The Coinbase data breach and a fake-support loss
Ed Suman, 67, a former artist who helped build Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog, lost his entire $2M+ crypto retirement fund after falling for a fake Coinbase support call.
Research & analysis2 min
Read the publication
MASTR · 2024–2026
All publications · 26
Original investigations, critical essays and the conversations behind them. Read by subject, follow a thread, or find a person or project in the source texts.
694 · Selected publications · 26/29
Sahil Arora and celebrity token launches
The original investigation into celebrity token launches associated with Sahil Arora and their promotional model.
Original articles7 min
An Open Letter to Those Who Still Believe in a Better Web3: 🫵
After one year of building and showing up daily, we’re still here. Stronger than ever - and more convinced that Web3 needs real solutions, not just narratives.
Commentary & rants3 min
Something that should make us all deeply reflect in #web3 and #Crypto ;
.....it’s thousands in losses from #FOMO tops, victims of X KOLs, retail addicts, broke dreamers yolo’ing salaries into memes, and unemployed gamblers degening welfare checks.
Commentary & rants2 min
The US Bitcoin reserve: holdings are not the same as purchases
The #crypto industry had higher hopes for Donald Trump's Bitcoin reserve. Now, two states are taking the initiative and establishing their own Bitcoin reserves.
Research & analysis3 min
MELANIA: activity before the public launch
Before Melania Trump officially announced her meme coin on Jan 19, 24 wallets bought $2.6M worth of $MELANIA tokens - just 2.5 minutes before the tweet dropped.
Research & analysis2 min
Decentralisation, rules and the incentives to vet projects
Decentralisation, rules and the incentives to vet projects. Dated original source, with context and links.
Commentary & rants1 min
Solana extraction: fees, launches and retail losses
A dated examination of value leaving the Solana trading ecosystem through launches, fees and promotional incentives.
Original articles7 min
Paid promotion · 25 Apr 2025
No real scam exposer would ever sell an AI or a bot website as their main feature. For us, it's a gimmick - something to give back to the community and to add.
Commentary & rants1 min
The Solflare X-account compromise: what the incident affected
To be absolutely clear: if something similar were to happen to us - we never promote tokens. The only tokens we ever mention are our own $MASTR token or $MASTR badged projects, which are typically at least one month old and have passed a…
Research & analysis2 min
X payouts and the reward for low-effort engagement
X payouts and the reward for low-effort engagement. Dated original source, with context and links.
Commentary & rants1 min
Bitcoin’s security budget: the question behind the headline
MASTR’s discussion of mining incentives, the block subsidy and the long-term security-budget debate.
Original articles4 min
40 #Web3 Security Tips You Wish You Knew Sooner — Save this ❗
31. Watch out for transaction fees too low to be true. Gas exploits and failed transactions can be used against you.
Commentary & rants3 min
MANTRA’s OM crash: an explicitly unresolved April 2025 update
MANTRA’s OM crash: an explicitly unresolved April 2025 update. Dated original source, with context and links.
Commentary & rants1 min
MANTRA’s April 2025 crash: the contemporary account
Hey followers, here’s the latest on the #MANTRA ($OM) situation as of April 13, 2025, 11:04 PM CEST, addressing the wild crash of the Nr.1 #RWA
Research & analysis3 min
MANTRA’s crash: the initial April 2025 account
Over the past few hours, $OM - the token tied to the MANTRA blockchain - has suffered a dramatic collapse, plunging over 87% from around $6 to below $1.50. Some reports suggest the drop may have extended even further.
Research & analysis2 min
Web3 culture · 9 Apr 2025
This is an independent analysis — a longer tweet for those interested. Please take the time to read it carefully. Being prepared is important. Crypto has never been as dependent on global events as it is right now.
Research & analysis6 min
LOOPY: archived warning about bundled and distributed holdings
LOOPY: archived warning about bundled and distributed holdings. Dated original source, with context and links.
Commentary & rants1 min
FIGURE: archived observations about early buyers and supply
FIGURE: archived observations about early buyers and supply. Dated original source, with context and links.
Commentary & rants1 min
Building useful products · 4 Apr 2025
We are witnessing a silent but fundamental shift in the global landscape - and the consequences are probably being underestimated.
Research & analysis6 min
Fake giveaways as an account-growth strategy
Fake giveaways as an account-growth strategy. Dated original source, with context and links.
Commentary & rants1 min
GHIBLI: archived questions about deployer history
GHIBLI: archived questions about deployer history. Dated original source, with context and links.
Commentary & rants1 min
The anti-scam label can itself become marketing
The anti-scam label can itself become marketing. Dated original source, with context and links.
Commentary & rants1 min
Scamr presale complaints: MASTR’s original response
We’ve received several DMs from people who feel scammed—by an account that spent weeks posting half-baked scam exposes, only to suddenly launch a token.
Research & analysis2 min