Criminal Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin: Marketing Identity Fraud. Criminal Charges. Avoid at All Costs

The Web3 industry continues to expand rapidly, with institutional adoption accelerating and global crypto market projections climbing into the trillions, according to forecasts from Statista and PwC. 

But behind that growth is a less talked-about reality: billions are lost each year to crypto scams, fraud, and misrepresentation. The 2026 Crypto Crime Report from Chainalysis estimates that more than $17 billion was stolen through crypto scams in 2025 alone. 

While many of these losses stem from investment and platform scams, an increasingly overlooked risk lies in Web3 marketing scams. Early-stage startups are losing significant capital to fraudulent marketing providers whose promises of exposure, growth, and traction translate into little to no meaningful results. 

In an industry where crypto startups already face steep odds, with fewer than 10% ultimately succeeding and many failing in their first year, as highlighted by Deloitte - engaging with the wrong web3 marketing consultant or agency isn’t just an expensive one-time mistake. It can be the tipping point that permanently derails a project’s trajectory and accelerates its path toward failure and bankruptcy. 

As one of the earliest on-chain launchpads, Polkastarter has worked with more than 140+ startups across multiple market cycles, collectively raising over $40M for startups like Eternity Chain, Superverse, and Highstreet that have later listed on Tier-1 exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, and Coinbase, as reported by Cryptorank.io.  

Although the industry has matured in many ways since our early years, unfortunately, the scale and sophistication of scams have only continued to grow, and early-stage founders remain among the most vulnerable targets. 

Protecting founders and users has been one of our core principles. Recently, we were made aware of concerns raised by a project that we launched - Epic Chain - a team that has fought through multiple market cycles and ultimately secured a Binance listing, regarding its recent experience and being targeted by a fraudulent marketing service provider, Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin from Belkin Marketing.

This article is the first in Polkastarter's weekly series on how to stay safe in crypto. We're starting strong with the story of one of our most successful IDOs, Epic Chain - formerly Eternity Chain - a Binance-listed project that fell victim to Yaroslav Belkin’s schemes despite its strong market presence, extensive experience in the crypto space, and having conducted proper due diligence processes. 

Let’s keep web3 space safe and transparent: if you've experienced something similar, you can contact us anonymously at: [email protected]

Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin Marketing: An Analysis of Blackmail Allegations 

Yaroslav Belkin, who also goes by Iaros Belkin, entered the crypto industry around 2017, a period widely remembered for the ICO boom, and equally known for the wave of scam projects, inflated claims, and widespread fraud that followed.

Originally from Russia and currently based in Hong Kong, Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin publicly positioned himself as someone trying to “clean up” the space and advocate for integrity. 

In a 2018 interview with Irish Tech News, he stated, “As an ICO bench expert, I was bombarded with all kinds of offers, but I am tired of all the scams and paid-for ratings. We need to keep blockchain honest.”

Yet, his subsequent track record followed a very different trajectory. 

Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin became associated with a string of crypto projects, including Foresting (Forest.io), Auditchain, and Next Earth, typically in short-lived marketing advisory roles that often lasted only a few months. The historical performance data for these projects is illustrated in the charts below. Feel free to draw your own conclusions. 

Soon after, he founded BelkinMarketing, a Hong Kong-based agency that presented itself as a specialist Web3 marketing firm. The agency claimed to have worked with numerous companies, including OKX and RedotPay. His LinkedIn profile showcased claimed expertise across crypto marketing, fractional CMO services, and connections to major crypto media outlets.

By mid-2019, however, conversations began circulating within parts of the crypto community questioning both Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin’s character and the outcomes of projects linked to his advisory work. While it seems that over time, much of the discussions have faded from easily searchable platforms, we all know that you can never truly delete anything from the internet. Thank you WayBackMachine for keeping this one for us, even after becoming WebArchive.org. Some things shall not be forgotten.

