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{"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"d32b7074-0e10-43bd-82ac-9b77f836186e","kind":"publish","page_slug":"evolved-apes","published_at":"2026-05-30T12:57:43.445Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"Evolved Apes","sections":[{"content":"","heading":"Project Overview and Promises","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Investors Spent Millions on 'Evolved Apes' NFTs. Then They Got Scammed — VICE","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/investors-spent-millions-on-evolved-apes-nfts-then-they-got-scammed/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Evolved Apes NFT Creator Disappears With Nearly $3 Million in Investor Funds — CBR","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cbr.com/evolved-apes-nft-disappears-3-million/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Evolved Apes Inc — OpenSea Collection","type":"other","url":"https://opensea.io/collection/evolved-apes-inc"}]},{"content":"","heading":"The Rug Pull — Exit Scam Execution","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Explained: The Evolved Apes Rug Pull — Halborn Security","type":"research","url":"https://www.halborn.com/blog/post/explained-the-evolved-apes-rug-pull-september-2021"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Creator of 'Evolved Apes' NFT Collection Disappears With 798 ETH Worth $2.7M — Cryptoglobe","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptoglobe.com/latest/2021/10/creator-of-evolved-apes-nft-collection-disappears-with-798-eth-worth-2-7m/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Evolved Apes Rug Pull: NFT Creator Vanished With $2.7 Million — Market Realist","type":"news_article","url":"https://marketrealist.com/p/evolved-apes-rug-pull-details/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Another NFT Rug Pull: 'Evolved Apes' Creator Disappears with $2.7M — BeInCrypto","type":"news_article","url":"https://beincrypto.com/nft-rug-pull-evolved-apes-creator-disappears-2-7m/"}]},{"content":"","heading":"Federal Criminal Charges — DOJ SDNY (2024)","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"Three United Kingdom Nationals Charged In Connection With 'Evolved Apes' NFT Scam — DOJ SDNY","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/three-united-kingdom-nationals-charged-connection-evolved-apes-nft-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Feds Charge UK Nationals With $3 Million 'Evolved Apes' Ethereum NFT Scam — Decrypt","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/234302/evolved-apes-nft-game-ethereum-crypto-rug-pull"},{"credibility":2,"name":"U.S. Charges Three in Connection With Evolved Apes NFT Scam — CoinDesk","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/06/06/us-charges-three-in-connection-with-evolved-apes-nft-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"US charges three UK nationals in Evolved Apes NFT fraud scheme — DL News","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.dlnews.com/articles/regulation/us-charges-three-in-connection-with-nft-rugpull-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"NY Attorney charges 3 tied to 'Evolved Apes' NFT scam — CoinTelegraph","type":"news_article","url":"https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-prosecutors-charge-3-tied-to-evolved-apes-nft-scam"}]},{"content":"","heading":"Community Response — Fight Back Apes","severity":"low","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Investors Spent Millions on 'Evolved Apes' NFTs. Then They Got Scammed — VICE","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/investors-spent-millions-on-evolved-apes-nfts-then-they-got-scammed/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Daz 3D and Fight Back Apes Announce Stunning NFT Collection — PR Newswire","type":"other","url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/daz-3d-and-fight-back-apes-announce-stunning-nft-collection-bringing-renewed-value-to-the-community-301491357.