• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Some Fortune Crypto pricing data is provided by Binance.
NFTs and CultureCryptocurrency

Logan Paul sued for alleged CryptoZoo ‘rug pull’

Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 3, 2023, 1:50 PM ET
Influencer Logan Paul was accused in a lawsuit of executing a Rug Pull with his Web3 project CryptoZoo.
Influencer Logan Paul was accused in a lawsuit of executing a Rug Pull with his Web3 project CryptoZoo.Christian Petersen—Getty Images

Social media influencer Logan Paul was accused in a class action lawsuit this week of executing a so-called rug pull—crypto slang for cheating investors—for his Web3 game CryptoZoo, which never materialized.

The company behind the game, CryptoZoo Inc, which the lawsuit alleges is owned by Paul, created and sold the cryptocurrency “Zoo Tokens,” which were meant to be used to buy the company’s CryptoZoo NFTs of exotic animals. 

The lawsuit alleges that Paul and the other defendants promised buyers that they would, “later receive benefits, including, among other things, rewards, exclusive access to other cryptocurrency assets, and the support of an online ecosystem to use and market CZ NFTs.” 

In reality, Paul went on to promote other projects and executed a rug pull as the game and benefits associated with buying CryptoZoo’s products never appeared, according to the lawsuit. 

The suit also claims that Paul and the other defendants profited from manipulating the market for Zoo Tokens.

“Soon after completing the sale of all their CZ NFTs, Defendants, together with others, transferred millions of dollars’ worth of purchasers’ cryptocurrency to, among other places, wallets controlled by Defendants,” the lawsuit reads.

Other people named in the suit are Paul’s assistant Danielle Strobel, Logan Paul’s manager Jeffrey Levin, the lead developer of CryptoZoo, Eddie Ibanez, CryptoZoo cofounder Jake Greenbaum, and CryptoZoo community manager Ophir Bentov.

The suit comes after Paul said last month that he would refund 1,000 Ether, or about $1.6 million as of Friday, to CryptoZoo users. Responding to pressure from YouTuber Coffeezilla, Paul said he would finish the project and said he and his manager, Levin, would burn their tokens so they would not financially benefit from it. 

Still, the lawsuit claims the rewards program is not enough.

“The program does not include Defendants’ profitable Zoo Tokens used to participate in the failed CryptoZoo or the third set of CZ NFTs, Hybrid Animals,” it reads.

Other people on Twitter were similarly upset about Paul’s actions with CryptoZoo. 

Logan Paul is a narcissist that has no respect at all for the well-being of his fans.

it’s bad enough he ripped them off but especially so in a time of mass economic uncertainty.

it’s not a suicide forest this time, sorry just isn’t good enough.#CryptoZoo @coffeebreak_YT

— 𝕯𝖆𝖈𝖍𝖘 𝕱ü𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖗 (@dachsaus) February 3, 2023

One user said they had lost $10,000, although Fortune could not verify their claim.

https://twitter.com/husseino_1o1/status/1621394328193990657
Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter examining what leaders need to succeed. Sign up here.
About the Author
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezReporter
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Role: Reporter
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez is a reporter for Fortune covering general business news.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in NFTs and Culture

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in NFTs and Culture

NFTs and CultureCrime
Father of crypto-millionaire rescued after being held for ransom—and having his finger severed
By Catherine McGrathMay 5, 2025
9 months ago
CompaniesCryptocurrency
Remember MoviePass? It’s still around—and going all in on crypto
By Ben WeissMay 1, 2025
9 months ago
NFTs and CultureDonald Trump
Trump’s latest crypto venture will be a real estate video game
By Ben WeissApril 15, 2025
9 months ago
NFTs and CultureNFTs
Man pleads guilty to tax fraud for failing to report $13 million in CryptoPunks sales
By Catherine McGrathApril 14, 2025
9 months ago
NFTs and CultureCryptocurrency
A 23-year-old spent his last $500 on a memecoin and then shot himself playing Russian roulette
By Catherine McGrathApril 10, 2025
9 months ago
A picture of three gold coins with the term NFT inscribed on them.
CompaniesNFTs
Magic Eden acquires trading platform Slingshot in push to expand beyond NFTs
By Ben WeissApril 9, 2025
9 months ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Health
The head of marketing at Slate posted on LinkedIn requesting cleaning services as a benefit at her company. The next day, HR answered her call
By Sydney LakeJanuary 15, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Europe
Americans have been quietly plundering Greenland for over 100 years, since a Navy officer chipped fragments off the Cape York iron meteorite
By Paul Bierman and The ConversationJanuary 14, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
America’s $38 trillion national debt is so big the nearly $1 trillion interest payment will be larger than Medicare soon
By Shawn TullyJanuary 15, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Personal Finance
Peter Thiel makes his biggest donation in years to help defeat California’s billionaire wealth tax
By Nick LichtenbergJanuary 14, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
Ford CEO Jim Farley says the White House will 'always answer the phone,' but needs Trump to do more to curtail China’s threat to America's autos
By Sasha RogelbergJanuary 16, 2026
18 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
One year after Bill Gates surprised with the choice to close his foundation by 2045, he's cutting staff jobs
By Stephanie Beasley and The Associated PressJanuary 14, 2026
2 days ago

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.