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Crypto Confidential: An Insider's Account from the Frontlines of Fraud
'A lively and dramatic account of greed, corruption, and scandal that will captivate you from start to finish.' – FRANK W. ABAGNALE, subject of Catch Me If You Can
'Everything you feared was true about crypto and much worse are laid bare in this gripping and infuriating insider account... Funny, illuminating and beautifully written.' – LIAM VAUGHAN, author of Flash A Trading Savant, a Global Manhunt and the Most Mysterious Market Crash in History
Crypto Confidential tells the salacious story of the industry everyone is talking about right now. In doing so, it sheds light on some of the most scandalous financial crimes of the 21st century. From billion-dollar fraud cases to international money laundering cartels, political bribery and even faked deaths, it lifts the lid on the intricate and immense web of malpractice which crypto founders spin to trap ordinary investors. Written by a prominent and well-connected insider, it provides a first-hand account of how the industry truly operates, and how every aspect is engineered for one to make vast amounts of fast money for those on the inside, by any means necessary.
'Everything you feared was true about crypto and much worse are laid bare in this gripping and infuriating insider account... Funny, illuminating and beautifully written.' – LIAM VAUGHAN, author of Flash A Trading Savant, a Global Manhunt and the Most Mysterious Market Crash in History
Crypto Confidential tells the salacious story of the industry everyone is talking about right now. In doing so, it sheds light on some of the most scandalous financial crimes of the 21st century. From billion-dollar fraud cases to international money laundering cartels, political bribery and even faked deaths, it lifts the lid on the intricate and immense web of malpractice which crypto founders spin to trap ordinary investors. Written by a prominent and well-connected insider, it provides a first-hand account of how the industry truly operates, and how every aspect is engineered for one to make vast amounts of fast money for those on the inside, by any means necessary.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2024
3 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 18, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for providing a free arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Crypto Confidential documents the true story of financial fraud that occurred in attempts to lure investors and make money. I’m not super familiar with crypto currency, so this was a really interesting read for me. It was very informative while also being approachable for people without a finance background. The book also explained various concepts well for people without experience in the industry. I really appreciated the insider look, along with the personal stories about how he got lured into crypto and how his business’ schemes unfolded. It’s a great reminder to be wary about deals seen on the internet and who one gets advice from, especially if it involves finances.
Crypto Confidential documents the true story of financial fraud that occurred in attempts to lure investors and make money. I’m not super familiar with crypto currency, so this was a really interesting read for me. It was very informative while also being approachable for people without a finance background. The book also explained various concepts well for people without experience in the industry. I really appreciated the insider look, along with the personal stories about how he got lured into crypto and how his business’ schemes unfolded. It’s a great reminder to be wary about deals seen on the internet and who one gets advice from, especially if it involves finances.
November 20, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this account of the world behind crypto!
I find myself currently obsessed with the level of ponzi-nomics occurring in the world and am fascinated by the scale to which this absolute farce has reached. This account reveals the level of corruption and crime that occurs at all levels of the crypto world which really needs to be revealed to the world.
If I had one complaint it was that the first half reads like an insiders account which gave some novel insights into the world behind crypto - for example how market makers blatantly manipulate volume numbers and how influencers are hired to shill the hell out of projects - which I found extremely interesting. Conversely, the last few chapters were a re-hash of some facts around the Luna and FTX collapse which I already had a good understanding of fundamentally (probably on me for researching this a lot), but I still feel that I would have liked the book to continue in the same vein and explain more of the personal stories around the impact of this.
Overall really enjoyed this, thanks Jake!
I find myself currently obsessed with the level of ponzi-nomics occurring in the world and am fascinated by the scale to which this absolute farce has reached. This account reveals the level of corruption and crime that occurs at all levels of the crypto world which really needs to be revealed to the world.
If I had one complaint it was that the first half reads like an insiders account which gave some novel insights into the world behind crypto - for example how market makers blatantly manipulate volume numbers and how influencers are hired to shill the hell out of projects - which I found extremely interesting. Conversely, the last few chapters were a re-hash of some facts around the Luna and FTX collapse which I already had a good understanding of fundamentally (probably on me for researching this a lot), but I still feel that I would have liked the book to continue in the same vein and explain more of the personal stories around the impact of this.
Overall really enjoyed this, thanks Jake!
September 23, 2024
The most effective part of this book is how Jake shows how so many players in adjacent industries sold their souls in order to suck on crypto’s teat: the auditors, the journalists, the lawyers, the VCs
September 6, 2024
This was a fast-paced, gripping book. It contained jaw-dropping information about how the world of crypto is run, and how the founders conduct their scams and exploit their investors. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in business, finance, true crime, or just great literature.
If you liked watching The Big Short, Wallstreet, or any other financial blockbuster, this is the book for you.
If you liked watching The Big Short, Wallstreet, or any other financial blockbuster, this is the book for you.
August 24, 2024
Couldn't put this book down, the best finance book I've read all year. I had no idea crypto was so rotten!
September 3, 2025
It does have some interesting facts and true accounts, but I found it boring.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews