Coffeezilla

Findeisen holds a degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University.{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Chris |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Coffeezilla – The YouTuber Who Exposes Fake Gurus and Crypto Scams |url=https://techiegamers.com/coffeezilla/ |access-date=23 July 2023 |website=techiegamers.com |publisher=Techie + Gamers |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723125503/https://techiegamers.com/coffeezilla/ |url-status=live }}

Before his YouTube career, he sold houses for a local builder.{{Cite news |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=April 14, 2022 |title=Meet the Blockchain Detectives Who Track Crypto's Hackers and Scammers |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/meet-the-blockchain-detectives-who-track-cryptos-hackers-and-scammers/ |access-date=December 27, 2022 |work=Vice |archive-date=December 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227064328/https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgd9zw/meet-the-blockchain-detectives-who-track-cryptos-hackers-and-scammers |url-status=live }} Findeisen was motivated to hunt down scams after his mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer, was persuaded to buy questionable products with the belief that they would help cure her. His mother would later end up recovering after surgery.{{Cite news |date=June 23, 2022 |title=This YouTuber has built his career calling out crypto scams |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2022/06/23/nightcap-crypto-clip-orig.cnn |access-date=December 27, 2022 |work=CNN}} He began his career as a YouTuber by uploading videos in which he makes allegations about influencers and financial commentators.{{Cite magazine |last=Monroe |first=Rachel |author-link=Rachel Monroe |date=May 14, 2022 |title=Coffeezilla, the YouTuber Exposing Crypto Scams |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-southwest/coffeezilla-the-youtuber-exposing-crypto-scams |access-date=December 27, 2022 |magazine=The New Yorker |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213191311/https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-southwest/coffeezilla-the-youtuber-exposing-crypto-scams |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Alford |first=Aaron |date=March 7, 2022 |title=CoffeeZilla reveals Jake Paul's alleged crypto scams amid SafeMoon lawsuit |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/16672/coffeezilla-reveals-jake-pauls-alleged-crypto-scams-safemoon-lawsuit |access-date=January 6, 2023 |work=Inven Global |archive-date=January 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101221401/https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/16672/coffeezilla-reveals-jake-pauls-alleged-crypto-scams-safemoon-lawsuit |url-status=live }}

In October 2024 Andrew Tate was sent a series of questions by Coffeezilla about his meme coin DADDY. In response, Tate doxxed Coffeezilla by leaking his email address and encouraged his supporters to email abusive content to Coffeezilla, specifically requesting that they call him "gay."{{cite web |title=Andrew Tate's 'War Room' harasses Coffeezilla over shitcoin enquiry |url=https://protos.com/andrew-tates-war-room-harasses-coffeezilla-over-shitcoin-enquiry/ |website=protos.com |access-date=6 November 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110002020/https://protos.com/andrew-tates-war-room-harasses-coffeezilla-over-shitcoin-enquiry/ |url-status=live }}

Findeisen films in front of a green screen, wearing suspenders, with elaborate computer-generated backgrounds rendered in Blender by his Ukrainian collaborator 1O1OO11O1O.{{cite AV media |people=

Joey /// VP Land |date= January 15, 2024 |title=Inside Coffeezilla's '$10,000,000' Virtual Production Studio|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjAkmqJCbJY |access-date=February 10, 2025 }} Animated graphics are used to illustrate connections between people, flows of money, etc., while vignettes in the world outside of the studio, including a recurring character of a robot bartender called Maxwell, are used for exposition and storytelling.

{{Further|Save the Kids token#Coffeezilla investigation}}

He gained international recognition after making a series of videos that investigated Save the Kids token, a cryptocurrency widely seen as a pump and dump scheme. He claimed that former FaZe Clan member Frazier Khattri (FaZe Kay) collaborated with YouTube prankster Sam Pepper. In response, Khattri's lawyers threatened to sue Findeisen in a cease and desist letter unless he retracted his statements, but Findeisen called the cease and desist letter "absolute toilet paper".{{Cite news |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=July 14, 2022 |title=Former Faze Clan Guy Pressures YouTubers To Pull Scam Vids With Millions of Views |url=https://kotaku.com/former-faze-clan-guy-pressures-youtubers-to-pull-scam-v-1847289871 |access-date=December 27, 2022 |work=Kotaku |archive-date=December 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227065351/https://kotaku.com/former-faze-clan-guy-pressures-youtubers-to-pull-scam-v-1847289871 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Sacco |first=Dom |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Frazier Kay to sue Coffeezilla over Save the Kids crypto investigation |url=https://esports-news.co.uk/2021/07/14/frazier-kay-to-sue-coffeezilla-over-save-the-kids-crypto-investigation/ |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Esports New UK |archive-date=October 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015141938/https://esports-news.co.uk/2021/07/14/frazier-kay-to-sue-coffeezilla-over-save-the-kids-crypto-investigation/ |url-status=live }}

