Fantasy.top Spendenaffäre: Business Angel beschuldigt, den Kontakt verloren zu haben, Gründer behauptet, niemals einen Cent verwendet zu haben

On-Chain Trading Card Platform Fantasy.top Cryptocurrency Investor “varrock” posted on X platform on Tuesday accusing the project team of refusing to return his approximately $50,000 angel investment and claiming he never received the promised roadmap and financial reports. On Wednesday, Fantasy.top’s pseudonymous founder Travis Bickle publicly denied the allegations for the first time, emphasizing that the company has been fully self-funded through product revenue over the past two years.

Investor Allegations: 50 Angels Awaiting an Answer

The core accusation in this dispute is that the founder of Fantasy.top has been indifferent to angel investors after the project became profitable. User “varrock” on X explicitly stated that he “never sees results because they use all the earned money to pay themselves,” and claimed that the promised roadmap and financial reports have never been delivered.

This post resonated widely within the crypto community. Trevor Thompson, CEO of Ethos Network, said he has never received any communication from the Fantasy.top team, although he admitted he never expected angel investments to yield returns from the start. Responding more directly, co-founder of early-stage venture firm 6th Man Ventures Mike Dudas publicly called on Fantasy.top’s founder to face criticism: “You made millions of dollars but haven’t repaid your angels or communicated with them. Do you still have any honor?”

Founder’s Full Response: Self-Funding for Two Years Explanation

In response to external doubts, Travis Bickle issued an official statement on X on Wednesday morning, presenting the following key points:

Funds Fully Self-Funded: Over the past two years, the company has operated entirely on product revenue, reinvesting all profits into the development of multiple products and systems under the Fantasy app, never using investor funds.

Over 50 Investors: Bickle stated the platform has more than 50 angel investors, emphasizing that the company has been working to keep everyone informed, “although some structural changes take time to implement.”

Proactively Reduced Costs: In recent months, the company significantly cut capital expenditure, streamlined the team, and reduced founder salaries.

Years of Operational Reserves: The company currently holds operational reserves sufficient for years without needing to use investor funds.

Upcoming Plans to Be Disclosed: The statement promised to “share more about the next phase very soon.”

Past and Present of Fantasy.top

Fantasy.top was once a star in the 2024 crypto ecosystem. This game, based on Blast Layer 2, allows users to trade NFT-style “hero” cards of crypto influencers. It raised $4.25 million in a seed round led by Dragonfly and received early support from Alliance DAO. It was ranked among the top ten crypto protocols in DeFiLlama’s 2024 ranking by fees and revenue, alongside pump.fun.

However, recent investors and community members have pointed out that Fantasy.top has gradually shifted from a trading card game to a prediction market platform, a change not officially clarified. In November last year, the team posted that they would not shut down core game features, but whether this promise is still being honored remains a matter of debate within the community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “Soft Rug”? How does it differ from traditional rug pulls?

A traditional “rug pull” involves project founders quickly shutting down the project and fleeing with funds after raising investments. “Soft Rug” is more covert—project teams do not explicitly disappear but delay communication, shift focus, or refuse refunds, gradually discouraging investors from pursuing accountability. Since there is no clear illegal activity, soft rugs are difficult to legally pursue and are more a moral judgment within the community.

Can angel investors legally recover their funds?

It depends on the initial investment agreement. If the agreement includes clear refund clauses or performance commitments, investors may have legal grounds to pursue recovery; however, angel investments are typically high-risk, and many agreements do not include refund protections. As Trevor Thompson admitted, he never expected returns when investing, reflecting the high uncertainty of early crypto angel investments.

Does Fantasy.top shifting to prediction markets mean the end of its original product?

There is no official confirmation yet. The November statement indicated that core game features would not be shut down, but Bickle’s latest statement mentions “multiple products and systems,” implying the product line has already expanded or is expanding. He promised to “share more about the next phase soon,” and the community awaits clearer answers on the platform’s future direction.