Shill

To shill means to aggressively promote a cryptocurrency, token, or project, often with the intent to boost its price or popularity, regardless of its actual value or credibility.

How Shilling Happens

Shilling can take many forms, from influencers hyping a coin on social media to anonymous users flooding forums with praise. Sometimes, shills are paid or have a vested interest in the asset they promote. In other cases, they may be community members overly enthusiastic about a project. While not always malicious, shilling becomes problematic when it misleads others into buying risky or worthless assets.

Why It’s Important to Spot a Shill

Recognizing shilling behavior is key to avoiding pump-and-dump schemes and hype-driven losses. It’s a reminder for investors to do their own research and not rely solely on hype or influencers. In a fast-moving and often speculative space like crypto, being aware of shilling helps users make more informed, rational decisions.