Crypto influencers, often referred to as Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), have come under scrutiny for promoting projects like ZCash with unrealistic price targets, leading to significant losses for investors. Many of these influencers are accused of being marketing tools for venture funds, pushing products onto retail investors without substantial analysis or development backing. The pattern of promoting projects like Plasma and ZCash, despite the existence of superior alternatives, highlights a curated narrative aimed at retail investors. The criticism extends to the broader crypto ecosystem, where platforms and individuals that challenge these narratives, such as Changpeng Zhao and Binance, become targets. The consistent playbook of promoting certain projects while sidelining others underscores the need for investors to think independently, trace incentives, and follow the money to make informed decisions.