Colorado pastor charged for cryptocurrency scam he perpetrated at God's command
A Colorado pastor charged with running a fraudulent cryptocurrency called INDXcoin — allegedly on God’s command and backed by an audit that actually rated it “0 out of 10” — has prompted sharp criticism of the overlap between religion, crypto hype, and affinity fraud. Commenters highlight how “God told me to” is routinely used in some evangelical circles to justify risky or unethical behavior, compare televangelism and prosperity gospel tactics to modern crypto grifts, and debate whether any meaningful line exists between legitimate crypto projects, scam coins, cults, and mainstream religions.
Audit, Misrepresentation, and “God Told Me” Defense
- Commenters note the coin was “audited” with a 0/10 security rating but marketed simply as “independently audited,” seen as classic selective disclosure.
- Many mock the claim that God commanded the scam, joking that if it succeeds it’s “God’s will” and if it fails it’s “the devil,” allowing evasion of responsibility.
- Some argue that, within Christian theology, “the devil made me do it” is itself condemning, not exculpatory.
Religion, Theology, and the “No True Scotsman” Dispute
- Long subthread debates whether fraudulent pastors are “really” Christian.
- One side: people who violate core tenets should not be considered genuine adherents.
- Other side: that move is labeled a classic “No True Scotsman” fallacy; imperfect practice doesn’t erase group membership.
- Related discussion of “core tenets,” the Apostles’ Creed, excommunication, and whether churches can say certain behaviors “don’t represent Christianity.”
- Some argue most Christians don’t fully follow scripture; others emphasize doctrinal boundaries (e.g., Trinity, prophecy, cessationism).
Evangelicals, Prophecy, and Abuse of “God Spoke to Me”
- Multiple comments describe a culture (especially U.S. evangelical) where “God told me…” is commonly used to justify risky or self-serving choices.
- Extended critique of “once saved, always saved” and politicized evangelicalism as fostering moral laxity and cult-like obedience to leaders.
- Others stress that all religions can be abused this way, not just Christianity.
Crypto Scams, Cults, and How to Detect Fraud
- Several note this scheme barely involved real crypto; more a ponzi-like scrip with no actual blockchain or withdrawal path.
- Discussion on distinguishing scam coins from legitimate projects:
- Check if they solve a real problem and add genuine value.
- Scrutinize technical details (e.g., founder access to funds) and surrounding hype/shilling.
- Acknowledge gray areas where projects are risky but not outright fraud.
- Jokes compare cults vs religions and scam coins vs legitimate cryptocurrencies; some argue all or most crypto is effectively a scam.
Affinity Fraud, Missionaries, and Meta
- Several identify this as classic affinity fraud: exploiting overlapping in-groups (religious community + crypto believers).
- Brief, contentious side debates on missionaries’ motives and televangelist culture.
- Some question whether this kind of thread fits HN’s tech focus; others reply that crypto topics regularly appear and interest readers.