Full Report

Key Points

  • Carl Runefelt, known as “The Moon Carl,” is a prominent crypto influencer who has built a persona around a rags-to-riches story, but evidence suggests significant exaggeration of his background and wealth, stemming from a privileged family.
  • His involvement in the Kasta crypto payment platform (now Ka.app) has drawn heavy criticism, with accusations of promoting it as a co-founder before backtracking, amid a 98% token value collapse labeled a “pump-and-dump” scam.
  • Widespread online skepticism portrays him as an MLM-style promoter reliant on affiliate marketing, course sales, and video manipulation, eroding trust in the crypto community.
  • Recent events, including a 2024 car fire at his family’s Bromma property, have fueled speculation of financial misconduct like money laundering or failed investments.
  • No confirmed lawsuits or bankruptcies, but reputational damage is severe, with on-chain sleuths exposing scams on his platforms.

Overview

Carl Runefelt, popularly known as “The Moon Carl,” is a Swedish cryptocurrency influencer and self-proclaimed Bitcoin billionaire. He gained fame through his YouTube channel “The Moon,” where he shares market analysis, promotes investments in over 400 crypto startups, and espouses the “Law of Attraction” philosophy—claiming mindset can manifest wealth. Runefelt portrays himself as a high-school dropout who transitioned from a supermarket cashier at ICA to amassing a fortune in Bitcoin and Ethereum around 2017-2018, often flaunting a luxurious Dubai-based lifestyle with supercars, private jets, and high-end watches. He has appeared on media outlets like Fox Business and Yahoo Finance, and was listed in a Forbes 30 Under 30 (Middle East edition), though users allege this was a paid placement. His business includes a Swedish company where he serves as director alongside his mother, Christina Runefelt, a lawyer. Despite his narrative of self-made success, forum discussions reveal a wealthy upbringing in Bromma, with parental financial support contradicting his “from nothing” claims.

Allegations and Concerns

  • Exaggerated Background and Wealth Claims: Runefelt’s story of rising from poverty is disputed; he grew up in a multimillion-kronor villa, received parental payments to motivate work at ICA, and invested family-provided funds in crypto. Users accuse him of fabricating a “depressed, lazy” persona for relatability.
  • Kasta Promotion as a Scam: He heavily promoted Kasta as a co-founder and CMO in 2021-2022 interviews, but later denied equity or founding role, admitting to “over-exaggerating” amid the token’s 98% crash. Critics label it a fraud where influencers used retail investors as “exit liquidity.”
  • Content Manipulation: Accused of deleting YouTube videos with incorrect Bitcoin predictions, then reposting edited versions with bot-like praise to feign accuracy.
  • MLM-Style Promotion: Relies on affiliate links, course sales, and shilling “shitcoins,” drawing comparisons to pyramid schemes; a 2025 exposé calls his empire “built on hype or deception.”
  • Platform Scams: On-chain investigator ZachXBT exposed job listing frauds on Runefelt’s website in 2023, involving fake crypto gigs.
  • Recent Incident: A September 2024 car fire at his family’s Bromma address sparked speculation of money laundering or retaliatory attacks over bad investments.

Customer Feedback

Feedback is overwhelmingly negative in crypto forums, Reddit, and X, with users decrying lost trust after promotions led to financial losses. Positive sentiments are rare, mostly from early Bitcoin adopters who credit his mindset advice, but even these are tempered by scam warnings.

  • Negative Examples:
    • On X: “It’s sick to scam people after they made millions with crypto… I lost all respect for him and Carl ‘the moon’ Runefelt.”
    • Reddit: “He’s had two major scam ‘projects’ that have enriched him and rugged everyone else.”
    • Flashback Forum: “Han ljuger om allt! ALLT!” (He lies about everything! EVERYTHING!), from a claimed former acquaintance detailing his privileged youth.
    • YouTube Comments (via searches): “Kasta: The World’s Greatest Scam by The Moon CARL RUNEFELT! Exposing a Million Dollar Fraud!” with videos garnering thousands of views on his alleged pump-and-dump.
  • Positive Examples:
    • Some X users defend his early Bitcoin calls: “He told everyone to buy $1 worth of Bitcoin back in 2013,” though often followed by scam caveats.
    • Loyal followers on his channel praise motivational content: “Carl själv har som bästa tips… ‘tänka sig som rik’ och pengarna kommer att komma” (Think like the rich and the money will come).

