On-chain investigator ZachXBT has put up a personal $10,000 bounty for proof of market manipulation by Hong Kong-based market maker Heisenberg Guru (HSBG). The reward targets evidence of price manipulation across centralized exchanges Bitget, Binance, and Gate, with a specific focus on the token River (RIVER). ZachXBT funded the bounty from his own accounts and framed it as part of a broader effort to expose Asia-based market makers he says are rigging the system.
Focus on River token
The bounty singles out RIVER, a token that saw a 500% rally earlier in 2026. That surge drew attention to unusual supply concentration and heavy derivatives trading. At times, derivatives turnover on RIVER outpaced spot volume — a pattern that had already triggered warnings from traders. ZachXBT named Sion and Chao as the core operators of HSBG, though neither has publicly responded to the bounty post.
Pattern of manipulation allegations
This isn't the first such probe. ZachXBT previously posted a similar bounty tied to alleged RAVE token coordination on Bitget. Multiple tokens, including LAB and RAVE, have been examined after analysts flagged sudden supply concentration and derivatives-driven price spikes. ZachXBT described these market makers as “a cancer to the industry” and accused Asia-based exchanges of “continuing to turn a blind eye.”
Bounty mechanics and next steps
Submissions for the $10,000 reward go through direct messages to ZachXBT — there's no public form or wallet listed. Past investigations by the same on-chain sleuth have triggered exchange reviews and asset freezes across multiple jurisdictions. Whether this bounty will lead to similar action remains an open question. For now, the investigator is waiting for evidence that ties HSBG's operations to the patterns flagged in RIVER and other tokens.
