Crypto Project Exit Scam Lawsuit Faces Dismissal Motion

According to Cointelegraph, Daniel Ianello, accused of orchestrating an exit scam involving the crypto project The Phoenix, has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against him in a Tennessee federal court. The complaint alleges that Ianello took control of Phoenix Community Capital in October 2022 and executed actions resembling an exit scam. After assuming control, he reportedly shut down the project's smart contracts and moved substantial investor funds. Plaintiffs claim he deleted posts on Discord, removed earlier versions of the Phoenix website, and announced that the smart contracts would not be restored. In his defense, Ianello argues that he is a Michigan resident with no significant ties to Tennessee, asserting that the court lacks personal jurisdiction over him. He maintains that he did not sell any securities, as he joined the company by acquiring its assets after the alleged sales. Ianello further contends that he made no statements regarding the investments and accuses the plaintiffs of unjustly associating him with The Phoenix and its founders. The Phoenix, now with a deleted website, had promised significant returns to its token holders through a profit release mechanism, leveraging a large capital pool of community assets for investment opportunities. It also claimed to offer an in-house incubation program to fund and manage new projects, purportedly leading to high-profit sharing with the community. Crypto scams continue to be a significant concern in the industry. A recent report by blockchain security firm CertiK highlights that losses from crypto hacks, exploits, and scams surged to $2.47 billion in the first half of 2025. Cointelegraph also reported on a self-claimed victim of a crypto romance scam who has filed a second lawsuit against two banks after previously suing Citibank for missing red flags. Additionally, a man involved in a crypto Ponzi scheme was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison by a federal judge in Brooklyn, New York, underscoring the ongoing challenges posed by fraudulent activities in the crypto sector.