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Most Crypto Press Releases Come From High-Risk or Scam Projects, Chainstory Finds

Most Crypto Press Releases Come From High-Risk or Scam Projects, Chainstory Finds

A new study looks at how crypto news is shared and who sends out most press releases. The study was done by Chainstory, a company that helps crypto projects talk to journalists and the public. They checked 2,893 crypto press releases. The time period was from June 16 to November 1, 2025. The main finding is clear: more than half of these releases come from projects that are considered High Risk or scams.

High risk and scams are labels used by researchers to describe projects that may be dangerous for investors. They look at facts like whether the project team is anonymous, whether the project promises very large returns that seem unrealistic, and whether the project shows up in crime or consumer scam databases. When these signals are present, the project is more likely to be labeled High Risk or a scam.

To understand what these terms mean in simple language, here is a quick guide. A cryptocurrency is a digital money that works on a computer network using a technology called blockchain. A press release is a formal statement sent to media outlets to share new information. A scam is when someone tries to trick people to take their money or valuables. A wire service is a company that distributes news quickly to many media outlets. Marketing is the work of promoting and selling a product so people want to buy it.

Overall, Chainstory found that most crypto press releases are not big news. They call this category low-impact updates. These stories often focus on small changes or routine information rather than major business moves. The report says that many of these releases are published because a project pays for placement on big news sites. This is a different system from traditional journalism, where editors decide what to cover based on news value.

Chainstory points out that any crypto project with enough money can get a public voice on recognizable news sites. The project does not always have to be credible. This is possible because some press release wires use a pay-to-play model. In this system, the company pays for the chance to appear in news feeds or on partner sites. It can bypass the normal checks and balances of newsroom editors. In other words, it can turn getting attention into a paid service.

The study also looked at the kinds of stories that show up in these crypto press wires. They found that almost half of all releases, about 49%, were routine updates. These are messages about new features or product changes. Another 24% talked about exchange listings or trading promotions. A smaller slice, 14%, covered token launches or changes in tokenomics. Tokenomics is a word that describes how a token works—things like how many tokens exist, how they are distributed, and how they gain or lose value. Think of tokenomics as the rules for how a digital token is supposed to behave in the market.

Only a small number of releases came from truly newsworthy events. In the dataset, 58 releases, which is about 2%, were about major business moves. These moves include venture funding rounds, mergers and acquisitions, or other big corporate finance activity. In plain language, these are stories that matter to the business world and investors, not just marketing or product news.

Another big finding is about tone. The study looked at how the releases were written. They found that the marketing style dominates crypto press releases. Only about 10% of the releases were written in a neutral, factual way. Roughly 54% used language that was overstated, and about 19% were clearly promotional. In paid releases, very strong language about success and big gains is common. This is often not how a newsroom would present similar claims.

The researchers also looked at risk signals from the issuers themselves. They found that a large share of releases came from high-risk projects. Specifically, high-risk issuers accounted for about 35.6% of all releases. Confirmed scams made up about 26.9%. In total, these two categories cover most of the releases. In contrast, established and low-risk projects accounted for only about 27% of the releases. This suggests that more credible firms rely less on paid distribution and are more likely to rely on organic or earned coverage from reporters who verify information.

A striking example appears in the cloud mining sector. In this area, almost 90% of press releases came from projects flagged as high risk or scams. Cloud mining is a business model that promises people can mine cryptocurrency using remote computers. The fact that most releases in this sector come from high-risk projects raises questions about the trustworthiness of the information readers see there.

What do these findings mean for readers? They suggest that the crypto press release ecosystem often serves marketing goals more than straightforward reporting. If a project can pay for placement, its message may reach readers even if the project has questionable credibility. This makes it important for readers to look for independent reporting and to check the credibility of a project before making any investment decisions.

Chainstory’s work highlights the role that marketing plans and paid placements play in the crypto media world. It shows how payments can shape what stories people see, and it reminds readers to think critically about what they read. For people who want to stay informed and avoid scams, the report suggests looking beyond the headline and checking multiple sources. It also highlights the importance of understanding who is paying for the story and what the underlying information really shows.

In summary, the Chainstory study analyzed 2,893 crypto press releases between mid-June and early November 2025. It found that a large majority—about 62%—came from projects that are labeled as High Risk or scams. These releases often come through paid channels, feature low news value, use promotional language, and favor less credible projects. The few truly newsworthy stories remain rare, and credible companies tend to get more organic coverage rather than paid publicity. For readers, this means staying cautious, checking facts, and seeking independent reporting when learning about new crypto projects.

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Note: Verifying information from multiple sources remains important. If you want to learn more about how crypto news is shared and why some messages may be more promotional than informative, this Chainstory report provides a clear look at the landscape during the period studied.