Are you contemplating the purchase of the next 100x token? Be cautious, as it might be a scam – a rug pull designed to exploit unsuspecting investors. In this video, we will provide you with 10 crucial tips to shield yourself from falling victim to rug pulls and other crypto scams. The information shared here could potentially save you thousands, so pay close attention.
To set the stage, let's briefly delve into the history of rug pulls. One of the earliest and most infamous rug pulls was associated with Bitconnect in 2018, where investors lost a significant amount of money. Unfortunately, rug pulls have become common in the crypto space, with research indicating over $2.8 billion in illicit activity due to these scams in 2021 alone.
It's essential to note that not all crypto rug pulls are illegal; some tiptoe on the line of unethical behavior without crossing into illegality. Broadly speaking, there are three types of rug pulls: liquidity stealing, limiting sell orders, and dumping. Additionally, rug pulls can be categorized as hard or soft based on the tactics employed by developers.
Now, let's transition to the key ways you can avoid falling victim to rug pulls:
- 1. Resist the Hype: Avoid getting caught up in the excitement around a project. Take a moment to assess the fundamentals and conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions.
- 2. Conduct Your Own Research: Before investing in any project, understand its purpose, tokenomics, and overall value proposition. Conduct research on tracking websites like CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap and review the project's website and white paper.
- 3. Due Diligence on Founders: Research the background of the project's founders and core team members. Look for interviews and trace their vision to ensure credibility.
- 4. Exchange Listing and Liquidity: Verify that the project is listed on reputable exchanges with stringent listing criteria. Assess liquidity and trading volume to gauge market interest.
- 5. Tokenomics: Examine the project's tokenomics, ensuring widespread token distribution and avoiding concentration among a small group, especially the founders.
- 6. Community Engagement: Evaluate the project's community on platforms like Twitter, Discord, Telegram, and Reddit. Gauge the level of engagement, sentiment, and responsiveness of project admins.
- 7. External Affiliations: Investigate the project's external affiliations, including the founders' past work and connections to other entities. Ensure there are no ties to shady characters or known scammers.
- 8. Code Audit: Check if the project's code has undergone auditing by reputable firms to ensure security and legitimacy.
- 9. Risk Management: Implement clear risk management processes in your investment strategy. Diversify your portfolio across various assets and sectors, and avoid going all in on a single project.
- 10. Use Stop Losses: Utilize stop losses on exchanges to minimize losses in the event of market downturns. Set them wisely based on the crypto's volatility.
Remember, staying informed and skeptical is crucial when navigating the complex world of crypto investments. Keep emotions in check, rely on logic, and follow a sound investment strategy.