Crypto Sleuth Turned “Chain Guardian”? ZachXBT’s New Role Sparks Debate

BNB Chain has enlisted one of crypto’s most recognized on-chain investigators, ZachXBT, in a new initiative aimed at strengthening fraud detection and transparency across its ecosystem.

The announcement was made on November 5 via an X post that read “keeping Web3 safe takes more than tech,” framing the partnership as a people-driven effort to clean up the network.

Why BNB chain brought ZachXBT in

ZachXBT has built a following across the industry for tracking more than $200 million in stolen crypto, exposing phishing rings, rug pulls, and influencer-backed scams.

His findings have been used in several legal investigations and recovery efforts, giving him a reputation as one of crypto’s most relied-on independent analysts.

The partnership, however, has sparked debate. Some users questioned whether aligning with a network backed by Binance could compromise future investigations into Binance-related matters. One critic on X urged ZachXBT not to “fall for it,” prompting him to clarify how the arrangement works.

He explained that grants from blockchain foundations help fund long-term investigations while allowing him to keep publishing public reports.

He also noted that he has accepted support from multiple chains including Optimism and Arbitrum, stating, “No CEX has ever paid me to post about them, Coinbase, Binance, OKX, Kraken, etc.”

Community reactions and industry context

Supporters of the move view the partnership as a necessary step for large networks dealing with recurring fraud cases. BNB Chain community members and builders largely welcomed the announcement, with one calling ZachXBT “the best in the industry.”.

BNB Chain itself has faced multiple high-profile exploits over the past two years, including bridge attacks and protocol-level vulnerabilities, which likely contributed to the decision to bring in outside investigative support.

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