Methodology

Origin keeps a public record of cryptocurrency token promotions made by X accounts, together with the supporting evidence and what was later observed about each promoted token. The goal is to help people look up an account's documented promotion history before acting on its posts.

Origin is a manually curated research project. It does not use automated fraud detection, does not monitor accounts in real time, and does not document every promotion an account has made. A missing record does not mean an account has no history.

Each documented promotion records:

• the token name and contract address;
• where it was promoted (X, Telegram, or elsewhere);
• screenshots and other supporting evidence;
• a documented outcome describing what happened to the token after the promotion;
• a link to a live chart where one is available.

Anyone can submit a report through the Report Account page. A report includes the X account, the promoted tokens and contract addresses, screenshots (PNG, JPEG, or WebP), an optional suggested outcome for each token, and an optional explanation. Suggested outcomes are checked by reviewers like everything else.

Reports are stored privately and are never published automatically. Submitting a report does not mean the information will appear on Origin.

Origin administrators review every report before anything is published. During review they may correct details, remove screenshots that are irrelevant or unclear, add context, or decline to publish the report. Only reviewed and approved information is published.

Administrators can also document promotions directly, and they update published records when new information or a correction request shows something is inaccurate or incomplete.

Published evidence is grouped into three categories:

• Promotion evidence shows the promotion itself, such as a post or message.
• Outcome evidence shows the token's later market activity, such as a chart.
• Additional evidence is other supporting documentation.

A screenshot shows what was visible when it was captured. It may not show the full context of a conversation, later edits or deletions, or events that happened off-screen.

Each documented promotion has an outcome describing what happened to the token after it was promoted. Outcomes are selected manually by Origin reviewers based on the available evidence. They are not calculated automatically, and there are no fixed numerical thresholds.

• Instant Rug: a rapid token collapse following the promotion, supported by relevant evidence.
• Slow Farm: a prolonged decline or extraction pattern, supported by relevant evidence.
• Liquidity Pull: documented liquidity removal that contributed to the token's collapse.
• Still Active: the token remains active without a documented qualifying negative outcome.
• Undetermined: there is not enough information to establish a specific outcome.

Outcomes describe documented observations and assessments, not conclusions about anyone's intent. Token prices fall for many reasons, including normal market volatility, and a price decline on its own does not prove fraud or manipulation.

Promotions documented before October 2026 may still show an earlier label (Severe Collapse, Major Decline, Moderate Decline, or Under Review) until a reviewer reclassifies them.

Each account carries a risk classification. It is an assessment made by Origin reviewers from the available documentation, such as the account's documented promotions, their observed outcomes, and the supporting evidence. It is not a numerical score, it is not produced by an automated system, and it is not a legal finding.

• Serial Scammer: Origin's strongest classification. It is assigned only by an Origin administrator, and only when the documentation shows repeated deceptive or fraudulent conduct. The number of tokens that collapsed is not enough on its own.
• High Risk: the documentation raises significant concerns.
• Moderate Risk: the documentation raises some concerns.
• Under Review: the account has not yet been fully assessed, or the available documentation is not sufficient for an assessment.

Some accounts documented earlier still show the former “Severe Risk” classification. It is kept unchanged until each account is reviewed and is not converted to Serial Scammer automatically.

Classifications can change when new evidence becomes available or a correction request is accepted.

X usernames can be changed, and a username given up by one account can later be claimed by another. To avoid confusing accounts, Origin uses the official X API to look up each account's permanent X user ID, a number that never changes, and records it with the account.

Accounts that were documented before they could be verified are shown as “Not yet verified.” When such a record is linked to an X user ID, an Origin administrator must explicitly confirm that the existing evidence belongs to that X account. Origin does not assume that whoever owns a username today is the account that was originally documented.

When Origin verifies an account and finds that the same permanent X user ID now uses a different username, it records the previous username and the date Origin detected the change. Previous usernames are listed on the account's profile under Username History.

The detection date is when Origin noticed the change, not necessarily when it happened on X. Verification currently happens when Origin publishes new documentation for an account, so a change may be detected some time after it occurred. Only changes verified against the permanent X user ID are listed, and old usernames are never automatically redirected, because they may now belong to a different account.

If you believe information on Origin is inaccurate or incomplete, see Corrections & Disputes. Please also read the Disclaimer.