Explorer

Elon Musk Sued By Dogecoin Investor For $258 Billion Over Alleged Pyramid Scheme

Since Musk began promoting DOGE, investors have allegedly lost around $86 billion.

New Delhi: Tesla chief Elon Musk was sued for $258 billion on Thursday by a Dogecoin (DOGE) investor over an alleged pyramid scheme where he accused the billionaire entrepreneur of supporting the cryptocurrency. Keith Johnson has accused Musk in his complaint filed in Manhattan federal court of fraudulent business activity for promoting Dogecoin, driving its price up only to then let the value tumble, reported Reuters. Johnson, who claims to have lost money after investing in dogecoin, described himself as an "American citizen who was defrauded" by what he called a "Dogecoin Crypto Pyramid Scheme."

Elon Musk Sued: What Is The Accusation?

"Defendants were aware since 2019 that Dogecoin had no value yet promoted Dogecoin to profit from its trading,” the complaint noted in the complaint. “Musk used his pedestal as World’s Richest man to operate and manipulate the Dogecoin Pyramid Scheme for profit, exposure, and amusement.”

ALSO READ: GainBitcoin: India's Biggest Crypto Ponzi Scam May Grow To Rs 1 Trillion, Affecting 1 Lakh People

The complaint also cites experts such as Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and others questioning the value of cryptocurrency. Since Musk began promoting the virtual currency, investors have lost around $86 billion, according to the estimates by Johnson.  He is looking to gain $86 billion in damages on the basis of a decline in Dogecoin’s market value since May 2021 and wants it tripled.

Other than the damages, Johnson also wants to block Musk and his companies from promoting Dogecoin and a judge to declare that trading Dogecoin is gambling under federal and New York law.

The complaint states that Dogecoin’s selloff picked up when Musk hosted the NBC show Saturday Night Live, playing a fictitious financial expert on a “Weekend Update” segment, called Dogecoin “a hustle.”

He also named Musk's Tesla in the complaint since it accepts Dogecoin as payment for certain derivative products. SpaceX's name has also been included since one of its satellites was named after Dogecoin.

DOGE Price

In February 2021, Tesla said it had bought $1.5 billion Bitcoins and for a short time accepted it as payment for vehicles. Dogecoin traded at about 5.8 cents on Thursday, down from its May 2021 peak of about 74 cents.

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Six Accused Who Vandalised Actor Allu Arjun’s Hyderabad Residence Get Bail
Six Accused Who Vandalised Actor Allu Arjun’s Hyderabad Residence Get Bail
BJP Releases 'Chargesheet' Against AAP Govt, Corners Kejriwal On 10 Issues
BJP Releases 'Chargesheet' Against AAP Govt, Corners Kejriwal On 10 Issues
3 'Khalistani' Terrorists Gunned Down In Encounter With Police In Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit
3 'Khalistani' Terrorists Gunned Down In Encounter With Police In Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit
Hyderabad Stampede: Police Make Fresh Revelation About Allu Arjun, Release CCTV Footage
Hyderabad Stampede: Police Make Fresh Revelation About Allu Arjun, Release CCTV Clip
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Sambhal News: Two New Corridors Found in Ancient Stepwell Excavation in ChandausiLucknow Police Encounters Robbers, Arrests Trio Involved in Bank Heist, One InjuredSambhal Stepwell Excavation: Truth to be Revealed, Major Discoveries Await - ABP NewsProtests Outside Allu Arjun's House Over 'Pushpa 2' Stampede Incident, Accused Granted Bail

Photo Gallery

Embed widget