Football legend Ronaldinho Gaúcho, popularly known as Ronaldinho, has recently hinted at re-entering the cryptocurrency scene, but his controversial past in the industry has raised significant doubts.
In a social media post on June 23, Ronaldinho suggested it was time for cryptocurrency to “go mainstream,” inviting his audience to join him. However, this announcement was quickly met with criticism from crypto enthusiasts, including on-chain investigator ZachXBT.
Time for crypto to go mainstream, who’s with me?
ZachXBT questioned Ronaldinho’s intentions, suggesting his recent post might indicate financial troubles. He reminded the public of the former football star’s past involvement in controversial crypto projects, accusing him of participating in multiple pump-and-dump schemes.
A screenshot accompanying ZachXBT’s post featured several crypto projects the football legend had promoted in the past, including World Cup Inu (WCI), Atari Chain, Lord Society NFT, and the well-known meme coin Baby Doge.
Is this a translation for you are bankrupt again?
Ronaldinho’s previous venture into the crypto market was fraught with controversy, notably highlighted by the “18kRonaldinho” scandal, which allegedly involved a $61 million pyramid scheme. This scheme falsely advertised daily returns of 2% on crypto investments, using Ronaldinho’s name and image to bolster credibility. At a Brazilian congressional hearing, Ronaldinho denied any association with the company, asserting that his likeness had been used without authorization.
Celebrities in Crypto
Ronaldinho is not alone in his celebrity status intertwined with the crypto world. In April 2021, renowned rap artist Eminem made headlines with the launch of a series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Eminem also collaborated with Snoop Dogg on an NFT-themed music video for their song “From the D to the LBC.”
Other celebrities have similarly made notable entries into the crypto scene. UFC star Conor McGregor teamed up with a crypto trading platform. Tennis star Maria Sharapova, alongside personalities like Gal Gadot, Bruce Willis, and Justin Bieber, has also shown interest in cryptocurrency.
Most recently, the crypto community witnessed a wave of celebrity-backed meme coins, which quickly dumped, triggering investor losses. Media personality Caitlyn Jenner and Nigerian musician David “Davido” Adeleke were some of the celebrities caught up in the saga.
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