As CoinGecko celebrates its 11th anniversary, the company is marking the milestone with a fresh new look and an eye on the future.
At Paris Blockchain Week, BeInCrypto sat down with Aimann Faiz, Head of Business Development at CoinGecko, to discuss the platform’s rebranding, evolving business model, and the state of the crypto market.
CoinGecko’s 2025 Rebranding
April 7 marked the 11th anniversary of CoinGecko. It was 11 years ago that our co-founders TM Lee and Bobby Ong started CoinGecko as a side project.
After 11 years, the market has grown a lot, and so have we, so we wanted to do our branding to reflect better who we are today and where we’re headed
The rebrand reflects our evolution as a company—we’ve introduced new products, expanded our reach, and felt it was the right time to rebrand as well as emphasize our core brand pillars: trustworthiness, ease of use, and empowerment.
Moreover, I’ve been with the company for six years. The Gecko has also always scared me a little bit. So now it’s a lot friendlier.
We have two products: CoinGecko and GeckoTerminal. The two products also have their own mascots that are aligned with the two brands.
As for the rebranding, it’s more than just a refresh of our logos. If you look at it, it’s a bit sleeker now. We look a lot younger, more trendy, and… less geeky.
It solidifies the fact that in 11 years, we’ve grown from what was a side project to something that’s trusted by millions of users
The rebranding doesn’t affect the business itself. The business remains the same. We focus on the marketing services that we extend to our clients and our API business.
All About CoinGecko’s Business Model
We attract many crypto enthusiasts to our website. Our business model is to capture the value from all visitors—we monetize this through banner ads, buttons, and content.
We were inspired by BeInCrypto’s editorial content. At the same time, we also offer a crypto API service.
All the data, prices, and information about tokens on CoinGecko and GeckoTerminal are made available via the CoinGecko API.
If you were attending Paris Blockchain Week, I dare say that our API powers 20-30% of the projects there.
GeckoTerminal: Playground for Degens?
GeckoTerminal is our DEX aggregator, designed to serve a very different audience compared to CoinGecko. The tokens that you see on CoinGecko are curated. They go through an extensive evaluation and listing process.
On GeckoTerminal, we track data on-chain. While CoinGecko lists around 15,000 carefully curated tokens, GeckoTerminal dives straight into the on-chain world, currently tracking over 6 million tokens.
It appeals to different types of users – GeckoTerminal is more for degens. Even the mascot reflects that energy—his name is Rex, and he proudly sports eyebags from too many late-night trading sessions.
The Future of Crypto and Mainstream Acceptance
We believe in a future where everything and anything will be tokenized.
The industry always talked about mass adoption, and I personally think we’re at the cusp of that.
Also, I believe we’re on the right track towards onboarding the first billion crypto users. Sure, we’re going through a bit of a rough patch right now, but you have to go through the bad to get to the good.
When I first entered the industry in 2019, Bitcoin was hovering around $8,000. Today, you’re looking at nearly a 1,000% return. That’s the beauty of it.
Funny story—when my family used to ask what I did, I’d hesitate to say I worked in crypto because of the negative stereotypes. It was always, ‘Oh, you’re in crypto? You must be some kind of scammer.’ But now, with more regulatory clarity coming in—whether that’s good or bad—it’s suddenly respectable.
My family is like, ‘Oh, okay, you’re in crypto!’ Even my siblings, who once looked down on it, are now in the industry.
I remember the first time they asked me to recommend a good hardware wallet – that was a proud moment, and I’ve actually got them Ledger wallets.
It’s a real sign of the times, and I’m genuinely excited to see where things go in the next year—or the next five.
The Recent Market Turmoil
I’m a conservative investor, and I like it when things are red; it’s a signal that it’s time to buy. It’s the discount season. I was sharing with someone earlier that I think it’s all about your time horizons. If you’re looking at short-term gains, then yes, it can feel scary.
But I take the long view. Just look at how far we’ve come in the past six years—Bitcoin went from $8,000 to an all-time high of $107,000, Ethereum from around $150 to $4,800.
