- WIRED investigation linked Kerler to EthereumCash and eBitcoinCash, which once reached a value of £1.3 million before collapsing 88%.
- Multiple digital footprints connect the Pump Fun co-founder to BitcoinTalk forum accounts that promoted the failed cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrency platform Pump Fun’s co-founder Dylan Kerler has been linked to cryptocurrency scams that allegedly defrauded investors of $75,000 when he was just 16 years old. According to a recent investigation by WIRED, Kerler reportedly launched eight cryptocurrencies in 2017, with two specific tokens—eBitcoinCash and EthereumCash—generating significant profits that would be worth approximately $400,000 at today’s values.
WIRED’s investigation revealed that the developer promoted these coins on the BitcoinTalk forum, making various promises that helped drive EthereumCash’s market capitalization to £1.3 million. However, the developer allegedly began secretly selling their holdings on EtherDelta, coinciding with an 88% crash in the token’s value. This withdrawal reportedly generated 240 ETH, which was subsequently distributed across multiple wallets on centralized exchanges.
Certik’s chief security scientist provided expert analysis on the situation, telling reporters: “We strongly suspect that [EthereumCash] was used by the developer for a rug pull.” The technical patterns observed match common tactics used in cryptocurrency exit scams, where developers abandon projects after extracting value.
Digital Breadcrumbs: Connecting the Identities
The investigation tied Kerler to the operations through multiple connection points. Two BitcoinTalk accounts—DOMAINBROKER and ninjagod—were used to promote the cryptocurrencies. The DOMAINBROKER account shared an email address containing Dylan Kerler’s name, while ninjagod explicitly referred to Kerler as the developer of EthereumCash in a forum thread.
Further evidence emerged from location data. The developer claimed in a Telegram group to be based in Brighton, UK. According to electoral records, Pump Fun’s co-founder is registered at an address in this same area. Additionally, a Pump Fun entity uses this address in its corporate documentation.
Additional Technical Evidence
Code analysis provided another connection. A cryptocurrency called Equis that was promoted by the ninjagod account on BitcoinTalk contained code identical to EthereumCash. This same project appeared on a YouTube account operating under Dylan Kerler’s name.
When approached by journalists, neither Pump Fun nor Kerler responded to requests for comment on the allegations. Protos, which reported on WIRED’s investigation, has reached out to Alon Cohen, Pump Fun’s other co-founder, but has not received a response at the time of publication.
This revelation comes amid other controversies for the cryptocurrency platform, including a recent ban in the UK and ongoing litigation from traders, highlighting the continuing regulatory and ethical challenges facing the cryptocurrency industry.
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