Over $40 million in crypto-related activity can be linked to “manosphere” influencers, according to an independent report from web3 crime specialist Tara Annison, who is also the head of technical crypto advisory at blockchain analytics company Elliptic.
While the term “manosphere” — broadly defined as the ecosystem of online platforms that promote toxic masculinity and misogyny — was coined as far back as 2009, it became the focus of renewed attention following the arrest of influencer Andrew Tate in December 2022.
Tate is one of two influencers that make up the bulk of the funds. Romanian authorities reportedly seized almost $500,000 in crypto linked to Tate, while wallet addresses associated with him show funds of at least $2.5 million. Tate’s Hustler’s University 2.0 – the second incarnation of his get-rich-quick course, which included crypto modules – has just over $4 million in crypto transactions linked to it.
He additionally claims to have made over $12 million in crypto from trading activities and his crypto education platforms, according to the report, though this is unverified.
Fellow influencer and Twitch streamer Adin Ross’ Ethereum wallet has seen over $35 million in crypto assets pass through it. The funds originate from his promotion of crypto gambling websites and his involvement in the May 2021 pump-and-dump scam MILF token.
In the latter case, he was allegedly paid almost $200,000 to promote the token by an individual linked to another prolific crypto scam, Save the Children, according to crypto sleuth Coffeezilla. Adin defended himself saying it was a bad promo and that as it didn’t really affect the price of the token, nobody lost money.
Manosphere influencers like Tate and Ross have gained notoriety for their controversial statements about women, including that they “belong in the home,” “can’t drive” and are the “ultimate status symbol” for men. Their influencer status places them in a prime position to make money by promoting unverified crypto products.
In addition to Tate and Ross, the report identified a range of male supremacists, so-called “pick-up artists” and incel activists soliciting crypto donations and using their notoriety to promote questionable products or courses.
For $50 a month, users can sign up for The Creativity Kit 2.0 by content creator Sneako, who has previously collaborated with the Tate brothers and spoke out in support of them following their arrest. Mainly focused on becoming a YouTuber, his course also includes topics on crypto and investment.
Guests appearing on online manosphere channels have also promoted crypto courses. CultivateCrypto, a YouTuber who runs a crypto course costing just under $1,000, has appeared regularly on FreshandFit. One of its co-hosts, Myron Gaines (born “Amrou Fudl”), recently published a book titled “Why women deserve less.”
But it is not just investment courses and scams. In Russia, leader of the banned male supremacist group Male State, Vladislav Pozdnyakov (“Dr Vlad”) has raised over $100,000 using cryptocurrencies. In addition to being convicted in a Russian court of inciting hatred against women in 2018, he and his followers have recently turned to promoting the war in Ukraine. His Telegram channel has shared videos of attacks against Ukrainian civilians and an unverified clip appearing to show the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war.
US-based Daryush Valizadeh (“Roosh V”), who formerly ran the now-defunct manosphere blog “Return of Kings” has made just under $10,000 from crypto donations. He later closed his blog after joining the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and “repenting.”
Annison believes that there is a risk toxic masculinity views could seep into and build upon the already-established “crypto bro” culture. An influx of manosphere influencers entering the crypto could lead to a rise in more extreme views in the industry.
Though she is not equating the beliefs of the manosphere with crypto bro culture, she does point to examples of times when women in the industry have encountered sexist attitudes. Among them are the use of scantily dressed “booth babes” to promote projects and a 2018 conference “networking” event that took place at a strip club.
“Whilst there are unfortunately cases of women being harassed within the crypto community, the majority of this crypto bro culture is hypermasculinity, ego-driven and ‘sexism-lite’ – it doesn’t often cross into the realms of hatred against women,” Annison explained.
“However, the risk would be that attitudes from the toxic masculinity world start to bleed into the cryptosphere, especially if they are able to jumpstart from already sexist views of some crypto bros and from a heavily male-dominated industry,” she added.
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