The key thing is not to get greedy. Believe in the bigger picture and the future this industry is building.
Reflecting on Paris Blockchain Week
This is our first time setting up a booth at a conference, so it’s very exciting and nerve-wracking. What makes it even more special is that it coincides with our anniversary and rebranding—so the timing couldn’t be better.
It feels like the perfect moment to share our refreshed identity with the world.
More importantly, meeting our users, getting their feedback, and hearing what we can do better are incredibly valuable for us. We’re always building, but we want to make sure we’re building in the right direction.
Many of the projects here are already our clients, but because Web3 allows us to work from anywhere, we often don’t get to meet in person. That makes events like this even more special.
For instance, I just met Alena from BeInCrypto for the first time—even though we’ve worked together for six years! This is essentially about taking advantage of an opportunity to connect with our partners and friends.
The state of security across the crypto and blockchain space has changed significantly in the past few months. Traditional smart contracts exploited or brute force attacks on blockchain networks are being superseded by crypto scams like rug pulls and pump-and-dump schemes.
BeInCrypto spoke with a spokesperson from security firm CertiK to understand how blockchain and security threats are evolving and how projects and users can safeguard against future exploits.
Social Media Hacks on the Rise
Over the past few months, the crypto community has seen a rise in social media-related hacks. This increasingly common tendency has pivoted away from the orchestration of more sophisticated blockchain attacks that have traditionally plagued headlines.
Whereas smart contract exploits or blockchain hacks require more knowledge, hackers have found an easier avenue by targeting social media accounts instead.
X (formerly Twitter) has quickly become the social media platform of choice among Web3 hackers.
Social Media is Now a Prime Target for Web3 Hackers
After US President Donald Trump launched his meme coin only two days before assuming office, hackers began to take advantage of the hype to hack high-profile X accounts and convince followers to invest in scam meme coins.
Last month, anonymous hackers took over the X account of the former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to promote MALAYSIA, a fake meme coin promoted as the country’s official cryptocurrency.
The post was removed within an hour, but the damage was done. Analysis shows that these hackers were probably related to the infamous Russian Evil Corp and that they stole $1.7 million in this rug pull.
The MALAYSIA token scam happened only two weeks after hackers exploited former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s social media account. In that instance, scammers promoted the BRAZIL token, which rose over 10,000% in minutes, netting the scammers over $1.3 million.
These scams have also affected technological companies.
Attacks on Tech Companies
In December, AI research and development company Anthropic also saw its X account hacked. A fraudulent post claimed that a fake token called CLAUDE would incentivize AI and crypto projects and included a wallet address for investors.
Attackers managed to collect around $100,000 from speculative investors.
These situations also highlight a broader issue of weak account security on social media platforms. As a result, even prominent individuals are susceptible to security breaches that directly affect the crypto community.
TRUMP Meme Coin Launch Was a Catalyst For Crypto Scams
“Now is the time to talk about the fact that large-scale political coins cross a further line: they are not just sources of fun, whose harm is at most contained to mistakes made by voluntary participants, they are vehicles for unlimited political bribery, including from foreign nation states,” Buterin claimed.
Buterin highlighted the tokens’ role in enabling scams and political corruption in crypto and blamed a regulatory loophole former SEC Chair Gary Gensler created for allowing bad actors to exploit governance tokens.
However, these crypto scams extend beyond political themes.
Growth of Social Engineering Exploits
A week after Buterin cautioned against political meme coins, a Coinbase user lost $11.5 million after falling victim to a social engineering scam on Base.
Crypto sleuth ZackXBT uncovered the exploit, pointing out that this incident is part of a growing trend, with multiple Coinbase users suffering similar losses. He also estimates that crypto scams of this nature have drained at least $150 million from Coinbase customers.
“Coinbase has a serious fraud problem. I just uncovered many more recent thefts from Coinbase users. The $150 million stolen from Coinbase users in a year is just from thefts I independently confirmed. So it’s more than likely multiples of this number,” ZachXBT stated.
