Popular YouTuber iShowSpeed Accused of Promoting Controversial Crypto Game
Fans of popular YouTube streamer iShowSpeed are expressing concern over his alleged promotion of The Paradox Metaverse, an action-adventure game that rewards players with Paradox Coin, a form of cryptocurrency. The game’s missions are exclusively available to players who purchase the company’s NFTs.
iShowSpeed’s Questionable Advertising Tactics
On November 16, 2022, iShowSpeed began wearing Paradox merchandise and featuring advertisements for the company during his stream. He even invited a Cristiano Ronaldo impersonator and two members of the Paradox team, all of whom directly encouraged fans to purchase Paradox Coin.
The Backlash Against iShowSpeed
During the stream, iShowSpeed and the Paradox representatives hosted several PS5 giveaways while promoting their social media accounts. Unfortunately, these actions caused widespread criticism, with many accusing iShowSpeed of promoting a potential crypto scam to his large audience.
The Alleged Crypto Scam
While iShowSpeed did promote Paradox Metaverse on his stream, it is still uncertain whether Paradox Coin is a legitimate investment opportunity or a scam. However, fans quickly labeled it as a “pump and dump scheme,” referencing Paradox’s claim that players can earn over $500 a week by playing the game, which requires NFT purchases.
A Reddit thread following the incident saw commenters lambasting iShowSpeed for allegedly exploiting his 12 million subscribers. Many criticized Paradox’s targeting of lower-earning individuals who see the game as a primary source of income.
IShowSpeed denied the accusations, expressing his disappointment in his viewers for thinking he would promote a scam. He referred to them as “trolls” and edited his livestream to remove negative chat interactions.
Coffeezilla, another content creator, later interviewed the Paradox representatives featured on iShowSpeed’s stream. Despite being questioned about the legitimacy of Paradox Coin, they maintained that it was not a “get rich quick” scheme.
In a subsequent stream, iShowSpeed addressed the allegations, referring to the situation as a “mistake” without directly condemning Paradox. He emphasized that he cares about his audience and stated that he is continuously learning and growing.