This marks the first time a Chinese regulatory body has specifically addressed the convergence of traditional Ponzi schemes with Web3 terminology and DeFi structures. The 1,500-character warning represents unprecedented detail in exposing how scammers are adapting ancient deceptive practices to exploit emerging digital financial systems, particularly through the misuse of stablecoin and Web3 terminology.
Beijing Warns: Web3 'Stablecoin' Schemes Mask Digital Deception
📰 What Happened
The Beijing Internet Finance Industry Association (BIFA) issued a warning on July 9, 2025, about crypto-based financial scams targeting retail investors. The notice identified five key markers of illegal fundraising schemes, including unauthorized operations and recycling of deposits. BIFA specifically called out 'stablecoin wealth plans' and 'Web 3.0 dividends' as deceptive marketing tactics. The warning referenced the PlusToken scandal that accumulated 200,000 Bitcoin and 9 million Ethereum, worth over $4 billion in 2020.
📖 Prophetic Significance
The evolution of financial deception described by BIFA directly parallels biblical warnings about end-times monetary delusion. The five specific tactics identified mirror the pattern of deception warned about in 2 Timothy 3:13, where evil men 'grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.' The massive scale of the PlusToken scheme (200,000 BTC, 9M ETH) demonstrates how digital technology amplifies the reach of financial falsehood. The use of legitimate-sounding terms like 'stablecoin wealth plans' reflects prophecies about wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15) using religious-sounding language to deceive.