In social engineering scams, attackers use phishing emails, spoofed calls, and other deceptive tactics to trick victims into revealing private keys or login credentials. Once they gain access, they drain wallets, move funds, and take control of accounts.
For CertiK, these situations stipulate the need for stronger security measures.
Addressing these security challenges is crucial as new crypto projects increase exponentially.
Prioritizing Proactive Security in a Rapidly Growing Industry
The Web3 sector is experiencing consistent growth, marked by a surge in new crypto project launches. This innovative momentum is expected to continue, but it’s also fueling security concerns.
Notably, the increasing rate of scams and hacks in the first three months of 2025 makes it clear that security efforts are struggling to keep up with innovation.
A study by Precedence Research estimates the Web 3.0 market will expand from USD 4.62 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 99.75 billion by 2034, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.18% during that period.
Predicted market size of Web3 in the next ten years. Source: Precedence Research.
Yet, CertiK believes that project developers are pushing security considerations toward the end of the priority list.
As the Web3 ecosystem evolves, a proactive and adaptive security approach is critical. Prioritizing both blockchain integrity and social media vigilance will be essential for safeguarding the growing Web3 ecosystem.
The battle against these exploits requires a future where security is not an afterthought but a foundational pillar of every Web3 project and user interaction.
Regulatory sandboxes have emerged as a concept to drive innovation in a controlled setting. They allow companies to test new crypto products and services while regulators observe and adapt regulations. While jurisdictions like the UK, the UAE, and Singapore have already created sandboxes, the US has yet to create one at the federal level.
BeInCrypto spoke with representatives of OilXCoin and Asset Token Ventures LLC to understand what the US needs to build a federal regulatory sandbox and how it can unify a fragmented testing environment for innovators.
A Patchwork Approach
As the name suggests, regulatory sandboxes have emerged as a tool for providing a controlled testing ground. This environment allows entrepreneurs, businesses, industry leaders, and lawmakers to interact with new and innovative products.
According to the Institute for Reforming Government, 14 states in the United States currently have regulatory sandboxes for fintech innovation.
Of those, 11 are industry-specific and cover other sectors like artificial intelligence, real estate, insurance, child care, healthcare, and education.
Utah, Arizona, and Kentucky are the only jurisdictions among these states with an all-inclusive sandbox. Meanwhile, all but 12 states are currently considering legislation to create some regulatory sandbox for innovation.
Due to its relatively short existence, the crypto market has underdeveloped legislation. While state-level sandboxes enable innovators to demonstrate their products’ capabilities to the public, they are significantly constrained by the lack of federal regulatory sandboxes.
The Need for Federal Oversight
Though statewide efforts to create regulatory sandboxes are vital for innovation, entrepreneurs and businesses still face constraints in developing across borders or reaching an audience at a national level.
Rapid advancements in fields like blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) add a particular layer of uncertainty, given that existing legal frameworks may not be well-suited to these technologies.
At the same time, regulators may face difficulties in developing appropriate rules for these technologies due to a potential lack of familiarity with these constantly changing industries.
As a result, industry participants are increasingly calling for creating a federal regulatory sandbox. This environment could be a collaborative framework to address the gap, facilitating communication and knowledge sharing between regulators and industry stakeholders.
“The implementation of a federal regulatory sandbox in the United States has the potential to significantly enhance both innovation and regulatory oversight by reducing the uncertainties often associated with navigating the regulatory landscape across state lines. Such an initiative could help establish a coherent framework characterized by uniformity, continuity, and a conducive environment for innovation,” said Paul Talbert, Managing Director of ATV Fund.
According to Rademacher and Talbert, this proposal would meet the needs of all players involved.
Benefits of a Federal Regulatory Sandbox
A sandbox provides innovators with a controlled environment to test products under regulatory oversight without the immediate burden of full compliance with rules that may not yet fit their technology.
It also allows regulators to acquire firsthand insights into blockchain applications, facilitating the creation of more knowledgeable and flexible regulatory policies.
