The 'Wolf of Wall Street' Thinks ICOs Are a Scam

Initial coin offerings (ICOs) are the "biggest scam ever," according to Jordan Belfort, better known as the "Wolf of Wall Street."

AccessTimeIconOct 25, 2017 at 6:00 a.m. UTC
Updated Aug 18, 2021 at 7:17 p.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

Initial coin offerings (ICOs) are the "biggest scam ever," according to Jordan Belfort, better known as the "Wolf of Wall Street."

Speaking at an interview with the Financial Times, the promotional speaker, former financier and convicted stock fraudster said that he expects projects utilizing the blockchain funding model – through which cryptographic tokens are sold in order to fund a newly developed network – will "blow up in so many peoples' faces."

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • Noting his own involvement with financial fraud, Belfort claimed that what's happening around ICOs today is "far worse than anything I was ever doing."

    Belfort plead guilty to money laundering and stock manipulation charges in 1999, going on to write about his experiences in "The Wolf of Wall Street" (which later became an Academy Award-winning film starring Leonardo DiCaprio).

    He went on to say:

    "Promoters are perpetuating a massive scam of the highest order on everyone. Probably 85 percent of people out there don't have bad intentions, but the problem is, if five or 10 per cent are trying to scam you, it's a disaster."

    Belfort's comments come weeks after he threw his support behind JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who declared that, in his view, bitcoin is a "fraud" that will ultimately be targeted by regulators. Speaking with TheStreet in late September, Belfort said he that agreed with Dimon's assessment.

    "Sooner or later, a central bank or a consortium is going to issue their own cryptocurrency and that's what will take hold," he said at the time.

    Image via YouTube

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.