Joseph Abel
A large-scale promoter of the $722M BitClub Network crypto-mining Ponzi. He pleaded guilty in 2020 to conspiring to sell unregistered securities and to filing a false tax return (unreported BitClub crypto income).
Also known as: Joseph Frank Abel
Bio
Joseph Frank Abel promoted BitClub Network, selling its mining-pool "shares" despite knowing they were unregistered securities, and creating videos and traveling to recruit investors. [1][2]
Legal outcome
Abel pleaded guilty in September 2020 to conspiracy to offer and sell unregistered securities and to subscribing to a false tax return (failing to report $1M+ in BitClub crypto income for 2017). [1][2]
Bracketed numbers refer to the numbered sources listed below.
Sources (2)
- BitClub Network (DOJ case page) — U.S. DOJ (NJ)
- BitClub Network Promoter Pleads Guilty in $722M Scheme — CryptoPotato
See also
Luke BelmarIndividualsCryptocurrency influencer Luke Belmar (@lukebelmar on X) became the subject of controversy following allegations related to the promotion of a memecoin. Critics on social media alleged that Belmar used a series of posts referencing a forthcoming cryptocurrency project and a large-scale airdrop to generate interest in a token without explicitly identifying a specific contract address. Belmar published multiple posts discussing an upcoming memecoin, describing plans for what he characterized as a major airdrop and making comparisons to other cryptocurrency projects. Because no contract address was publicly provided, several tokens emerged claiming association with his statements. Critics alleged that this ambiguity enabled speculation around multiple tokens while avoiding a direct endorsement of any particular asset.
Evolved Apes (NFT)ProjectsAn 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.
This page was last updated on Jun 15, 2026. View revision history.