{{Further|SafeMoon#Criticisms and legal issues}}

In April 2022, Findeisen accused the SafeMoon team of misappropriating millions of dollars.{{Cite news |last=Franceschi-Bicchierai |first=Lorenzo |date=May 9, 2022 |title=What Happened to SafeMoon, the Hyped-Up Crypto That Promised Riches? |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/what-happened-to-safemoon-the-hyped-up-crypto-that-promised-riches/ |work=Vice |access-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-date=January 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101221409/https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxdmj9/what-happened-to-safemoon-the-hyped-up-crypto-that-promised-riches |url-status=live }} According to Findeisen, Safemoon CEO John Karony had been removing funds from the liquidity pool which is the primary explanation for the crypto's price pattern. Findeisen found evidence of transactions that showed SafeMoon's liquidity wallet moving funds to a wallet dubbed the "Gabe (6abe) wallet" which withdrew funds to a separate company run by Karony. Former SafeMoon CTO Thomas "Papa" Smith was the only person who responded to Findeisen's claims stating that funds were taken from the "locked liquidity pool" before Karony's appointment. He sent Smith evidence of this in the form of a blockchain transaction showing an outflow of 36.7 trillion tokens from the liquidity pool, dated March 5, 2021. Former SafeMoon CTO, Thomas Smith, who had a role as a blockchain advisor for StrikeX, was dismissed by the company after the fraud allegations uncovered by Findeisen.{{Cite web |title=Cooli Carlito x HALO – StrikeX |url=https://genius.com/25116507/Broke-hustler-strikex/Like-a-wizard-with-the-potion-yeah-the-moneys-next |website=Genius}} Coffeezilla has made multiple other reports on SafeMoon, including the pump and dump scheme against many influencers including Soulja Boy, Logan Paul, Lil Yachty, Ben Phillips among others as well as highlighting the controversy surrounding the SafeMoon CEO suing his own mother.{{cite court |litigants=Lex Vest LTD v. Emanations Communications Group LC |vol=2:22-cv-01226 |court=D. Nev. |date=2022 |url=https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nvd.157620/gov.uscourts.nvd.157620.1.0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430032730/https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nvd.157620/gov.uscourts.nvd.157620.1.0.pdf |url-status=live }}

Findeisen additionally was active during the bankruptcy of FTX, interviewing FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried on three occasions and describing Bankman-Fried's responses during the last interview as an admission of fraud. In light of his involvement with investigating FTX in particular, The Washington Post credited Findeisen as one of the most powerful independent news sources when it comes to the cryptocurrency industry.{{Cite web |last=Amos |first=Andrew |title=Coffeezilla claims FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried admitted "fraud" in interview |url=https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/coffeezilla-claims-ftx-founder-sam-bankman-fried-admitted-fraud-in-interview-2005507/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208122349/https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/coffeezilla-claims-ftx-founder-sam-bankman-fried-admitted-fraud-in-interview-2005507/ |archive-date=2022-12-08 |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=Dexerto |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Lorenz |first=Taylor |date=2023-01-05 |title=Influencers outshine traditional media on coverage of FTX implosion |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/01/05/ftx-citizen-journalism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105164304/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/01/05/ftx-citizen-journalism/ |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |access-date=2023-01-06 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

Bankman-Fried was arrested in The Bahamas on December 12, 2022, and convicted of wire fraud and conspiracy in the United States v. Bankman-Fried trial for crimes directly related to FTX. Then, on March 28, 2024, Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-28 |title=Office of Public Affairs {{!}} Samuel Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years for His Orchestration of Multiple Fraudulent Schemes {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/samuel-bankman-fried-sentenced-25-years-his-orchestration-multiple-fraudulent-schemes |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}

