This entry will focus on how some companies exploit metrics to create an illusion of growth, distorting their real value and deceiving investors. Tactics include shifting profitability projections, using misleading engagement metrics, or fabricating user activity through click farms and bots, a practice prevalent in both Web2 and Web3 spaces. In crypto, wash trading and inflated metrics like Total Value Locked (TVL) artificially boost perceived activity, while incentivized engagement—such as airdrop farming—leads to ghost networks once rewards dry up. These deceptive tactics, as seen in cases like WeWork and FTX, ultimately undermine genuine resilience and sustainable business growth.
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