Judge orders YouTuber ‘BitBoy Crypto’ to appear and address alleged harassment

April 13, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Ben Armstrong was ordered to appear in a Florida court to address allegations he threatened and harassed lawyers behind a class-action lawsuit against him and other crypto influencers.

A federal magistrate judge has signed an order requiring BitBoy Crypto YouTuber Ben Armstrong to appear in Florida as part of a status conference related to a lawsuit involving several crypto influencers.

In an April 12 filing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Judge Melissa Damian ordered Armstrong and his counsel to appear on April 20 along with the legal team representing the influencers. According to the order, the conference was aimed at bringing awareness of “Armstrong’s harassment towards plaintiffs’ counsel.”

Armstrong, along with several other YouTubers, were named in a $1-billion lawsuit filed on March 15 for allegedly promoting “FTX crypto fraud without disclosing compensation.” Adam Moskowitz, representing plaintiff Edwin Garrison and others in the class-action lawsuit, has claimed that Armstrong harassed the legal team with “endless phone calls, tweets and emails,” voicemails “full of vulgarities,” and social media posts suggesting threats.

An April 5 filing showing cause for a hearing with Armstrong detailed “daily violent threats” by the YouTuber in addition to responses to emails with threats and insults before being served with process papers. The legal team also reported in a March 20 filing that one of Armstrong’s voicemails included the YouTuber allegedly threatening to surround Moskowitz’s home with protesters “24/7 day and night.”

“The scope of the attacks (including death threats), which examples are provided in those filings and which continue on a daily basis since, necessitated Undersigned Counsel to open an FBI investigation into Armstrong, as well as the investigation files by local police authorities for Plaintiffs’ counsel and their families,” said Moskowitz.

Twitter posts from Armstrong claimed the original lawsuit regarding disclosure of compensation from FTX had “absolutely no merit.” The crypto influencer is no stranger to online controversy, regularly insulting high-profile figures, including European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde and being generally dismissive of the class-action lawsuit.

So let me get this straight… Adam Moskowitz frivolously attaches me falsely as a paid promoter of FTX, a site where people lot EVERYTHING… many lost life savings. Many on brink of suicide.

And this fragile pussy claims he is the one scared and at risk because I call him names.
— Ben Armstrong (@Bitboy_Crypto) April 6, 2023

In August 2022, Armstrong filed a defamation suit against YouTuber Erling Mengshoel Jr. — also known as Atozy — in response to a video Mengshoel posted claiming that “This YouTuber scams his fans… Bitboy Crypto.” Armstrong dropped the lawsuit after Mengshoel raised more than $200,000 in a campaign for his defense in less than 24 hours.

Magazine: Get your money back: The weird world of crypto litigation

Jake Paul-endorsed SafeMoon gets hacked after introducing a bug in upgrade

March 29, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Coin Telegraph

A public burn() function introduced in the latest upgrade allegedly allows users to burn tokens from other addresses.

SafeMoon, a project previously endorsed by A-list celebrities and social influencers such as Jake Paul and Soulja Boy, announced its liquidity pool (LP) was compromised. Without revealing further details about the attack, SafeMoon confirmed undertaking steps “to resolve the issue as soon as possible.”

Just like many other crypto projects in 2021, SafeMoon was backed by numerous celebrities. However, a lawsuit from Feb. 2022 alleged that musicians such as Nick Carter, Soulja Boy, Lil Yachty and YouTubers Jake Paul and Ben Phillips mimicked real-life Ponzi schemes by misleading investors to purchase SafeMoon (SFM) tokens under the pretext of unrealistic profits.

*Jake Paul promoting SafeMoon token in 2021. Source: Twitter*

Investigating the SafeMoon hack shows that the attacker made away with approximately 27,000 BNB (BNB), worth $8.9 million. SafeMoon has not yet responded to Cointelegraph’s request for comment. Moreover, users have been barred from posting comments on the announcement that revealed the LP compromise.

To the @SAFEMOON community: We want to inform you that our LP has been compromised.

We are taking swift action in an attempt to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Follow here for updates.

Thank you for your support as we work to address this situation.
— SafeMoon (@safemoon) March 28, 2023

Blockchain investigator Peckshield narrowed the problem to a recent software upgrade as a potential culprit that introduced the bug. A public burn() function introduced in the latest upgrade allegedly allows users to burn tokens from other addresses.

As explained by community member DeFi Mark, the attacker used the vulnerability to remove SFM tokens, causing an artificial spike in the token’s price. The attacker took advantage of the situation and sold off the tokens at an inflated price.