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Fight Back Apes — VentureBeat","type":"news_article","url":"https://venturebeat.com/games/fight-back-apes-battle-for-a-better-world/"}]},{"content":"","heading":"Structural Red Flags and Risk Factors","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Explained: The Evolved Apes Rug Pull — Halborn Security","type":"research","url":"https://www.halborn.com/blog/post/explained-the-evolved-apes-rug-pull-september-2021"},{"credibility":2,"name":"'Evolved Apes' NFT Developer Disappears Along with $2.7 Million in Ether of Funds — TechTimes","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.techtimes.com/articles/266311/20211006/evolved-apes-nft-developer-disappears-along-2-7-million-ether.htm"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Oct 2021 — Evolved Apes Rug Pull Case Study — Quadriga Initiative","type":"research","url":"https://www.quadrigainitiative.com/casestudy/evolvedapesrugpull.php"}]},{"content":"","heading":"Broader Context and Industry Impact","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"'Evolved Apes' NFT creator Evil Ape disappears with $2.7M — PC Gamer","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.pcgamer.com/evolved-apes-nft-creator-evil-ape-disappears-with-dollar27m/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"U.S. Charges Three in Connection With Evolved Apes NFT Scam — CoinDesk","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/06/06/us-charges-three-in-connection-with-evolved-apes-nft-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"NFT Scam: NY Court Charges Suspects Linked To $3M Rug Pull — Bitcoinist","type":"news_article","url":"https://bitcoinist.com/ny-court-charges-three-individuals-linked-to-3-million-nft-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Evolved Ape Creators Face 20 Years for Alleged Fraud — NFT News Today","type":"news_article","url":"https://nftnewstoday.com/2024/06/07/evolved-ape-creators-face-20-years-for-alleged-fraud/"}]}],"sources_used":[{"credibility":1,"name":"Three United Kingdom Nationals Charged In Connection With 'Evolved Apes' NFT Scam — DOJ SDNY","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/three-united-kingdom-nationals-charged-connection-evolved-apes-nft-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Investors Spent Millions on 'Evolved Apes' NFTs. Then They Got Scammed — VICE","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/investors-spent-millions-on-evolved-apes-nfts-then-they-got-scammed/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"U.S. Charges Three in Connection With Evolved Apes NFT Scam — CoinDesk","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/06/06/us-charges-three-in-connection-with-evolved-apes-nft-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Feds Charge UK Nationals With $3 Million 'Evolved Apes' Ethereum NFT Scam — Decrypt","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/234302/evolved-apes-nft-game-ethereum-crypto-rug-pull"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Explained: The Evolved Apes Rug Pull — Halborn Security","type":"research","url":"https://www.halborn.com/blog/post/explained-the-evolved-apes-rug-pull-september-2021"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Creator of 'Evolved Apes' NFT Collection Disappears With 798 ETH Worth $2.7M — Cryptoglobe","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptoglobe.com/latest/2021/10/creator-of-evolved-apes-nft-collection-disappears-with-798-eth-worth-2-7m/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Another NFT Rug Pull: 'Evolved Apes' Creator Disappears with $2.7M — BeInCrypto","type":"news_article","url":"https://beincrypto.com/nft-rug-pull-evolved-apes-creator-disappears-2-7m/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"US charges three UK nationals in Evolved Apes NFT fraud scheme — DL News","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.dlnews.com/articles/regulation/us-charges-three-in-connection-with-nft-rugpull-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"NY Attorney charges 3 tied to 'Evolved Apes' NFT scam — CoinTelegraph","type":"news_article","url":"https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-prosecutors-charge-3-tied-to-evolved-apes-nft-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"'Evolved Apes' NFT creator Evil Ape disappears with $2.7M — PC Gamer","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.pcgamer.com/evolved-apes-nft-creator-evil-ape-disappears-with-dollar27m/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Evolved Apes Rug Pull: NFT Creator Vanished With $2.7 Million — Market Realist","type":"news_article","url":"https://marketrealist.com/p/evolved-apes-rug-pull-details/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"'Evolved Apes' NFT Developer Disappears Along with $2.7 Million in Ether of Funds — TechTimes","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.techtimes.com/articles/266311/20211006/evolved-apes-nft-developer-disappears-along-2-7-million-ether.htm"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Daz 3D and Fight Back Apes Announce NFT Collection — PR Newswire","type":"other","url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/daz-3d-and-fight-back-apes-announce-stunning-nft-collection-bringing-renewed-value-to-the-community-301491357.