Kanye West Reveals $2 Million Crypto Scam Proposal

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• Kanye West has disclosed that he declined a $2 million proposal to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme
• The offer entailed an initial payment of $750,000 for a promotional post, with an additional $1.25 million after 16 hours
• West was instructed to keep the post live for eight hours before claiming his account had been hacked

Kanye West has shared that he turned down a $2 million offer to endorse a cryptocurrency scam. The proposed deal involved an upfront payment of $750,000 for posting a promotional message, followed by a $1.25 million payout after 16 hours. The revelation is proof of what many have suspected (or known) for some time regarding the operation of meme coins and their purpose.

Digital Forensics: An Indecent Proposal

West took to X to expose the fraudulent scheme, posting a screenshot detailing the offer, which outlined a plan for him to promote a fake cryptocurrency to his 32.6 million followers:

I was proposed 2 million dollars to scam my community Those left of it I said no and stopped working with their person who proposed it pic.twitter.com/WKHdP9FkOq

— ye (@kanyewest) February 7, 2025

The message suggested that after eight hours, West could claim his account was hacked, allowing the scammers to deceive the public and potentially amass significant profits before the fraud was uncovered. Expressing his disapproval, West emphasized his refusal to betray his followers for financial gain and ceased all interactions with the individual who presented the offer.

Following the incident, West sought to establish genuine connections within the cryptocurrency industry, reaching out to an unnamed user to inquire about a “crypto connect” that wouldn’t require intermediaries. The user recommended Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and offered to facilitate an introduction.

Digital Forensics: West Warned Off

The revelation has sparked discussions about the integrity of celebrity endorsements in the crypto space, which many already suspected operated in this way. Some commentators questioned the authenticity of previous claims by celebrities regarding account hacks used to promote dubious cryptocurrencies, which look far more suspicious given this revelation.

West’s decision to post about the offer serves as a reminder for the public to remain vigilant and critically assess endorsements, especially those endorsed by celebrities.