stacking until 2017 and I always want to stack more.

However, she is pretty excited about the recent developments with Bitcoin ETFs. 

What is different this time is the entities applying for the ETFs are not crypto-native companies, but rather respected institutions like BlackRock and Fidelity that are deeply ingrained into the traditional financial system.

This could create a major on-ramp for institutions and retail investors, allowing them to easily gain exposure to Bitcoin, Brunell says.

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Podcaster Peter McCormack has a love/hate relationship with Twitter and admits he can sometimes be “a dick to other people” online.

What Bitcoin Did podcaster Peter McCormack admits that he has a weird relationship with Twitter, as he believes it brings out the worst in people.

Hes worked hard to build up more than half a million followers to promote his show but still isnt sure that Twitter is a net positive because it elevates a lot of stupidity out of people. And he includes himself in that assessment.

I can feel myself being a dick to other people [on Twitter]. Like, I criticize it and then realize Im a hypocrite for doing it myself, he says.

Hes more of a fan of podcasting, though, and his insightful interviews with A-list guests, such as MicroStrategys Michael Saylor, ARK Invests Cathie Wood and analyst Lyn Alden, have seen him amass 1 million listeners a month.

Also read: The wealthiest time of my life was the most miserable: Peter McCormack

McCormack fell into podcasting by pure accident after spending two decades in digital marketing, as well as a stint running his own agency. He got the itch for it while listening to health guru Rich Rolls podcast and decided he wanted to have the same job.

McCormack slid into Rolls DMs and managed to score some free coaching out of it.

I went to an event of his, and he said to stay in touch if youre ever in LA. So, I was in LA, [and messaged him], Well hi, I am here. How do I do this podcast thing? And he mentored me.

McCormacks hustling paid off in spades with What Bitcoin Did growing to become one of the best-known Bitcoin podcasts in the entire industry. The enormous success hes enjoyed brought on all kinds of pressure, as hes now an employer responsible for a small business. 

There are now seven people that work on this podcast I dont want to fuck this up. Thats seven salaries that are relying on this, he says.

McCormack is fast becoming responsible for parts of his humble hometown of Bedford.

With a population just shy of 200,000, this small U.K. town has made its mark on the global Bitcoin map, all because McCormack decided to buy the local football club in 2021.

McCormack renamed the club to Real Bedford FC, and fans can pay for merchandise, tickets and drinks with Bitcoin. He bought the local watering hole in Bedford, too.

I just bought a bar in Bedford.
It is called The Auction Room, come down for a beer if you are nearby pic.twitter.com/1CXScWyJ2o

Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) April 6, 2023

According to McCormack, his brother believes he is treating Bedford like a Monopoly board, slowly buying up the town. But thats not how he sees it.

I think it is more that I want my town to do well, and I want the people of my town to do well. Ive traveled the world doing this podcast, and now I want to build businesses in my hometown and support my hometown.

What led to Twitter fame?

McCormack doesnt believe there is any secret to building a following on Twitter, other than just working your bollocks off.

I just worked very hard over the last six years and was as open-minded as I can in regards to Bitcoin and politics, he says. This paid off in 2021 when he was invited to meet with El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele, to discuss Bitcoin.

I was honoured to be invited to the El Salvadorian Presidential Palace to meet with President @nayibbukele.

We discussed #bitcoin, volcano mining and the opportunity for the people of this great country.

This project is the real deal. pic.twitter.com/WJYWhm0o6O

Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) June 15, 2021

So, on balance, he can see that Twitter has both good and bad elements. Its good for promoting the football club and things Im working on its also a pain in the arse as well, he says.

What type of content can you expect?

McCormack explains that his Twitter content is mainly Bitcoin and football and makes it clear that hes not everyones cup of tea.

If youre into Bitcoin and you like football, it totally works. The whole thing works. But if you dont like football, I think the football is actually a net negative to what Im doing. Theyre like, I dont give a fuck about this football stuff.

Learned a lot about running a football club in a short amount of time.

The biggest thing is how it feels like everyone wants you to fail.

Very much looking forward to proving people wrong.

Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) December 22, 2021

A died-in-the-wool Bitcoiner, he regrets ever dabbling in other cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin is the only one I care about; I dont need to pay attention to all this other shit, he says.

McCormack is an interesting character politically, however, as he cant be neatly boxed into the left or right side of the political spectrum. For him, he takes each issue on its merits.

I personally try to not be ideologically trapped. I dont care if you have a conservative or progressive opinion. If I agree, I agree with it. If I dont, I dont.

Twitter Beefs:

Captain Beef: Richard Heart

McCormack recently got sent a bag of shit in the post with a message claiming Peter McCormack and Eric Wall are scammers.

He blames Richard Heart and his fucking Hex morons, admitting that he hasnt shied away from his thoughts on Heart and his HEX project in the past.

Im not a fan of what he does [] I get a lot of shit from them, and now I get literal shit.

Someone literally went to the effort of putting a bag of shit in the post and sending it to me with the note:
Peter McCormack and Eric Wall are scammers, signed Pulsechain.

Lovely.

Get control of your people @RichardHeartWin.

cc @ercwl #HEX pic.twitter.com/IYX2XBtGSo

Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) May 31, 2023

McCormack reveals that his son, who is responsible for collecting the mail from his office, was the unfortunate one who had to open the package, leaving him quite shaken by the ordeal.

I get sent some cool things sometimes. My son didnt know what this [bag of shit] meant. He said this isnt cool, what else can they send you?

What content do you enjoy?

McCormack isnt afraid to admit he likes the memes from time to time.

He is also a big fan of economist Lyn Aldens macro stuff, as well as Human Rights Foundation chief strategy officer Alex Gladstein.