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Oct 2021 — Evolved Apes Rug Pull Case Study — Quadriga Initiative","type":"research","url":"https://www.quadrigainitiative.com/casestudy/evolvedapesrugpull.php"},{"credibility":2,"name":"NFT Scam: NY Court Charges Suspects Linked To $3M Rug Pull — Bitcoinist","type":"news_article","url":"https://bitcoinist.com/ny-court-charges-three-individuals-linked-to-3-million-nft-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Evolved Ape Creators Face 20 Years for Alleged Fraud — NFT News Today","type":"news_article","url":"https://nftnewstoday.com/2024/06/07/evolved-ape-creators-face-20-years-for-alleged-fraud/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Evolved Apes Inc — OpenSea Collection","type":"other","url":"https://opensea.io/collection/evolved-apes-inc"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Three UK Individuals Charged by FBI for $2.7M 'Evolved Apes' NFT Fraud Scheme — ARTnews","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/evolved-apes-nft-scheme-fraud-fbi-1234709334/"}],"summary":"Evolved Apes was a 10,000-piece Ethereum NFT collection that launched in late September 2021 with promises of an accompanying blockchain fighting game. Within one week of mint, the anonymous developer known as 'Evil Ape' disappeared with approximately 798 ETH (~$2.7 million USD), taking down the project's website and Twitter account. In June 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice charged three UK nationals — Mohamed-Amin Atcha, Mohamed Rilaz Waleedh, and Daood Hassan — with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the scheme.","timeline":[{"date":"2021-09-24","event":"Evolved Apes public mint launches on OpenSea. The 10,000-NFT collection reportedly sells out within approximately ten minutes.","source":"Cryptoglobe / BeInCrypto","source_url":"https://www.cryptoglobe.com/latest/2021/10/creator-of-evolved-apes-nft-collection-disappears-with-798-eth-worth-2-7m/"},{"date":"2021-10-01","event":"Approximately one week after mint, 'Evil Ape' withdraws approximately 798 ETH (~$2.7M) from the project treasury in multiple transactions, then deletes the official website and Twitter account.","source":"VICE / Halborn Security","source_url":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/investors-spent-millions-on-evolved-apes-nfts-then-they-got-scammed/"},{"date":"2021-10-05","event":"VICE publishes the first major investigative piece on the Evolved Apes scam, confirming the rug pull and documenting community reactions.","source":"VICE","source_url":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/investors-spent-millions-on-evolved-apes-nfts-then-they-got-scammed/"},{"date":"2021-10-06","event":"Multiple crypto outlets including BeInCrypto and CoinTelegraph publish coverage confirming the 798 ETH theft and noting the artist was never paid.","source":"BeInCrypto","source_url":"https://beincrypto.com/nft-rug-pull-evolved-apes-creator-disappears-2-7m/"},{"date":"2021-10-07","event":"Community members including Mike Scott, Jen Farmer, Jamie Elkaleh, and Josh Bull announce the Fight Back Apes initiative, pledging to fulfill original project promises using a multi-signature treasury.","source":"VICE / PR Newswire","source_url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/daz-3d-and-fight-back-apes-announce-stunning-nft-collection-bringing-renewed-value-to-the-community-301491357.html"},{"date":"2022-02-01","event":"Fight Back Apes announces a partnership with Daz 3D to produce a 3D NFT collection for original Evolved Apes holders, with free mints planned for existing holders.","source":"PR Newswire","source_url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/daz-3d-and-fight-back-apes-announce-stunning-nft-collection-bringing-renewed-value-to-the-community-301491357.html"},{"date":"2024-06-06","event":"The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announces charges against three UK nationals — Mohamed-Amin Atcha, Mohamed Rilaz Waleedh, and Daood Hassan — for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with the Evolved Apes scheme.","source":"DOJ SDNY Press Release","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/three-united-kingdom-nationals-charged-connection-evolved-apes-nft-scam"}]},"v":1}