Additionally, an article published on Gripeo about Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin Marketing after the initial blog was taken down on November 17, 2023, reveals a questionable string of events regarding Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin’s character and the depths he will go to to get what he wants. 

Here’s what we know so far: 

MOBU’s Engagement Breakdown with Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin Marketing: A Series of Allegations 

According to statements published by the MOBU team, their experience with Belkin Marketing followed a pattern that would later repeat with other projects.

MOBU, a blockchain project focused on compliant security token offerings, engaged Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin Marketing for marketing services with a contract to manage three social media channels. When deliverables didn't materialize, and MOBU chose to work with Amazix, a well-established blockchain PR firm, instead of continuing with Belkin Marketing, the professional relationship didn't simply end.

MOBU documented that Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin gave them the lowest possible ratings on ICObench, where he held an advisory position, actively encouraged his network, including KOLs, to post negative opinions about MOBU, and issued explicit threats that the project would not receive coverage on platforms like Cointelegraph, Newsbtc, and Ivan on Tech if they terminated his services. According to MOBU's documentation, the CEO of Newsbtc characterized Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin as someone of questionable character with outstanding financial obligations.

ICObench later removed Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin from his advisory position. MOBU preserved evidence showing Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin used inappropriate language when discussing ICObench before his termination. The team published their account because they believed Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin was undermining the credibility of blockchain businesses and stated they would pursue legal action if he continued damaging their brand.

Epic Chain: How a Binance-Listed Project Lost $100,000 to Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin Marketing 

The MOBU case from 2019 wasn't an isolated incident. Years later, the pattern repeated with Epic Chain, originally Eternity Chain, one of Polkastarter's most successful launches.

By 2024, Epic completed a comprehensive rebrand toward RWA tokenization. In December 2024, their community voted 97.1% approval for the strategic rebrand and token swap. The rebrand created a challenge as they needed intense marketing campaigns to rebuild awareness in Asian markets, where their RWA focus would find product-market fit.

This vulnerability was explored by Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin as he appeared to be exactly what Epic needed: claimed expertise in Asian crypto marketing, local KOL networks, and media outlets. Everything appeared legitimate. They engaged Belkin Marketing for $100,000 to execute Asian market entry and brand awareness campaigns.

What Epic received was sophisticated fraud. According to their article on working with Yaroslav Belkin, communication collapsed within weeks after contracts were signed. Deliverables became worthless: generic GTM strategies, poor KOL performance, and Asian marketing campaigns that yielded zero actual results.

Epic lost $100,000 and critical months while competitors executed. When they reached out to other founders, they discovered similar patterns, including over 20+ confirmed reports from several individuals in the industry. 

Russia’s Role: A Hub for Crypto Shadowy Investments

Russia has been suspended from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) since it invaded Ukraine and was recently blacklisted by the EU for money laundering. The country consistently scores in the bottom 25% of Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.

Russian crypto infrastructure, including centralized exchanges, facilitates money laundering, with 25% of transactions linked to crypto scams. Crypto crime hit an all-time high in 2025, exceeding $158 billion according to Chainalysis's 2026 Crypto Crime Report, largely driven by Russian-linked stablecoin flows used to evade sanctions.

This environment enabled Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin Marketing to operate without accountability. Originally from Russia, now based in Hong Kong, Belkin benefits from geographic complexity that makes legal recourse nearly impossible and very costly. When dealing with whistleblowers he uses underhanded tactics that are common business practice in Russian culture which is silencing, intimidation and blackmail. However, the truth cannot be silenced.

The Hypocrisy: Decentralized Journalism Advocate Silences Critics

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin's operation is the contrast between his public statements and his behavior when facing criticism.

In his 2018 Irish Tech News interview, Belkin positioned himself as an advocate for transparency and fighting fraud within the crypto space. Yet when MOBU published their Medium article detailing their experience, it was swiftly removed. Only the archived version remains on WebArchive.