*SafeMoon exploit overview. Source: Peckshield*

The attacker, on the other hand, left a note along with the transaction, as shown above, stating:

“Hey relax, we are accidently frontrun an attack against you, we would like to return the fund, setup secure communication channel , lets talk.”

Until SafeMoon officially announces a resolution, investors are advised against investing in the project to avoid possible loss of funds.

Following a recent security incident related to illicit access to hot wallets, Bitcoin (BTC) ATM manufacturer General Bytes plans to reimburse customers that lost funds.

On March 17-18th, 2023, GENERAL BYTES experienced a security incident.

We released a statement urging customers to take immediate action to protect their personal information.

We urge all our customers to take immediate action to protect their funds and https://t.co/fajc61lcwR…
— GENERAL BYTES (@generalbytes) March 18, 2023

As Cointelegraph reported, the hack caused a loss of 56 BTC and 21.82 Ether (ETH), cumulatively worth nearly $1.9 million.

Magazine: Huawei NFTs, Toyota’s hackathon, North Korea vs. Blockchain: Asia Express

FTX influencers face $1 Billion class-action lawsuit over alleged crypto fraud promotion

March 16, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Why Senegal rejects the CFA and is warming to Bitcoin: video

March 8, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Africa

Why is there a groundswell toward Bitcoin adoption in Dakar? And could it influence neighboring countries and regions to explore magic internet money?

Cointelegraph goes to Senegal, West Africa. The medium-sized African nation recently hosted a Bitcoin conference (BTC) and more and more merchants and customers are joining the Lightning Network.

Armed with a camera, a lightning wallet and a microphone, Reporter Joe Hall took to the streets of Senegal to peer under the surface of Bitcoin adoption in the capital city, Dakar.

As the Cointelegraph Youtube video highlights, Senegal has a young, digitally native population and in recent years, its become second nature for people to send money via mobile phones rather than banks.

A mobile money provider called Wave, for example, began in 2017 in Senegal and has since expanded to other countries in West Africa. It now boasts millions of users.

Much like Bitcoin, the mobile money revolution attempts to bank the unbanked and improve financial conditions for financially underserved populations. Its user experience is quite similar to sending money over Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, in that you scan a QR code or send money to a number, however, mobile money charges anything from 1 to 3% and can take a few minutes to confirm. It’s therefore a useful tool, but too costly for microtransactions.

In the video, Hall sends Bitcoin over the Lightning Network to a manager at Wave, who showed interest and surprise at the Bitcoin Lightning Network’s efficacy. In fact, many Senegalese were interested in receiving, acquiring or learning how to custody Bitcoin.

Speakers at Senegal's first major Bitcoin conference, DakarBtcDays.

The Dakar Bitcoin Days conference underscored the Senegalese’ interest in learning about and using Bitcoin. Founded by Nourou, Dakar Bitcoin Days is part of Bitcoin Sen, another pocket of budding Bitcoin activity in West Africa.

However, the overarching reason which could lead to greater Bitcoin adoption in Senegal is breaking the monetary chains of its colonial past.

In 1994, the value of the local currency, the CFA was sliced in half by a combination of efforts from France, the IMF and the World Bank. Senegalese fiat savings were decimated.

The scars of this monetary collapse and its residual regime remain in west africa and Senegal. The CFA money is not sovereign and it disempowers and disenfranchises people.

That’s why people are looking for alternatives, and some are turning to Bitcoin.

Rollkit Developers Leverage Bitcoin for Sovereign Rollups, Sparking Criticism from Ethereum Proponents

March 6, 2023 Bitcoin.com

YouTube appoints Web3-friendly exec as new CEO

February 18, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Coin Telegraph

YouTube’s new CEO Neal Mohan previously emphasized that NFTs could be an important tool for the platform’s content creators to develop additional revenue streams.

Google-owned YouTube has appointed Web3-friendly exec Neal Mohan as its new CEO following the departure of Susan Wojcicki this week.

Wojcicki stepped down from YouTube on Feb. 16 after nine years at the helm, outlining plans to start a “new chapter” focused on family, health and personal projects. During her tenure, she oversaw the pivotal introduction of the revenue-sharing model, among other things.

Moving forward she will remain an advisor for Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc.

Thank you, @SusanWojcicki. It's been amazing to work with you over the years. You've built YouTube into an extraordinary home for creators and viewers. I'm excited to continue this awesome and important mission. Looking forward to what lies ahead... https://t.co/Rg5jXv1NGb
— Neal Mohan (@nealmohan) February 16, 2023

Before becoming the new CEO, Mohan served as YouTube’s chief product officer and oversaw the controversial removal of the video dislike button, the introduction of YouTube Shorts to compete with Tik Tok, and YouTube Music.