“Startups should have clear eligibility criteria to determine their qualification for participation, while regulators must outline specific objectives—whether focused on refining token classification frameworks, testing DeFi applications, or improving compliance processes,” Rademacher said.
It could also help the United States reinforce its position as a leader in technological innovation.
“By fostering innovation through simplicity, regulatory certainty, and conducive environments, the United States can significantly strengthen its competitive position in the global fintech landscape,” Talbert added.
While the United States has stalled in creating a federal framework for fintech innovation, other jurisdictions around the world have already gained significant ground in this regard.
Global Precedents
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates the United Kingdom’s financial services, launched the first regulatory sandbox in 2014 as part of Project Innovate. This initiative aimed to provide a controlled environment for testing innovative products.
The government asked the FCA to establish a regulatory process to promote new technology-based financial services and fintech and ensure consumer protection.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore, in particular, have made progressive strides in creating federal regulatory sandboxes.
The UAE, for example, currently has four different sandboxes: the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Regulation Lab, the DSFA Sandbox, the CBUAE FinTech Sandbox, and the DFF Regulation Lab.
Their focus areas include digital banking, blockchain, payment systems, AI, and autonomous transport.
Meanwhile, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) launched its Fintech Regulatory Sandbox in 2016. Three years later, MAS also launched the Sandbox Express, providing firms with a faster option for market testing certain low-risk activities in pre-defined environments.
“The success of regulatory sandboxes in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates has highlighted the importance of key attributes: regulatory collaboration, transparent processes, continuous monitoring, and the allocation of dedicated resources. As a result, a growing number of jurisdictions worldwide are looking to replicate the frameworks established by these pioneering countries to strengthen their competitive position in the global fintech landscape,” Talbert said.
Rademacher believes these jurisdictions’ innovations should prompt the United States to accelerate its progress.
For that to happen, the United States must overcome certain hurdles.
Challenges of a Fragmented US Regulatory Landscape
A fragmented network of federal and state agencies overseeing financial services presents a key challenge to establishing a US federal regulatory sandbox.
“Unlike other countries with a single financial authority overseeing the market, the U.S. has multiple agencies—including the SEC, CFTC, and banking regulators—each with different perspectives on how digital assets should be classified and regulated. The lack of inter-agency coordination makes implementing a unified sandbox more complex than in jurisdictions with a single regulatory body,” Rademacher told BeInCrypto.
Yet, in recent years, important SEC and CFTC actors have expressed interest in adopting a more favorable regulatory approach to innovation.
“Even though I tend to be more of a beach than a sandbox type of regulator, sandboxes have proven effective in facilitating innovation in highly regulated sectors. Experience in the UK and elsewhere has shown that sandboxes can help innovators try out their innovations under real-world conditions. A sandbox can provide a viable path for smaller, disruptive firms to enter highly regulated markets to compete with larger incumbent firms,” Peirce said in a statement last May.
However, the full scope of national regulations far exceeds the authority of these two entities.
Congressional and Constitutional Hurdles
Any legislative measure to develop a federal regulatory framework for sandboxes in the United States would have to undergo Congressional approval. Talbert highlighted several potential constitutional dilemmas the promotion of an initiative of this nature may face.
“These dilemmas include issues related to the non-delegation doctrine, which raises concerns about the constitutionality of delegating legislative power; equal protection considerations under the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause; challenges arising from the Supremacy Clause; and implications under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and principles of judicial review,” he said.
To address these complexities, Congress must enact clear legal boundaries that ensure a regulatory framework is both predictable and open. Given the current administration’s emphasis on technological innovation, the prospects for creating a sandbox appear positive.
“Given the current composition of Congress, which aligns with the political orientation of the new executive branch, there may be a timely opportunity for regulatory reform. Such reform could facilitate the creation of a cohesive federal regulatory framework and enhance collaboration among federal agencies,” Talbert told BeInCrypto.