Risk Considerations

  • Financial Risks: Heavy exposure to volatile crypto; Kasta’s collapse could signal pattern of high-risk promotions leading to investor losses. No personal debts confirmed, but family-linked incidents (e.g., 2024 fire) hint at liquidity issues or bad deals.
  • Reputational Risks: Labeled “most distrusted personality in crypto” on Reddit; blocks critics on X and faces boycotts, potentially limiting future partnerships.
  • Legal Risks: Allegations of perjury (false co-founder claims), fraud, and impersonation in 2025 investigations, though unproven. Scam exposures on his platforms could invite regulatory scrutiny in Dubai/Sweden.

Business Relations and Associations

  • Kasta/Ka.app: Early advisor/investor with CEO Carl Roegind; promoted via media but distanced himself post-crash, claiming no equity.
  • Media Partners: Featured on Fox Business (introduced as Kasta co-founder), Yahoo Finance, and Cointelegraph; used for credibility but now sources of controversy.
  • Investments: Claims stakes in 400+ crypto startups; no specifics, but tied to affiliate earnings.
  • Family Ties: Mother Christina (lawyer) co-directs Swedish firm; father owns ICA stores, providing indirect support.
  • Crypto Community: Collaborates with influencers like Crypto Kid (co-host on The Moon Show); accused of shilling alongside figures like BitBoy, both criticized for bad advice.

Legal and Financial Concerns

No public records of lawsuits, bankruptcies, or unpaid debts were found in searches of Swedish/Dubai registries or global databases. However, unverified allegations persist:

  • 2025 cybercrime probe into perjury, fraud, and impersonation related to Kasta claims.
  • ZachXBT’s 2023 exposure of scams on his job site, potentially violating anti-fraud laws.
  • Speculative ties to money laundering via the 2024 Bromma car fire, but police reports unconfirmed. Financially stable per self-reports (e.g., absorbing “hundreds of millions” in trades), but Kasta’s failure raises questions about undisclosed losses.

Risk Assessment Table

Risk Type Key Factors Severity (Low/Med/High) Mitigation Notes
Financial Token crashes (e.g., Kasta -98%), over-reliance on volatile promotions High Diversify beyond influencer-backed projects; verify token utility pre-investment.
Reputational Widespread scam labels, video manipulation accusations, community backlash High Monitor X/Reddit sentiment; avoid associating with hyped narratives.
Legal Fraud/perjury claims, platform scam exposures, potential regulatory probes Medium No active suits, but escalate if new investigations emerge; consult legal in crypto hubs.
Operational Family-linked incidents (e.g., car fire), affiliate/MLM dependencies Medium Strengthen personal security; disclose affiliations transparently.
Carl Runefelt, known as “The Moon Carl,” is a crypto influencer whose rags-to-riches persona is widely disputed, with evidence pointing to a privileged upbringing and family support. He gained fame promoting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and over 400 crypto startups, often blending motivational content with investment advice. His promotion of the Kasta crypto platform, later collapsing by 98%, sparked accusations of pump-and-dump schemes, and he has been criticized for MLM-style tactics, content manipulation, and exploiting affiliate marketing. Online sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with users citing financial losses and distrust, though some praise his early Bitcoin calls and motivational messaging. While no lawsuits or bankruptcies are publicly confirmed, allegations of perjury, fraud, and scams on his platforms have led to reputational damage and potential regulatory scrutiny. Financially, exposure to volatile crypto and platform failures poses high risk, while reputational and operational risks are amplified by widespread criticism, family-linked incidents, and reliance on influencer marketing. Engagement with Runefelt’s ventures should be approached cautiously, with verification of claims, transparent disclosure of affiliations, and prioritization of audited investments over influencer-driven hype.