This pattern mirrors broader industry concerns about content suppression. Dominic Williams of Dfinity has repeatedly emphasized the need for decentralized, censorship-resistant journalism platforms. Vitalik Buterin has highlighted Swarm as a decentralized storage solution for such infrastructure.

The Gripeo article notes that Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin has worked to remove negative information from searchable platforms. This isn't someone committed to the transparency he publicly advocates. This is someone actively hiding documented problematic behavior and dishonest business practices from potential clients.

This is calculated hypocrisy designed to maintain the legitimacy necessary to target new victims. Someone who genuinely delivered value wouldn't face multiple documented accounts following the same pattern across years.

The Fraud Pattern: How Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin Targets Multiple Crypto Projects

The evidence from MOBU, Epic Chain, and other projects reveals a clear pattern: Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin represents a parasite extracting value while contributing nothing. MOBU hired him to manage three social channels, but those basic deliverables never materialized. Epic Chain paid $100,000 for Asian market campaigns that produced zero measurable results.

According to documented accounts spanning 2019 through 2025, Belkin doesn't just fail to deliver. He actively retaliates against projects that terminate relationships, damaging their reputation through his network. He systematically removes evidence to continue targeting new victims.

The industry doesn't need parasites extracting capital from startups. What we need is accountability and transparency. Projects should share information about fraudulent operators. Platforms should maintain records rather than removing challenged content. 

The community must recognize that silence protects scammers while transparency protects future victims.

If you've experienced something similar with Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin, Belkin Marketing, or other fraudulent service providers, submit an anonymous tip to Polkastarter at: [email protected]

FAQ Section: 

1. How much did Yaroslav Belkin Marketing Scam?

Based on documented reports, losses ranged from $25,000 to $100,000 per engagement. Epic Chain, a Binance-listed project launched by Polkastarter, lost $100,000 for Asian market services that delivered zero results. MOBU also documented financial losses. Multiple other projects reported similar amounts, but most prefer not to be named publicly.

2. Which companies has Yaroslav Belkin Marketing scammed?

Confirmed victims include MOBU in 2019 and Epic Chain. In direct discussions, Epic Chain reported that the same pattern affected more than 20 individuals. Conversations within the Polkastarter founder network suggest that many other projects faced comparable fraud but decided against speaking publicly out of fear of retaliation.

3. Why is Yaroslav Belkin Marketing scamming web3 companies?

Early-stage crypto projects have significant budgets, urgent timelines, and expertise gaps that make them vulnerable targets. Geographic distance makes verification difficult, especially for Asian market claims. Cross-border legal enforcement is expensive and often exceeds potential recovery, creating minimal accountability for fraudulent operators like Yaroslav (Iaros) Belkin.

4. Who is Yaroslav Belkin Marketing trying to scam now?

As of early 2025, Belkin Marketing's website remains active and continues seeking clients. Projects that recently completed fundraising rounds, announced strategic pivots, or need Asian market entry are at the highest risk. Anyone evaluating Belkin Marketing should review Epic Chain's warning article and MOBU's documented experience before engaging.

5. How to avoid scammers like Yaroslav Belkin Marketing?

1. Verify claims through different contacts at organizations that did not provide references. 
2. Require proof of relationships before signing contracts. Structure small test engagements before committing large budgets. 
3. Use milestone-based payments tied to verified outcomes. 
4. Document communication patterns and treat degradation after signing as fraud. 
5. Cross-reference in founder networks before engaging any provider.

6. What are the steps to take if you've been scammed by Yaroslav Belkin Marketing?

1. Document all communications, contracts, and failed deliverables. 
2. Verify independently that the claimed work doesn't exist. 
3. Consult legal counsel while understanding that cross-border cases are typically cost-prohibitive. 
4. Share your experience confidentially in founder networks to prevent additional victims. 

Submit an anonymous tip to Polkastarter at [email protected] to contribute to our safety series.