However, creating a federal regulatory sandbox is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Balancing State Autonomy and Federal Regulations
State autonomy is enshrined in the US Constitution. This protection means that, even though a regulatory sandbox may exist at the national level, individual states still have the authority to restrict or prohibit sandboxes within their jurisdictions.
Encouragingly, most US states are already exploring regulatory sandboxes, and the states that have already implemented them represent diverse political viewpoints.
However, other considerations beyond political resistance must also be addressed.
“A federal regulatory sandbox might also face opposition from established financial institutions, including banks, which may perceive potential threats to their existing business models. Furthermore, federal budgetary constraints could impede the government’s capacity to support the development and maintenance of a federal regulatory framework,” Talbert added.
Effective federal regulations will also require a balance between businesses’ concerns and regulators’ responsibilities.
“The two biggest risks are overregulation—imposing excessive restrictions that undermine the sandbox’s purpose—or underregulation, failing to provide meaningful clarity. If the rules are too restrictive, businesses may avoid participation, limiting the sandbox’s effectiveness. If they are too lax, there is a risk of abuse or regulatory arbitrage. A well-executed federal regulatory sandbox should not become a bureaucratic burden but rather a dynamic framework that fosters responsible growth in the digital asset space,” Rademacher told BeInCrypto.
Ultimately, the best approach will require coordination from different governing bodies, industry stakeholders, and bipartisan collaboration.
Fostering Collaboration for a Successful Sandbox
Due to recent strained communication between tech and federal agencies, Rademacher believes fostering a cooperative atmosphere is essential for creating a functional federal sandbox.
“The approach must be collaborative rather than adversarial. Agencies should view the sandbox as an opportunity to refine regulations in real time, working alongside industry participants to develop policies that foster responsible innovation. Involvement from banking regulators and the Treasury Department could also be valuable in ensuring that digital assets are integrated into the broader financial system in a responsible manner,” he said.
Achieving this requires a bipartisan approach to harmonizing regulatory goals and setting clear boundaries. Industry collaboration with lawmakers and regulators is vital to showing how a sandbox can promote responsible innovation while safeguarding consumers.
“Its success will ultimately depend on whether it serves as a bridge between innovation and regulation, rather than an additional layer of complexity,” Rademacher concluded.
Phishing scams in the crypto sector are becoming more advanced, with attackers stealing more than $5.2 million from unsuspecting users in April 2025.
According to data from blockchain security firm Scam Sniffer, the losses mark a 17% drop from March’s $6.37 million. However, the number of victims surged by 26%, with 7,565 individuals falling prey to fraudulent schemes last month.
Scam Sniffer reported that the most damaging incident in April involved a phishing signature scheme, which led to a $1.4 million loss.
In this case, the victim unknowingly approved several fraudulent requests, enabling the attacker to drain their wallet. These scams typically trick users into signing digital approvals that authorize token transfers without their knowledge.
Crypto Phishing Scams in April. Source: Scam Sniffer
Another notable case involved an address spoofing technique known as address poisoning. An unsuspecting user lost $700,000 after sending funds to a fake wallet address that closely resembled one they had interacted with previously.
Yu Xian, founder of blockchain security firm SlowMist, warned that attackers now target users through Telegram. They use AI-generated voice messages and personalized chats to deceive victims.
In one reported case, Xian noted that a compromised Telegram account was used to send voice clips that imitated a victim’s trusted contacts. The voice messages, likely produced with AI tools, were built from earlier voice logs to mimic tone and speech patterns.
“Don’t trust just one source. When it involves money, always establish another reliable source for verification,” Xian stated.
These developments mirror an earlier case in which an elderly US citizen lost 3,520 BTC, worth over $330 million, to a sophisticated social engineering scam.
CertiK, another blockchain security provider, reported that the Bitcoin theft contributed significantly to the industry’s total losses in April.
According to the firm, the emerging industry lost $364 million to hacks, scams, and exploits during the reporting period. Around $18.2 million of these stolen funds have since been recovered.
These developments underscore the growing sophistication of crypto scams. They also highlight the urgent need for improved user education, wallet security, and anti-phishing tools within the industry.
