‘Smash’ and Burn: UFC Fighter’s Token Crumbles Under Insider Trading Claims

As a seasoned crypto investor, I have witnessed my fair share of hype and controversy in the world of digital currencies. The recent downfall of Khamzat Chimaev’s Smash token is yet another reminder of the risks and pitfalls that come with investing in new projects, especially those backed by celebrities or high-profile individuals.


The value of Khamzat Chimaev’s Smash token, which runs on the Solana blockchain, has dropped a staggering 94% due to accusations of insider trading and mismanagement levied against his team.

Chimaev Introduces “Smash” Crypto

Khamzat Chimaev, a renowned Russian mixed martial artist and wrestler in the UFC, has been under fire from two distinct communities – the UFC world and the crypto sphere – following his entry into the cryptocurrency scene with the launch of ‘Smash.’ The token’s credibility has been called into question due to accusations of insider trading, resulting in a substantial decline in its value.

Launch and Immediate Controversy

Chimaev initiated the introduction of the Smash token after receiving queries from his social media audience about which cryptocurrencies they should consider investing in. Yet, this move was met with controversy soon after, as anonymous crypto analyst ZachXBT took aim at Chimaev and his team on platform X, suggesting they had engaged in insider trading.

“Khamzat, it seems your team made a questionable move by connecting your team wallets to the insider wallets, purchasing over 78% of the available supply. Why would you collectively damage your reputation by engaging in meme coin schemes?”

Evidence of Insider Trading

ZachXBT presented data indicating that 24 identifiable wallets, holding a collective sum of around $11,500 in Solana (86.2 SOL), acquired 712 million Smash tokens, which represented 71.2% of the token’s total issuance. Following this transaction, these large quantities of Smash tokens were dispersed among smaller wallets. A snapshot shared by ZachXBT revealed a significant decrease in the Smash/SOL market value, resulting in an 18.81% price drop within an hour, falling from approximately 0.02 SOL to 0.0003513 SOL.

Price Decline

The value of a Smash token has dropped dramatically by over 90% in just one day. It went from reaching a high of 0.01 SOL, or roughly $2.75 per token, to trading around 0.0048 SOL, equivalent to about $0.53 per token currently. This represents a significant shift from its initial worth.

Broader Implications in the Crypto Sphere

In the rapidly growing world of cryptocurrencies, deceitful schemes and fraudulent activities are regrettably commonplace. Not even high-profile individuals such as Chimaev are exempt from these questionable crypto initiatives. For example, FTX, a former crypto exchange that is now defunct, featured numerous celebrity endorsements. Likewise, wrestler Logan Paul was linked to the crypto project, Cryptozoo, which swindled investors out of their funds.

Celebrity-Backed Cryptocurrencies: A Troubled History

Cryptocurrencies endorsed by celebrities have gained a questionable reputation. A significant number of these projects have failed to generate tangible value for investors. Despite the belief that celebrity involvement can push crypto into mainstream acceptance, the frequent price drops of such coins can harm the industry’s credibility instead. In their debut week alone, tokens like JENNER, DAVIDO, and RICH experienced losses exceeding 66%.

Read More

2024-07-05 19:12