{{Main|CryptoZoo (video game)}}

In December 2022, Findeisen published a three-part series on NFT-based game CryptoZoo, a project Logan Paul developed and founded.{{Cite news |last=Brandt |first=Oliver |date=January 8, 2023 |title=Logan Paul's massive backflip after Coffeezilla 'scam' report |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/gaming/logan-paul-hits-back-at-criticism-of-his-controversial-nft-game/news-story/0b1b90131f9b15b7cbcbe4c4441dc98b |access-date=January 9, 2023 |work=news.com.au |archive-date=February 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203173222/https://www.news.com.au/technology/gaming/logan-paul-hits-back-at-criticism-of-his-controversial-nft-game/news-story/0b1b90131f9b15b7cbcbe4c4441dc98b |url-status=live }} He criticized the project for not delivering on its promises and said that the team engaged in market manipulation.{{Cite web |last=Haylock |first=Zoë |date=January 6, 2023 |title=Logan Paul SBF'd Up |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/01/logan-paul-cryptozoo-scam-coffeezilla-allegations-explained.html |access-date=January 7, 2023 |website=Vulture |language=en-us |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106202030/https://www.vulture.com/2023/01/logan-paul-cryptozoo-scam-coffeezilla-allegations-explained.html |url-status=live }} In a now-deleted video, Paul responded to the allegations, while also threatening legal action against Findeisen for defamation and claiming that Findeisen broke "criminal and civil laws" by uploading a recording of a phone call with his manager, Jeff Levin. He withdrew the threat in January 2023.

On June 27, 2024, Paul filed a lawsuit for defamation against Findeisen, along with his company, Coffee Break Productions, complaining that Findeisen had spread false information about Paul's connection with CryptoZoo.{{cite web |url=https://www.dexerto.com/youtube/logan-paul-sues-coffeezilla-for-defamation-over-cryptozoo-scam-accusations-2800133/ |title=Logan Paul sues Coffeezilla for defamation over CryptoZoo 'scam' accusations |first=Carver |last=Fisher |date=2024-06-27 |access-date=2024-06-29 |work=Dexerto |archive-date=June 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629235342/https://www.dexerto.com/youtube/logan-paul-sues-coffeezilla-for-defamation-over-cryptozoo-scam-accusations-2800133/ |url-status=live }} In August 2024, Findeisen responded in a video asserting that the lawsuit is a strategic move to block investigations into Liquid Marketplace, a company co-owned by Paul, which has been accused by Canadian authorities of "multi-layered fraud".{{Cite web |last=Shaukat |first=Rahman |date=2024-08-06 |title=Coffeezilla Issues Response to Logan Paul's CryptoZoo Defamation Lawsuit |url=https://gamerant.com/coffeezilla-response-logan-paul-cryptozoo-defamation-lawsuit/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Game Rant |language=en |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806093456/https://gamerant.com/coffeezilla-response-logan-paul-cryptozoo-defamation-lawsuit/ |url-status=live }}

In November 2024, Findeisen published a video investigating the cryptocurrency activity of Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast). The investigation tracked his acquisition of various NFTs from different collections. He was investigated on allegations of insider trading from the sale of the crypto-coins: Polychain Monsters and STACK using information provided by his business partner KSI.{{Cite web |title=MrBeast Looked Into by Crypto Scam Investigator Coffeezil... |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/a/treyalston/coffeezilla-mrbeast-crypto-scams |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Complex |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-15 |title=Coffeezilla slams MrBeast's alleged crypto scandals: 'It's horrible' |url=https://www.dexerto.com/youtube/coffeezilla-slams-mrbeasts-alleged-crypto-scandals-its-horrible-2980728/ |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Dexerto |language=en}}

The investigation was done in collaboration with blockchain experts, who tracked potential wallets belonging to Donaldson.{{Cite web |title=MrBeast Investigation |url=https://www.loock.io/blog/mrbeast-investigation |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=loock.io |language=en-US}}

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) and after 2023 Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) are multiplayer first-person shooter videogames developed by Valve Corporation. While skin gambling is against Steam's terms of service, there have been cases of people promoting CSGO skin gambling websites such as in 2016, when two YouTubers were criticized for the practice.{{Cite news |date=2016-07-05 |title=YouTube gamers caught in gambling row |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36702905 |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

