Onchain investigator ZachXBT has accused crypto influencer Ashcrypto — known online as AshWSB — of orchestrating multiple pump-and-dump schemes targeting thinly traded tokens listed on centralized exchanges. The allegation centers on the ROYA token, which ZachXBT says Ashcrypto publicly promoted while simultaneously telling followers in private channels to keep buying.
The ROYA token play
According to evidence shared by ZachXBT, Ashcrypto posted bullish content about ROYA to a large public audience, painting it as a promising altcoin. But in private messages, the influencer allegedly instructed followers to hold their positions and accumulate more of the same token — a classic pump-and-dump script. The timing of those private calls, ZachXBT argued, suggests Ashcrypto was trying to inflate demand for ROYA before an eventual sell-off.
Illiquid centralized exchange altcoins are particularly vulnerable to coordinated pumping because thin order books make prices easy to move with relatively small buys. ZachXBT's investigation claims Ashcrypto targeted exactly that kind of token, exploiting the illiquidity to manufacture a rally that benefited early buyers — likely Ashcrypto and close associates — while leaving later entrants holding the bag.
No response from Ashcrypto yet
Ashcrypto has not publicly responded to the allegations as of this writing. The influencer's social media accounts remain active but have not addressed ZachXBT's findings directly. The crypto community has been debating the evidence, with some calling for exchanges that listed ROYA to review trading activity around the periods in question.
What comes next
No formal complaint has been filed with any regulator, and the exchanges that hosted ROYA have not announced any investigation. ZachXBT's track record — he has previously exposed several high-profile scams and rug pulls — means the crypto industry will be watching closely for further disclosures. If Ashcrypto's private message logs are made public in full, the case could escalate into a broader regulatory or exchange enforcement action.