In terms of Web3, Mohan outlined tentative plans in February 2022 to integrate a host of new features such as Metaverse-based content experiences and content tokenization via nonfungible tokens (NFTs), much to the dismay of the NFT-hating community at the time.

In particular, Mohan emphasized that NFTs could provide a new way for creators to engage with their audiences and develop additional revenue streams. He cited the potential for creators to tokenize their videos, photos, art and experiences as examples of such.

“Web3 also opens up new opportunities for creators. We believe new technologies like blockchain and NFTs can allow creators to build deeper relationships with their fans. Together, they’ll be able to collaborate on new projects and make money in ways not previously possible,” he wrote in a blog post on Feb. 10, 2022.

Despite being intended to potentially roll out last year, the Web 3-related plans are yet to materialize but could be set for another push in the near future given that Mohan is now leading the firm.

New YouTube CEO @nealmohan is into NFTs! https://t.co/RVqqJngnv6
— Altcoin Daily (@AltcoinDailyio) February 17, 2023

Following the news of Mohan becoming the new CEO of YouTube, there has been a surprisingly limited amount of FUD from the feisty NFT skeptics on Twitter who are usually quick to flame anything to do with reports of mainstream connections to the tech.

#nealmohan seems to be a great gu… wait… No… pic.twitter.com/vQSet9tu8j
— ram. (@veryramdom) February 17, 2023

Colombian Court Holds Hearing in the Metaverse

February 17, 2023 Bitcoin.com

Paying the way for Bitcoin adoption in El Salvador: Video

February 15, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Bitcoin Payments

What is Bitcoin adoption like on the ground as peer-to-peer cash in the home of Bitcoin worldwide? Cointelegraph visits El Salvador to find out!

The Bitcoin (BTC) white paper title describes Bitcoin as a “peer-to-peer electronic cash system.” So how is Bitcoin being used as a means of exchange, or electronic cash, in the first country to adopt Bitcoin?

Reporter Joe Hall spent a few weeks in El Salvador attempting to live off Bitcoin and Bitcoin only. He documented his trials, tribulations, successes and satoshis (the smallest amount of a Bitcoin) in a video for Cointelegraph’s YouTube channel:

Headlines from El Salvador within the crypto community have been largely positive. Moreover, statistics emanating from the country have been abundantly positive; tourism is up 30%, crime and the murder rate in El Salvador have decreased dramatically, and the Bitcoin bonds project is underway in 2023.

Nonetheless, while Bitcoin is undoubtedly one of the best-known brands worldwide; and a marketing tool that appeals to a pool of ardent Bitcoin believers around the world, its use as a means of exchange is often questioned. In El Salvador, it’s no different, as Hall explains.

Some Salvadoran vendors are laser-eyed hodlers; others made their first Bitcoin payment with Hall and were keen to ask questions and learn more.

*Tipping Henry the delivery guy in Bitcoin to his Chivo wallet at 2 am. Source: Cointelegraph*

Hall was surprised, dismayed, entertained and ultimately enthused by his findings in the country. Adopting a new technology as novel and misunderstood as Bitcoin is a mammoth task, but Salvadorans are getting stuck into the new technology where possible.

Retailers like Walmart had the option to pay in Bitcoin — but the process was slow and inconvenient — while the likes of Texaco were staunchly anti-Bitcoin. At McDonald’s, the experience is smooth and fast; it’s even quicker than the McDonald’s branches that accept Bitcoin in Switzerland.

From the Adopting Bitcoin conference — a Lightning conference in San Salvador that gathered Bitcoiners from around the world — down to Bitcoin Beach and Surf City, across to the volcanoes of Santa Ana and on the streets of San Salvador, Hall mingled with locals to get a better sense of Bitcoin as a means of exchange.

Hall attended the “My First Bitcoin” educational graduation ceremony at a school in El Pacheco. The founder, John Dennehy, was recently interviewed by Cointelegraph. Dennehy explained the group’s plan to remedy Bitcoin education in El Salvador by teaching teenagers how to Bitcoin.

Indeed, the recent graduates Hall interviewed at the school grasped the fundamental tenets of Bitcoin and expressed their belief that Bitcoin represents hope for the future. Watch the video to find out more.

Cointelegraph Markets launches new YouTube channel

February 13, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Coin Telegraph

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in crypto, digital asset markets and traditional markets by tuning in to Cointelegraph Markets and Research’s dedicated series of shows.

