Over 60% of Crypto Press Releases Linked to High‑Risk Projects — U.S. Analysis Flags Industry Weakness

A focused analysis of crypto press distribution exposes a systemic shortcut around editorial judgment: paid wires and syndication networks pump marketing content into newsfeeds in bulk, often without verification. Researchers examined 2,893 press items published over a six‑month window and concluded that more than half originated from issuers displaying clear risk signals or proven scams, while only a sliver conveyed substantive corporate events. The mechanics are straightforward and effective — distributors sell guaranteed placement across dozens of outlets, stripping away newsroom gates and relying on appearing within news templates to borrow credibility. To casual readers the result looks like coverage; to an analyst it is a paid layer of amplification that boosts search visibility and pollutes news streams. The study documents how this pipeline enabled impersonation and wallet‑draining schemes by giving fraudulent notices the same surface treatment as legitimate announcements. It also notes that established exchanges routinely issue multiple listing notices, which adds volume and normalizes constant promotional noise without implying institutional malfeasance. The cumulative effect is an information ecosystem where promotional material crowds out independently sourced reporting and where the lines between earned journalism and paid marketing blur. That dynamic favors projects that deploy aggressive messaging or deceptive branding because syndication multiplies reach irrespective of merit. From a risk perspective, retail investors face greater exposure to misleading claims while media outlets and search engines inherit reputational costs. Remediation will require clearer labeling standards, stronger editorial controls, and platform-level policies that separate paid release syndication from genuine reporting. Regulators and industry bodies may also need to define disclosure requirements for distributed marketing that appears in news contexts. Absent such changes, the study suggests the current model will continue to amplify high‑risk projects and make it harder for readers to distinguish bona fide developments from promotional noise.