A press launch printed on Christmas Eve claimed that Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, had launched a brand new platform providing tokenized gold and silver buying and selling.
Nonetheless, it’s “fake,” a Circle spokesperson advised CoinDesk.
The platform, launched beneath the title CircleMetals, was promoted via a press launch distributed on Dec. 24, a date when many U.S. companies are closed or working at restricted capability, and response occasions are slower.
The discharge described a brand new service enabling 24/7 swaps between USDC and purported gold (GLDC) and silver (SILC) tokens, supposedly backed by COMEX-linked liquidity. Oddly, it prompted customers to swap on the platform and obtain “1.25% in $CIRM rewards.” CoinDesk could not confirm the stated CIRM token, which does not seem like listed on main information aggregators.
The web site asks customers to attach their wallets to allow their potential to swap for the supposed treasured metals tokens. It’s typically thought-about a foul concept to attach wallets on to unverified web sites, as malicious actors can then drain consumer wallets.
The discharge even used Circle branding and claimed to cite executives, together with CEO Jeremy Allaire.
“Confirmed this is not real,” a spokesperson advised CoinDesk when requested.
The press launch saying the product, distributed by way of a crypto-focused PR wire, consists of hyperlinks to what seems to be a swap platform that enables customers to attach their addresses and affords rewards for swaps of the supposed tokenized gold and silver tokens.
The PR agency that initially listed the press launch, ChainWire, declined to remark.
Whereas the web site stays dwell, there is no such thing as a proof to counsel that GLDC or SILC tokens exist or that any respectable monetary establishment is concerned.
