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.
Linked scams & cases
Sources (2)
- BitClub Network (DOJ case page) — U.S. DOJ (NJ)
- BitClub Network Promoter Pleads Guilty in $722M Scheme — CryptoPotato
See also
- 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.
- Profit ConnectProjectsA Las Vegas company that the SEC said was a $12M+ Ponzi scheme: it told 277+ investors their money would be invested in securities and crypto via an 'artificial intelligence supercomputer' guaranteeing 20–30% annual returns. The SEC halted it in 2021; over 90% of funds came from investors.
- Dropil (DROP)Tokens
This page was last updated on Jun 8, 2026. View revision history.