The "Toll Scam" appears in Hormuz, recommending Bitcoin is permanently banned, and Vitalik's behavior is unconventional.

Written by: Nicky, Foresight News

Welcome back to "Spicy Commentary," bringing you the absurd daily lives in the crypto world where people get "scammed, banned, or exploited" every week.

This week, someone was almost "hit" by a missile over a mistaken email in the Strait of Hormuz; someone lost their account for a single comment on a forum; and Vitalik lost something at a venue due to a barrier... an idol burden? "Spicy Commentary" helps you catch up all at once!

The wind of telecom fraud blew into the Persian Gulf

As the throat of global energy transportation, the Strait of Hormuz is currently under dual blockade from the U.S. and Iran. A large number of oil tankers are trapped on the western side of the strait, unable to move forward or backward.

This is a photo of the Strait of Hormuz and its vessels taken on April 18. Source: Xinhua News Agency

And then, fraudsters appeared.

On April 20, MARISKS, a Greek maritime risk company, issued a warning: someone claiming to be an Iranian official sent scam messages to trapped shipping companies—paying “transit fees” in Bitcoin or USDT would allow for "passage permits."

The email was crafted convincingly: "After submitting documents, Iranian security agencies evaluate qualifications and determine the amount of cryptocurrency. Then your ship can pass without hindrance."

However, the reality is: Iran briefly opened the strait but fired upon vessels attempting to pass. At least two Indian tankers were driven away by patrol boats, where crew members were heard shouting: "You approved our passage! Now you're firing? We're turning back!"

Netizens' spicy commentary:

The telecom scam wind has blown into the Middle East.

A netizen with an IP showing Myanmar commented: "As soon as the sales champion makes a move, you know whether it’s true or false 🙂↔️."

Comments in response said: "You are talented 😂."

So which faction is this 🤔?

Some netizens expressed that they thought of this trick a week ago, not expecting someone actually did it.

I once thought failures were due to poor circumstances; now I realize I must create my own circumstances 🫢.

Netizens' spicy commentary: Trump didn’t expect it could be done this way 🫠.

Comments in response said everyone is just snatching, but in different ways.

Another netizen with an IP in Cambodia said, I knew I could learn something real on Douyin, I'm starting tomorrow!

Comments in response said: "This IP can be tried 🤣."

So is this what it means to have sharpness about information 🥹?

A netizen joked: You've turned a disreputable industry into a trendy market.

This might just be the real international joke.

So scammers are also involved in the U.S.-Iran war.

Reddit finance section: Recommend BTC? Permanently banned!

The r/personalfinance section of Reddit is known for its rigorous financial advice. Someone posted asking how to invest, and an old brother replied:

"50% S&P 500, 50% BTC."

As a result, the next second, he received a permanent ban notification. The reason was: "Promoting speculative, highly volatile, illiquid, or meme-like investments, responding carelessly, briefly, or implying huge returns."

The old brother posted in the Bitcoin channel complaining: "Thinking about it, I didn’t even recommend buying Bitcoin; I recommended a BTC ETF, this ban is even more ridiculous."

It was suggested that the old brother phrase it differently next time: "Recommend a type of digital gold ETF, with volatility similar to tech stocks, long-term annualized return about XX%" to see if they still ban him.

Netizens' spicy commentary: I just said I have some (Bitcoin) and got muted 😂

Netizens indicated to look forward; there are vast opportunities outside.

Comments in response said: Based on my experience, about 1 in 100 people will listen, comprehend, and take a small step toward Bitcoin. Most will stare expressionlessly at you, and a few will openly show annoyance. If you think such odds are worth it, go preach. Otherwise, focus your energy on those close to you and live your life well.

Netizens commented: This same group will tell you that buying short-term treasury bills or bonds is a good investment... yet these things can't even keep up with inflation in the long run 🤔.

Netizens remarked: How can we talk about investment without mentioning BTC???

(So are they really studying investments seriously 🧐?)

Netizens' spicy commentary: Just think, you were muted simply for recommending an asset with more value than any bank, worth more than Walmart, Tesla, or Berkshire Hathaway.

Another netizen said, I like to drop a line there: "Everyone will eventually buy Bitcoin at the price they deserve."

Comments in response said: "No better option" 🤣.

Another netizen comforted the blogger: Don't worry. Just reply to them, "Keep being poor." When Bitcoin rises to a million dollars each, they will all come to buy.

Another netizen said: I was once one of the bloggers listed in the sidebar of the "Financial Independence" section (a blog ranked below the top 500,000 on Alexa). I stopped doing that long ago and am now a staunch believer in BTC/MSTR. All we can do is try, but when they can't listen, they will have to bear the consequences themselves. Enjoy your future!

Note: Alexa is a website traffic analysis company owned by Amazon, which launched the well-known "Alexa Ranking" (collecting user visit data through a toolbar plugin to rank global websites by traffic), a ranking that was once seen as an important measure of website influence. However, this service was officially closed in 2022.

Vitalik, unconventional behavior

This week at the Hong Kong Web3 Carnival, a video went viral!

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin encountered a retractable barrier on the road. Normally, there’s a gap beside it to remove the barrier to pass.

But Vitalik did not. He first made a posture as if to jump, then bent down and crawled right under the barrier!

Nearby staff were stunned: "It takes me just 2 seconds to take down the barrier, but he crawled under it in 3 seconds... Hmm, indeed more efficient?"

A Thai netizen's spicy commentary: It’s not surprising that ETH has been stuck in the same place for 5 years using the wrong way of walking 😂.

So is the red line everyone's liquidation price? 😭

Netizens indicated this was a small movement of a wall-hugger.

It seems the Ethereum market this week is such: thought it was about to take off, but ended up doing deep squats 🥹.

Netizens noted the importance of being counterintuitive.

Comments in response said that this is human nature.

No wonder Vitalik is so creative!

A netizen named "Rolls-Royce" said: when I have money, I'll walk like that too.

Not only will I be respected, but I'll also be in the news.

Netizens' spicy commentary: How can you fly higher without deep squats? To 800 within six months.

(800? In dollars? 😭)

Indeed, you can't predict his predictions!

In the comments, a netizen shared images: all mining machines for Ethereum.

Comments in response said: Does Ethereum need mining? Isn't it proof of stake?

So is Ethereum's stagnation due to "not following the usual path"?

So what should it look like?

Netizens' spicy commentary: it takes a foreigner to create a farce 🤣.

From Hormuz's "Cryptocurrency Toll Scam," to Reddit finance section's "BTC Ban Order," to Vitalik's "crawling behavior art." This week, some were scammed, some were muted, and some chose to crawl underneath.

The world is a huge makeshift stage, but "Spicy Commentary" is here to help you cut out the most absurd, magical, and adorable moments.

Wishing everyone a happy weekend: don’t pay unnecessary tolls, don’t make random investment suggestions, and when you encounter barriers—if you want to crawl, just crawl.

Have a great weekend, see you next week!

(The content in this issue is based on public information and online discussions, interpreted lightly, and is for reference only.)

Past issues:Spicy Commentary | The reason for RAVE’s surging is surprisingly the "Cool Family Army"? Bitcoin and Ethereum are true love!

Spicy Commentary | A9 project founder got dumped; a federal agent investigates a 6-year private key saved in "plain sight."

Spicy Commentary | The old brother gave up his trip to Thailand to hoard Bitcoin.