Rug-Pull Stories You Probably Forgot (But Shouldn’t)

GREY

Well-known member
Been around since Bitconnect and saved every wallet address that scammed me.
The new generation thinks $PEPE is risky — but they’ve never seen a project vanish during the ICO.
Let’s collect the best rug-pull stories we’ve experienced or witnessed.
I'll start: LoopX. Raised $4.5M, deleted everything, and ghosted. Classic.
Newbies, take notes. It all comes back eventually.
 
Wow this is wild to read as someone new to crypto I’ve only heard about rug pulls on YouTube and Twitter but didn’t realize it was this common back then
Stories like this make me extra cautious about what I’m getting into now.
 
It’s wild how quickly history repeats itself in this space, and how short the collective memory can be. The faces change, the narratives get flashier, but the underlying human nature driving greed and opportunism stays constant. Stories like LoopX aren’t just relics they’re warnings written in the blood of past cycles. The real lesson isn’t about avoiding a single bad token, it’s about recognizing patterns and understanding the psychology behind market euphoria.
 
Too many in this space forget how brutal the early days were. LoopX, Bitconnect, Confido, Plexcoin textbook examples of unchecked greed and blind speculation. The tools have changed, but the psychology stays the same. Anyone serious about surviving this market long-term needs to study these cycles and recognize the patterns. History doesn't repeat, but it rhymes.
 
Crazy times back then but it’s wild how much the space has matured since. Sure, rugs still happen, but the infrastructure, transparency tools, and community due diligence are miles ahead of what we had during the ICO days. I’m optimistic about the next cycle, especially in emerging markets where real utility projects are starting to break through.
 
Bro if you didn’t lose rent money in Bitpetite are you even qualified to talk about rugpulls. LoopX was amateur hour compared to Confido. Real veterans got scammed before gas fees were even a thing.
 
Your perspective highlights an important lesson for anyone involved in the crypto space. Early projects like LoopX demonstrate how quickly things can go wrong, especially during ICO phases. It’s crucial to remain vigilant and learn from past incidents to better assess risks in new projects. Sharing these experiences is valuable for the community, helping newcomers build a more informed approach to investing and avoid similar pitfalls.
 
LoopX was brutal—but 2025’s $6B Mantra rug pull makes Bitconnect look tame; scams evolve, but the pain stays the same
 
If you haven’t watched a dev vanish mid-ICO with your ETH and a smiley face goodbye, you haven’t really lived crypto.
 
Lessons from the past like LoopX teach us to stay sharp—every rug pull is a masterclass in crypto caution for the next gen!
 
Man, reading this makes my stomach turn a little. I wasn’t around for Bitconnect or LoopX, but hearing stories like this reminds me how fragile this space can be. Every time a new hype project shows up, I can’t help but wonder if it’s just history getting ready to repeat itself.
 
Funny how history repeats itself in new packaging. I remember watching Bitconnect implode in real time the disbelief, the memes, the chaos. Projects like LoopX were a harsh lesson in how fast trust can vanish in this space. The new wave thinks volatility is the biggest risk, but those of us who’ve seen entire communities disappear overnight know better. It’s a cycle, and every bull run revives the same ghosts with different names.
 
This hits hard—so many forget how brutal the ICO era was compared to today’s meme coin “risks.” Back then, projects like LoopX pulled full exit scams after raising millions, no liquidity locks, no accountability. At least with $PEPE and similar plays, the rugs are faster and often obvious to seasoned eyes. Sharing these rug stories is valuable because patterns repeat: anonymous teams, overpromised roadmaps, and no audit trail are still red flags. Newbies chasing hype should study these cases—it’s the best defense against history rhyming.
 
So true—ICO era rugs were on another level. LoopX, PlexCoin, Bitcard… all vanished overnight with millions. At least today’s rugs are faster and easier to spot if you’ve been around. Newbies need to study these patterns: anon teams, no audits, and overhyped roadmaps. History doesn’t repeat, but it sure rhymes in crypto.
 
Facts—ICO era rugs like LoopX, PlexCoin, and Bitcard were next level compared to today’s meme coin flips. Back then it was full websites, whitepapers, and teams vanishing overnight with millions. Now at least we get on-chain transparency and liquidity locks (sometimes). Newbies calling $PEPE “risky” haven’t seen true exit scams yet. Study these patterns—anon teams, no audits, overhyped roadmaps—they still echo in 2025.
 
Ah, LoopX the Houdini of ICOs. I remember watching their promo video thinking, Wow, this is either the future or an elaborate heist. Turns out it was the second one. Kids these days get spooked over a meme coin dipping 10% and have no idea what it's like to wake up to a 404 error where your investment dashboard used to be.
 
Honestly, I’ve seen this type of nostalgia for old scams romanticized a little too often. Sure, the ICO days were wild, but pretending today’s risks are any less severe feels naive. The methods evolve, the rug-pulls just wear different clothes now. Whether it’s LoopX back then or stealth mints and memecoins today, the outcome’s the same. History repeats because people think it won’t happen to them.
 
Funny how the nature of value and trust keeps circling back to the same fragile premise. Whether it's 2017's LoopX or tomorrow's trending memecoin, the dance between hope and deception remains unchanged. In chasing the abstract promise of wealth, we reveal more about human nature than about the technology itself. Every vanished ICO and rug-pull is a reminder that in this space, memory is short but consequences are eternal.
 
The space has evolved, but the core lessons remain the same. Every cycle brings new faces, new tokens, and new traps. What matters is how we adapt, build smarter safeguards, and push for better transparency in future projects. The past will always leave its marks, but it’s also fuel for shaping a healthier, more resilient crypto ecosystem ahead.
 
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