Cointelegraph is proud to announce the launch of the Cointelegraph Markets and Research YouTube channel, a place that will hopefully become every trader’s first stop for breaking markets news, insights and alpha from Cointelegraph’s team of experts and guest analysts from the crypto industry.

The Cointelegraph Markets and Research channel features three unique shows — The Market Report, Market Talks and Macro Markets — which stream live weekly at 12:00 pm Eastern Time (5:00 pm UTC) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, respectively.

The Market Report

Every Tuesday at 12:00 pm ET (5:00 pm UTC), Bitcoin (BTC) evangelist Joe Hall hosts The Market Report, a weekly market update and analysis livestream featuring two of Cointelegraph’s resident experts, analyst and writer Marcel Pechman and business editor Sam Bourgi.

Each week, The Market Report team discusses the latest headlines and events in the crypto market, providing valuable insights, analysis and opinions in a way that is easy to understand and keeps viewers up-to-date about the most impactful happenings in the space.

Market Talks

Crypto advocates focused more on trading and the macroeconomic and crypto-specific forces impacting digital asset prices can tune in to Market Talks on Thursdays at 12:00 pm ET (5:00 pm UTC).

Market Talks, hosted by Cointelegraph head of markets Ray Salmond, is a live show where protocol builders, notable traders and professional analysts from the crypto and blockchain industry share their perspectives and analyses on emerging trends in the market.

Market Talks zooms in on the specific influences that shape the markets, the latest crypto news and price breakthroughs. Its primary focus is straightforward: no shilling, tough and inquisitive questions, and deep insights into trending markets-related topics.

Macro Markets

On Macro Markets, a prerecorded show that airs Fridays at 12:00 pm ET (5:00 pm UTC), Cointelegraph analyst Pechman takes a top-down view of traditional markets and explains why they matter to crypto.

Many traders think the S&P 500, oil, gold, foreign currency or even real estate don’t matter because they’ve got “diamond hands,” but Pechman says traders should think otherwise.

Pechman uses his 17 years of experience in traditional finance to explain in simple terms the factors moving traditional markets and how they impact the crypto market. From central bank digital currencies and the U.S. Dollar Index to tech stocks, wars and international conflict, Pechman explains it all.

The best thing about the show: There’s no technical analysis nor high-level jargon that listeners need to know to keep up. For Pechman, markets are driven by simple cause and effect — i.e., what happens in the macro environment always impacts crypto.

Logan Paul backflips on defamation lawsuit against Coffeezilla, apologizes

January 9, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Coffeezilla

Logan Paul has deleted his response video aimed at Coffeezilla and has apologized in a surprise u-turn.

YouTuber Logan Paul has deleted a video in which he threatened to sue internet detective Stephen "Coffeezilla" Findeisen over a three-part series that painted Paul’s CryptoZoo project as a "scam."

According to Coffezilla in a Jan. 6 Twitter post, Paul has promised to drop his threats of filing a defamation lawsuit over the videos.

Logan called me. He said he’s deleting the two responses, and is dropping the lawsuit threats.

I believe he’s making a 3rd response, which I’ll be delaying my video to include. Hopefully this time he takes accountability and refunds the victims of CryptoZoo. That’s what matters. https://t.co/ElKX2d9mY0
— Coffeezilla (@coffeebreak_YT) January 7, 2023

Sharing a screenshot from the CryptoZoo Discord server, Findeisen also showed a message from Paul to user confirming he deleted his initial response to Coffeezilla’s video series and apologized, which read:

“It was rash and misaligned with the trust issue at hand, so I called him today and apologized.”

“The war is not with Coffee. In fact, I’m grateful he brought this to light. I will be taking accountability, apologizing, and coming forward with a plan in the near future,” Paul added.

At the time of writing, Paul’s Jan. 3 response video to Coffeezilla’s accusations has been removed from YouTube. The Twitter post pointing to the video is still up as is his initial Dec. 23 post calling the allegations “Not true."

The two YouTubers began a war of words after Coffeezilla launched the first of a three-part video series on Dec. 17 alleging CryptoZoo of numerous business malpractices while also calling out Paul — the face of the project.

In his now-deleted response video to Coffeezilla, Paul haaccused Coffeezilla of defamation, adding “I’ll see you in court.”

Coffeezilla mentioned in his post that Paul is possibly "making a 3rd response," but at the time of writing neither Paul nor Coffeezilla has shed any further light on the matter.

Cointelegraph reached out to Logan Paul and Stephen "Coffeezilla" Findeisen for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

YouTube

The Market Report

Market Talks

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