Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho Gaúcho has kicked off his latest venture, STAR10, a cryptocurrency token launched on the Binance Smart Chain (BNB Chain).
Unveiled on March 04, 2025, STAR10 promises exclusive perks for holders, including signed memorabilia and access to an AI-powered assistant. Ronaldinho took to social media to rally his fans, urging them to join him in this digital asset journey.
The token’s debut was nothing short of explosive, surging over 20% in value to a peak of $0.2492 shortly after launch.
As of now, STAR10 trades at $0.23, reflecting a solid 13% gain and a market capitalization nearing $20 million, with a fully diluted valuation of $241 million based on its 82 million circulating supply. Trading volume has already topped $26 million, per CoinGecko data.
Ronaldinho’s Checkered Crypto Past
This isn’t Ronaldinho’s first foray into cryptocurrency, and his track record is far from spotless. In June 2024, he teased a crypto comeback, encouraging followers to embrace digital assets.
However, blockchain investigator ZachXBT quickly flagged his history with dubious projects like World Cup Inu, Atari Chain, Lord Society NFT, and meme coins such as WATER (co-endorsed with Lionel Messi) and Baby Doge.
The most infamous scandal tied to Ronaldinho remains the 18kRonaldinho project, a $61 million pyramid scheme that promised 2% daily returns.
Ronaldinho denied involvement, claiming his name and image were misused, but the damage to his credibility lingers. With STAR10, skeptics wonder if this is redemption or repetition.
Security Scares and Fixes
STAR10’s launch wasn’t without red flags. Web3 security firm GoPlus Security initially warned that the token’s contract allowed its creator to burn holders’ tokens at will, a feature that could wipe out investor assets without notice.
This sparked alarm, especially given recent celebrity token flops. However, blockchain security firm SlowMist later confirmed the contract’s creator had renounced ownership, neutralizing this risk.
Still, Binance CEO CZ (@cz_binance) issued a stark warning on Twitter: “This post is NOT an endorsement. @10Ronaldinho’s STAR10 coin was launched on @BNBChain EXCLUSIVELY. Other chains’ coins are fake. Beware of scammers. Meme coins are highly volatile, and recent volumes have decreased significantly. High risk.” CZ clarified there’s no commercial tie between BNB Chain and Ronaldinho, urging caution amid the hype.
Liquidity and Scam Allegations
Further concerns emerged from @RowenExchange on Twitter, who tweeted: “Liquidity isn’t locked and the smart contract isn’t renounced. This means the liquidity can be pulled and the contract can be edited. Not good. Looks like you’re selling off, and you have MEV bots frontrunning every transaction stealing people’s money. Also looks like you’re slow-draining the liquidity. Was $3.5M, now down to $3.1M. What a scam.”
These allegations suggest potential rug-pull risks, where developers drain funds and abandon the project, leaving investors empty-handed.
The unlocked liquidity and editable contract amplify these fears, casting a shadow over STAR10’s legitimacy.
Insider Profits Raise Eyebrows
Blockchain analytics firm Onchain Lens uncovered a troubling detail: an individual closely tied to Ronaldinho netted nearly $5 million in profits from early STAR10 purchases.
This insider scooped up 20.79 million tokens for just 48 BNB ($29,247) and, after selling a fraction, still holds tokens worth $4.93 million.
Separately, Lookonchain reported a wallet snagging 122.45 million STAR10 tokens, 12.24% of the total supply for 80 BNB ($50,000).
These transactions hint at pre-launch advantages, fueling accusations of insider trading and undermining trust in the token’s fairness.
A High-Risk Play
STAR10’s dazzling debut underscores the allure of celebrity-backed crypto ventures, but its sheen is tarnished by security lapses, insider gains, and Ronaldinho’s rocky history.
While the renounced contract addresses one concern, unlocked liquidity, and scam allegations keep risks high. As CZ noted, memecoins are a volatile gamble, and STAR10 is no exception.
Investors must weigh the star power against the shadows, hype may drive prices, but trust and transparency will determine its staying power. For now, STAR10 is a bold kickoff with an uncertain goal line. Proceed with caution.
