The internet is a highly welcoming place – and that applies to both well- and ill-intended participants too, AI robots included. That’s why a lot of information found on media platforms is not to be trusted and taken into consideration; or at least triple-checked if possible. Cryptocurrency is a red-hot topic these days, so naturally, it attracts all sorts of scammers and opportunists. A recent study from Chainstory found that about 62% of the press releases coming out are misleading and come from sketchy projects after reviewing 2,893 releases between June and November in 2025 – and crypto exchanges have less or nothing to do with that. Needless to say, you need to pick just several operators for your crypto deeds, whether it’s for trading, insight gathering, monitoring news, or simply staying up with broader indicators like the fear and greed index.
What the study reveals
At its core, the research observed that 26.9% of press releases are direct scam schemes, whereas 35.6% are associated with risky ventures. Only one in ten press releases was medium risk, with 27% being legit and trustworthy to some extent. Crypto media has made it easy to publish paid marketing content and label it as “news” without journalists checking content for legitimacy first, a highly important step in traditional media, where someone would check the claims, check the sources, and correct the story before greenlighting it for publication.
Crypto projects can pay to publish press releases directly and make it feel like significant news, content that reaches large audiences, and creates an illusion of credibility. Some services even share the same press release across many small crypto sites at once, and if you take a closer look at the similarities, you’ll find out that it’s the same replicated content across networks – or tweaked a bit, but paid for after all. Publication barriers are lower, and that allows projects to gain exposure deceitfully, sitting quietly behind the many misleading statements that are simply slipping through. All of these make misinformation much more common, and building a discerning – even skeptical – eye much more important.
The risk that many retail investors are subject to
Way too many platforms publish press releases across lots of websites, from media sidebar feeds to crypto-focused outlets. That’s why you can find the “as seen on” mention on many publications – that’s an indicator that the content has just been distributed across more sites, and it’s an outright red flag. Notably, many articles and press releases include tiny disclaimers like “sponsored content” or “paid promotion” which you can look for to determine whether the piece of writing is worth reading.
Casual, retail investors who lack access to the superior tools that institutional investors use to base investment decisions may take such hype-driven content for granted and make investment decisions based on it, buying and selling based on marketing schemes rather than fundamentals.
How to find reliable crypto press releases
Navigating the flood of crypto news can feel overwhelming when you’re just starting out, but once you’ve created a toolbox of reliable, valid resources for insight, you’ll know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Here are several steps to take in your journey toward finding trustworthy crypto information and avoiding misleading press releases.
Check sources
First things first, never overlook who’s actually publishing the content. The reputable crypto media outlets you should keep on your list should have a track record of investigative reporting, transparency about sponsorships or partnerships, experienced editorial teams, disclosures for paid vs. journalized content and news, and so on. Worthy outlets don’t “copy paste”, but publish lengthy, investigative content that reveals information with the power to impact the market, information that actually matters. They’re also non-biased and objective, so after reading an article, you shouldn’t feel encouraged to buy or sell, but rather motivated to continue building knowledge.
Lastly, if an article appears on a site you’ve never heard of, or across multiple smaller sites with identical content, these are signs you should treat it cautiously or leave it altogether. Ask yourself if this given project has been covered by independent, credible sources. And then find out for yourself.
Look for evident disclaimers
There are smaller or bigger disclaimers, like “sponsored content” or “paid promotion”, signaling that the piece in front of your eyes is marketing, not journalism, that’s why you should scan anything that seems valuable for them first. If the disclaimer is difficult to find or absent altogether, the content might be intentionally designed to blur the lines between news and advertising, meaning that its scope is more probably promotional than informative.
Verify claims by yourself
Don’t take press releases at surface level – you need to always dig a little deeper, checking the project’s official website for techier details, looking for announcements on verified social media accounts or credible forums, and seeing if legitimate media outlets or reputable partners are covering the project. Doing this kind of independent verification can help you tell whether bold claims are genuine or just hype.
Use crypto analytics tools
Some platforms have evolved into key spots for finding data-based insights into all sorts of crypto-related matters, from crypto projects to market sentiment to project liquidity, to name a few. Such objective indicators are harder to manipulate than press releases because they’re independent and born out of non-promotional motivations, giving a clearer picture of a project’s legitimacy.
Be wary of “too good to be true” hype
If you’ve spent some time scanning press releases, you’ve likely become fed up with articles promising the moon – unrealistic returns, exclusive opportunities, “buy now or lose” calls…you name it. Press releases making what feels like promises in the first place are better to be avoided altogether – they’re likely out to generate hype. Remember: short-term price moves are often driven by perception, not fundamentals. Don’t let marketing impact your investment decisions.
Finally, building a critical eye is essential.
To do so, learn to ask yourself things like who actually benefits if you believe the news, whether the information you’ve come across is verifiable somewhere else, and whether you’re reacting to hype or real, researched content. By consistently questioning the sources and motivations behind crypto press releases, you can avoid falling into marketing traps.