In December 2024, Findeisen published a three-part web series outlining an investigation into the CS2 gambling industry. He states that CSGOEmpire, an online casino, offered him a $20,000 bounty to expose a rival site, CSGORoll and investigate HypeDrop, a Danish online casino owned by CSGORoll. The first video showcases a direct action protest against CSGORoll, funded by CSGOEmpire at the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, a CS2 esports tournament.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Protestors storm CS2 major stage taking aim at 'scam casinos' |url=https://siege.gg/news/protestors-storm-cs2-major-stage |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=SiegeGG |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-19 |title=Coffeezilla releases part one of exposé on CSGOEmpire, shady world of CS2 gambling |url=https://www.dust2.us/news/56321/coffeezilla-releases-part-one-of-expose-on-csgoempire-shady-world-of-cs2-gambling |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Dust2.us |language=en}} Findseisen then states that Monarch, the owner of CSGOEmpire hired people to harass influencers who promoted their rival. For example, notices were distributed in Halden, Norway denouncing Sebastian Gjerlaugsen (who is from there) for promoting gambling.{{Cite web |last=Ulekleiv |first=Gunnar Paulsen, Hans Kristian Stensrud, Morten |date=2023-10-13 |title=(+) Haldenser beskyldes for millionsvindel: – Jeg avviser på det sterkeste |url=https://www.ha-halden.no/haldenser-beskyldes-for-millionsvindel-jeg-avviser-pa-det-sterkeste/s/5-20-1423947 |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Halden Arbeiderblad |language=no}}{{Cite web |last=Jessica |first=Gabriela |date=2024-12-27 |title=YouTuber Coffeezilla Unveils Dark Secret of CS: GO Underage Online Gambling Problem |url=https://thenerdstash.com/youtuber-coffeezilla-unveils-dark-secret-of-cs-go-underage-online-gambling-problem/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=The Nerd Stash |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Satyam |date=2024-12-19 |title=Coffeezilla Exposes Counter-Strike Gambling Scandal |url=https://www.talkesport.com/news/coffeezilla-counter-strike-gambling-exposed/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=TalkEsport |language=en-US}}

His second video explores the CSGO and CS2 gambling industry as a whole. Findeisen states that minors were easily able to access these casinos without requiring sufficient verification. then explores the roles of online influencers in promoting such websites. He then discusses HypeDrop, a website where one can purchase loot boxes. Findeisen states that HypeDrop enacted a program, offering free daily crates to customers, to convince the Danish Gambling Authority that they were not a gambling site. Monarch also accused them of running a Ponzi scheme. The site was closed on April 26, 2024.

In his third video, Findeisen accuses and holds Valve responsible for enabling such gambling schemes, and failing to proactively crack down on these sites without public pressure.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-27 |title=Coffeezilla Calls Out Valve in Latest CS:GO Gambling Expose |url=https://www.si.com/esports/news/coffeezilla-calls-out-valve-in-latest-cs-go-gambling-expose |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Esports Illustrated On SI |language=en-US}}

On February 17, 2025, Findeisen conducted an interview with Hayden Davis, the CEO of the company behind the $Libra cryptocurrency scandal, where Davis claimed to have profited US$113 million from the currency promoted by Argentina's president Javier Milei while also denying allegations of a rug pull scam.{{Cite news |last=Howcroft |first=Elizabeth |last2=Lang |first2=Hannah |date=2025-02-20 |title=Crypto worth $99 million withdrawn from Milei-backed Libra token, researchers say |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/crypto-worth-99-million-withdrawn-milei-backed-libra-token-researchers-say-2025-02-20/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250220100500/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/crypto-worth-99-million-withdrawn-milei-backed-libra-token-researchers-say-2025-02-20/ |archive-date=2025-02-20 |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=Reuters}}{{Cite news |last=Pozzo |first=Estefanía |date=2025-02-17 |title=$LIBRA: the timeline of a crypto scandal that’s rocking the Milei government |url=https://buenosairesherald.com/politics/libra-the-timeline-of-a-crypto-scandal-thats-rocking-the-milei-government |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218050712/https://buenosairesherald.com/politics/libra-the-timeline-of-a-crypto-scandal-thats-rocking-the-milei-government |archive-date=2025-02-18 |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=Buenos Aires Herald}}

Findeisen has been married since 2017 and lives with his wife in Houston, Texas.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/@Coffeezilla YouTube Channel Coffeezilla]
• [https://www.youtube.com/@CoffeeBreaks YouTube Channel Coffee Break]
• [https://www.youtube.com/@coffeezillaextras YouTube Channel Voidzilla]

{{Commons}}

Category:2018 establishments in the United States

Category:American male journalists

Category:American YouTube vloggers

Category:English-language YouTube channels

Category:Living people

Category:American social media influencers

Category:Texas A&M University alumni

Category:YouTube channels launched in 2018

Category:YouTubers from San Antonio

Category:1990s births

Category:Critics of cryptocurrency