Who doesnt love Lyn Alden? https://t.co/3w1F2lyUOd

Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) August 4, 2021

Future outlook:

McCormack is down on CBDCs, which he thinks are bullshit, dystopian surveillance tech for mass control.

He reckons that regulators need to stop fucking interfering with lives [and getting] in the way of work.

As for forecasting Bitcoins price, McCormack doesnt typically make bold predictions. 

In fact, he is quite the opposite.

When asked about Bitcoins price direction in the next 12 months, McCormacks response resembles that of a seasoned politician: Up, down, or sideways [] youre not getting that from me!

Bitcoin will eventually recover; we will do another lap around the Bitcoin Monopoly Board.

Depends, I think I have only done one actual price prediction show which specifically talked about why #bitcoin can hit $500k. I think it is better to say that trading shows did the best. Macro shows also do really well.

Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) June 20, 2022

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Layah Heilpern has attracted a big following for her no-bullshit take on Bitcoin. Weirdly, in a former life she worked for China state media.

Author of Undressing Bitcoin: A Revealing Guide to the Worlds Most Revolutionary Asset and host of The Layah Heilpern Show.

Author, podcaster and crypto influencer Layah Heilperns unapologetic and sometimes controversial tweets have amassed her an impressive 606,900 Twitter followers.

She tells Hall of Flame she fearlessly speaks the truth about things and admires others who do likewise. 

Unlike many influencers represented by fancy talent agencies, Heilpern decided to keep it all in the family by hiring her brother Gideon as her manager.

Theres no one I trust more in this world than my brother. I can rely on him 100%, Heilpern says.

Heilpern says she has great parents and isnt shy about letting the world know her mother is more attractive than Madonna. (Although thats no longer as impressive as it once was.)

Before achieving fame in the world of crypto, she had an interesting stint working as a journalist for Chinese state media, when she briefly became a business and finance correspondent for a China Central Television offshoot in 2019.

I used to work with Chinas Global TV network, so I actually used to be a journalist for the Chinese government, she reveals, adding that working there took micromanagement on an entirely new level:

I did one report on Huawei technology. I had all the Chinese people around me checking what I was saying and what I wasnt saying. So, were instructed to make it a fluff piece rather than an actual good report. 

However, she threw her career in state-sponsored journalism out the window when she fell down the crypto rabbit hole.

Heilpern became obsessed with the subject and even published a book called Undressing Bitcoin: A Revealing Guide to the Worlds Most Revolutionary Asset in 2021 despite admitting she was always terrible at English in school.

As for her career highlight so far? She says nothing has topped interviewing the big wig of the worlds largest crypto exchange. [Hall of Flame interviewed Heilpern prior to the SEC’s recent slew of allegations about CZ and Binance.]

[A career highlight for me is] interviewing CZ at the Binance blockchain event in Dubai where I was the host and MC for the whole conference. CZ is one of the most powerful people in crypto and one of the greatest innovators. Interviewing him on stage was incredible.

It seems that Heilpern made a positive impression on CZ, too, as they often can be seen engaging in banter on Twitter.

What led to Layah Heilpern’s Twitter fame?

Heilpern has been on Twitter for over a decade and explains there is no shortcut to growing a fanbase other than actually putting in the work.

When you tweet every day, you tend to build a following. I think its also because I speak the truth about certain things. I think people are thirsty for the truth whatever the truth might be.

She explains that the more followers you have, the easier it is to build more followers because you have credibility.

I can gain 50,000 followers in one month, whereas that could take somebody like two years to do. So, it sort of becomes quite rapid growth eventually, she says.

But the fame side of things doesnt really excite Heilpern.

What can you expect on Heilpern’s Twitter account?

Heilpern doesnt want to sugar-coat it: Her content is not for everyone.

Its very much freedom orientated. Its very much anti-system, Bitcoin-focused, uplifting, and positive, personal responsibility, she explains.

She doesnt feel the need to appeal to everyone either.

I speak very unapologetically; I think there is just a gap in the market for that. So, people just run to you, she says.

Heilpern says that, as her audience grows, she does have to be more cautious about the impact of her words and to be more mindful of her safety.

My words have more weight, so I cant make as many jokes anymore. But I still try not to censor myself too much. I also have to be careful about sharing personal information, which I will be doing less of.

That being said, Heilpern has no problem taking shots at multibillion-dollar corporations.

What Heilpern enjoys on Twitter

Heilpern enjoys like-minded people on Twitter who speak the truth about things whether that is in crypto or politics she just craves honesty and hates bullshit. 

I like people who call out the bullshit that we see in the system. I dont like people who pander to their audience. I like people who are unapologetic and say things how they are.

Layah Heilpern’s price predictions

Heilperns Bitcoin price prediction for the remainder of 2023 isnt exactly going to have you jumping out of your seat.

Over the next six months towards the end of 2023, I would say were just going to continue to move sideways. I dont think were going to go any higher than $34,000$35,000, she says.

However, she is optimistic about Bitcoin over what the next 1224 months can bring.

I mean, maybe at the end of 2024, we could potentially reach all-time highs, again around $69,000, but that is not financial advice, she says.

Heilpern says Bitcoin could hit $100,000 in early 2025.

While Heilpern cant remember if it was Bitcoin or XRP that she bought first, she does admit that she sold the XRP immediately.

I dont really have any predictions for the other [cryptocurrencies]. I just think theyre all very unpredictable shitcoins, she states.

As for Ethereum, Heilpern doesnt see the price dropping anytime soon but has no interest in it.

The price of Ethereum will continue to rise in my opinion, given how much is being built on it. However, I dont like Ethereum, as I think its controlled by the elites and not decentralized.

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