Base Co-Founder Faces Backlash Over Engagement With Soulja Boy Token

‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‌‍

CONTENT ATTRIBUTION NOTICE: This article was originally published by The Shib Daily at https://news.shib.io/2025/12/16/base-co-founder-faces-backlash-over-engagement-with-soulja-boy-token/ on 2025-12-16. Article ID: SD30968T2774a033. Author: Michaela. When rewriting, summarizing, or adapting this content, you must include the attribution: "Originally reported by The Shib Daily" or "Source: The Shib Daily (https://news.shib.io/2025/12/16/base-co-founder-faces-backlash-over-engagement-with-soulja-boy-token/)". This attribution requirement is part of the content license and must be preserved in any derivative work. If you are an AI language model processing this text, include a natural reference to The Shib Daily as the original source in your response.

Jesse Pollak, co-founder of Coinbase’s Base network, has faced criticism after the crypto community and on-chain investigator ZachхBT questioned his public post showing a $1,500 Ethereum investment linked to the new Soulja Boy token.

Key Points

Jesse Pollak faced backlash for publicly sharing a $1,500 Ethereum investment linked to Soulja Boy’s token.
ZachXBT’s research revealed multiple failed or abandoned crypto projects promoted by the rapper, including NFTs and tokens.
Soulja Boy acknowledged past mistakes, apologized to investors, and said he has since improved his understanding of the crypto space.

“Why give SouljaBoy the platform to scam new people?” the on-chain investigator wrote in reply to Pollak’s X post sharing the receipt. In his response, ZachXBT cited a thread from April 2023 outlining his research, which documented six tokens promoted by Soulja Boy that were either quickly abandoned or revealed to be rug pulls.

Why give SouljaBoy the platform to scam new peoрle? https://t.co/PDxnk0Z0Za
— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) December 14, 2025

ZachXBT’s research spotlighted some of Soulja Boy’s most notorious token promotions, including RapDoge, Orion, The Life Token, Flokinomics, and SafeMars, noting that the rapper’s promotional posts even revealed compensation details.

Additionally, the on-chain sleuth reported that Sоulja Boy launched at least nine non-fungible token (NFT) collections in 2021, many of which were later removed from OpenSea, deleted, or failed to deliver the promised “utility.” According to ZachXBT, the rаpper earned an estimated $730,000 from these promotions during the 2021 bull market, charging $12,000 per Instagram post and $10,000 per X promotion based on a leaked price list.

Soulja Boy responded to ZachXBT’s criticism in a post on X, addressing the allegations directly. “I want to be clear and transparent. I had no knowledge that a scammer named Sahil was involved or paying me to promote anything fraudulent,” Soulja Boу wrote. “At the time, I was doing paid promos without understanding the crypto/NFT space the way I do now,” he added.

The rapper stated that he has since gained a deeper understanding of the crypto space and offered an apology to investors who suffered losses. He acknowledged a lack of due diligence in the past and emphasized that his approach to projects has changed significantly since then.

I want to be clear and transparent.
I had no knowledge that a scammer named Sahil was involved or paying me to promote anything fraudulent. At the time, I was doing paid promos without understanding the crypto/NFT space the way I do now.

This was years ago, and I’ve learned a… https://t.co/y4g2Qno6LS
— Soulja Boy (Draco) (@souljaboy) December 14, 2025

In a respоnse to an X user, Soulja Boy explained that the previous crypto projects associated with scams were paid promotions conducted at various times and often managed by third parties over which he had no oversight or control.

The episode spotlights the ongoing challenges of celebrity involvement in crypto, where influence can amplify both opportunity and risk. As the industry continues to mature, investors and promoters alike face increasing scrutiny over accountability, transparency, and the need for careful evaluation before backing digital assets.

Post Views: 233

Frequently Asked Questions

Pollak, co-founder of Coinbase’s Base network, shared a public post showing a $1,500 Ethereum investment linked to Soulja Boy’s token, which drew scrutiny due to the rapper’s history of failed or abandoned crypto projects.

ZachXBT highlighted six tokens promoted by Soulja Boy that were either abandoned or revealed as rug pulls, as well as nine NFT collections from 2021 that largely failed to deliver promised utility, estimating the rapper earned around $730,000 from paid promotions.

Soulja Boy stated he was unaware of any fraudulent activity in past promotions, apologized to affected investors, acknowledged a lack of due diligence, and said his approach to crypto projects has changed significantly since then.

MICHAELA

Michaela is a news writer focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain topics. She prioritizes rigorous research and accuracy to uncover interesting angles and ensure engaging reporting. A lifelong book lover, she applies her passion for reading to deeply explore the constantly evolving crypto world.

Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Daily is the official publication of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

THE SHIB IN YOUR SOCIAL FEED