Evolved Apes (NFT)
An NFT collection launched on OpenSea in September 2021 that promised a fighting game. About a week later its anonymous developer 'Evil Ape' vanished with 798 ETH (~$2.7M). In June 2024 U.S. prosecutors charged three U.K. nationals over the scheme.
Also known as: Evolved Apes, Evil Ape
Summary
Evolved Apes was a 10,000-piece NFT collection that launched on OpenSea on September 24, 2021, promising a play-to-earn fighting game in which holders' apes would battle for Ether rewards. About a week after launch, the project's anonymous developer — known as "Evil Ape" — drained the project's wallet of 798 ETH (about $2.7 million) and disappeared, taking down its website and social accounts; the artist had reportedly gone unpaid and contest prizes were never delivered. [1][2]
Outcome
Holders organized to investigate and later launched a community successor ("Fight Back Apes"). In June 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York charged three U.K. nationals in connection with the rug pull. [2][3]
Bracketed numbers refer to the numbered sources listed below.
Linked scams & cases
People & entities involved
Sources (2)
See also
- Loci (LOCIcoin)TokensA 2017–2018 ICO for 'LOCIcoin' tied to the InnVenn IP-search platform. The SEC charged Loci and CEO John Wise with fraud for raising $7.6M on false claims about revenue, headcount, and user base; Wise also misused investor funds. Settled with a $7.6M penalty and an officer/director bar.
- Blockchain Terminal (BCT)TokensA 2017–2018 ICO (BCT tokens, ~$30M) for a 'Blockchain Terminal' — a Bloomberg-style crypto trading terminal. The SEC and DOJ said convicted ex-hedge-funder Boaz Manor secretly ran it under a fake identity ('Shaun MacDonald'), using associate Edith Pardo as a front, and lied about the product's adoption.
- Crowd Machine (CMCT)Tokens
This page was last updated on Jun 8, 2026. View revision history.