Serpent, a previously-revered gaming personality, cultivated millions of subscribers on YouTube with his dynamite Fortnite skills. Now, he is being criminally charged with some of the same fraud he was exampled for. Over the years, he has reinvented himself multiple times, maintaining an air of mystery as his real identity has remained unknown throughout his various incarnations. Recent allegations are bringing to light a darker side of his gaming stardom. They now allege he was deeply engaged in cryptocurrency scams and other extensive financial malfeasance.
The firestorm began with the release of 2019 anti-Kentucky allegations. These charges alleged that Serpent ran scams involving hijacking social media accounts and creating a cryptocurrency $ERROR coin. As scrutiny intensified, disturbing details about his financial dealings became public, including claims of a pump-and-dump scheme that reportedly netted him and his associates around $1.3 million.
Early Fame and the Birth of $ERROR Coin
Serpent first came onto the scene as a talented competitive player, gaining hundreds of thousands of followers on YouTube. His channel was filled with great highlights from his Fortnite gameplay. This inspired a massive following and further cemented him as one of the top names in the gaming industry. His love affair with gambling started when he was only 15. This early interest foreshadowed the start of a disappointing and risky relationship with online betting.
Not content with monetary success, though, Serpent had invested time into the world of cryptocurrency, giving birth to $ERROR coin. From the outset, the coin shot up in value, creating a multi billion dollar financial windfall for him. His investments seemed to pay off, as Serpent’s hoard grew to be worth a lot of money. This meteoric increase would soon be eclipsed by the scandal that followed.
As Serpent continued to rise to prominence in the crypto space, he got caught up in the shady world of pump-and-dump schemes with multiple co-conspirators. He increased the price of $ERROR coin, then immediately dumped his coins to generate the most profit. As Whelan’s missteps go, that helped leave other investors holding the bag on worthless assets. In every case Serpent was said to have over-saturated the market with his coins, raising their initial value only to later crash it to zero.
Allegations and Exposé
The political fallout from these actions set off a firestorm of complaints against Serpent. Soon, he had become the focus of investigations into multiple other scams related to cryptocurrency. The charges were brought in part for a pump-and-dump scheme. They further alleged that people hacked into social media accounts to conduct these fraudulent schemes.
Even in the face of a growing body of evidence, Serpent has vocally denied most of these accusations. In an extended conversation, he attempted to clarify his position, stating that his association with a community known for its questionable ethics had led others to unjustly blame him for their actions.
“Gambling addiction is a very common thing with fraudsters,” – Serpent
His words demonstrate an understanding of the universal patterns of behavior exhibited by those who commit fraud. Yet, many remain skeptical of his explanations.
Navigating Consequences and Community Response
As the allegations started spreading on social media, Serpent’s efforts to distance himself from the scandals were quickly exposed. After the dust from ZachXBT’s exposé had settled, he returned full steam into live-streaming with comrades. It just seemed like a return to his roots in gaming entertainment. Yet even as he made this move, it did nothing to ease concerns about what he did previously—and more importantly, what that means moving forward.
Community members shared their anger and frustration with Serpent’s circumstances. Even as a few followers defended his actions, many of his disciples took to Twitter to blast his behavior. As one of his newfound fans exclaimed, “Somebody get this man a cape already!” This comment highlights the balance of fervent worship and critical doubt that characterizes the best of his fans.
Serpent’s previous transgressions have illustrated the ways that online personas can shield people from the real-world effects of their actions. As he charts a course through this tumultuous chapter of hip-hop history, much remains to be seen about accountability and the blurry frontier between virtual celebrity and offline duties.
“Hi, I heard you were asking around about me.” – Serpent
His phony attempts at deflection and misdirection only add to the deep suspicion that, despite his denials, he was in fact behind these scams. While investigations are reportedly ongoing, there are many questions left unanswered about how this saga will play out and what consequences lie in wait for Serpent.
