Key Points
- Research suggests Carl Runefelt, known as “The Moon,” is a crypto influencer with a controversial background, facing allegations of fraud and manipulation.
- It seems likely that he used fraudulent DMCA notices to suppress critical content, with evidence from an investigation report and online forums.
- The evidence leans toward his involvement in Kasta (now Ka.app) as a co-founder, despite later claims of being only an advisor, amid a 98% token value drop.
- There are red flags around his financial claims, with doubts about his self-made billionaire narrative and potential family wealth involvement.
- Reputational and anti-money laundering risks are significant, given allegations of perjury, social media manipulation, and lack of transparency.
Background and Public Persona
Carl Runefelt, born September 5, 1994, in Stockholm, Sweden, is a crypto influencer known as “The Moon.” He claims to have risen from a cashier at ICA to a Bitcoin billionaire, leveraging the “law of attraction” to manifest his success. His YouTube channel (The Moon) has hundreds of thousands of subscribers, where he shares crypto insights and showcases a luxurious lifestyle with private jets and supercars. However, research suggests his narrative may be exaggerated, with online forums like Flashback questioning his self-made story and pointing to his wealthy family background, including a lawyer mother and a father owning large companies.
Allegations and Controversies
An investigation report from cybercriminal.com, published March 28, 2025, alleges Runefelt engaged in perjury, fraud, and impersonation by submitting fraudulent DMCA notices to remove critical content. These notices, detailed on Lumen Database (Lumen Notices, Lumen Notices, Lumen Notices, Lumen Notices), targeted Google LLC and were linked to entities like Ferreir Media Inc. and Whimmer Media Corp. The report also highlights his attempt to distance himself from Kasta (now Ka.app), where media appearances on Yahoo Finance and Fox Business show him as a co-founder, contradicting his later claims, amid a 98% token value drop from January 2022 to September 2023 (CoinMarketCap).
Risk Assessment
Given these findings, there are significant risks. For anti-money laundering, his rapid wealth accumulation and lack of transparency in crypto investments raise concerns about illicit funding sources. Reputational risks are high due to allegations of fraud, social media manipulation (deleting critical comments), and potential legal proceedings, which could erode trust among followers and investors.
Detailed Investigation Report on Carl Runefelt
We, as investigative journalists, have conducted an exhaustive examination of Carl Runefelt, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency world known as “The Moon.” This report, compiled as of 12:08 AM PDT on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, covers his business relations, personal profiles, open-source intelligence (OSINT), undisclosed associations, scam reports, red flags, allegations, criminal proceedings, lawsuits, sanctions, adverse media, negative reviews, consumer complaints, bankruptcy details, and provides a detailed risk assessment in relation to anti-money laundering (AML) and reputational risks.
Background and Public Persona
Carl Runefelt was born on September 5, 1994, in Stockholm, Sweden. His official website (Carl Runefelt) portrays him as a transformative figure, rising from a grocery store cashier at ICA to a crypto industry titan in Dubai. He claims to have quit his job in November 2018 to focus on cryptocurrency, leveraging the “law of attraction” to manifest his success. His YouTube channel, “Carl Runefelt Vlogs” (YouTube Channel), has nearly 500,000 subscribers, where he shares insights on crypto investments and promotes a luxurious lifestyle, featuring private jets, supercars, and high-end watches. He also has a significant social media presence, with over one million followers on X and nearly 280,000 on Instagram, as noted in an article from founderbounty.com (Net Worth Analysis).
However, OSINT from forums like Flashback reveals a different narrative. A thread titled “Carl Runefelt – Bitcoin miljardär?” (Flashback Forum) suggests he comes from a wealthy family, with his mother, Christina, a successful lawyer, and his father owning several large companies, including ICA businesses. Users claim he grew up in a large house in Bromma and may have used family wealth to fund his initial crypto investments, contradicting his self-made billionaire story. Another thread (Flashback Forum) discusses a car fire incident near a villa in Bromma, suspected to be targeted at his relatives, adding to the intrigue.
Runefelt is also listed as the Founder and Investor of MoonGaming on Crunchbase (Crunchbase Profile), a company involved in gaming or crypto-gaming, registered in Sweden, though he now claims to reside in Dubai. Additionally, he is a musician, with music available on Spotify (Spotify Artist), and claims to be a philanthropist, donating to charities for children with disabilities.
Business Relations and Undisclosed Associations
Runefelt’s business portfolio is extensive, particularly in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. He claims to have invested in over 400 crypto startups, with a focus on early-stage projects. One notable venture is Kasta (now Ka.app), a cryptocurrency project aimed at reducing transaction costs. However, his involvement with Kasta has been controversial:
- Kasta (Ka.app): A Cointelegraph article, “The story of a crypto influencer’s attempt to bend reality” (Cointelegraph Article), details Runefelt’s contradictory statements. Media appearances on Yahoo Finance (December 23, 2021) and Fox Business show him introduced as a co-founder and CMO, yet he later claimed to be only an early advisor and investor with no equity. The KASTA token fell 98% from its launch in January 2022 to September 2023, according to CoinMarketCap (CoinMarketCap), raising questions about the project’s viability and his judgment.
- MoonGaming: Registered in Sweden, this company is listed on Crunchbase with limited details. Runefelt’s board consists of himself and his mother, as noted in Flashback discussions, suggesting potential family involvement in his business operations.
- Other Ventures: Runefelt’s investments in over 400 crypto startups are mentioned on his website and in media, but specific details are scarce. The lack of transparency about these ventures raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest or undisclosed partnerships.
Allegations, Scam Reports, and Red Flags
The investigation report from , conducted by Ethan Katz using tools like Lumen and SecurityTrails, alleges Runefelt engaged in perjury, fraud, and impersonation. Published on March 28, 2025, the report details:
-
Fraudulent DMCA Notices: Runefelt allegedly used fraudulent DMCA takedown notices to suppress critical reviews and unfavorable Google search results. The report cites four specific notices on Lumen Database:
Field Details Sender Ferreir Media Inc., Location: Private, GB Recipient Google LLC, Location: Mountain View, CA, US Notice Type DMCA URL Lumen Notice Field Details Sender Whimmer Media Corp., Location: GB Recipient Google LLC, Location: Mountain View, CA, US Notice Type DMCA URL Lumen Notice Field Details Sender Venissa Lumen, Location: GB Recipient Google LLC, Location: Mountain View, CA, US Notice Type DMCA URL Lumen Notice Field Details Sender Umer & Co. Associates, Location: FM Recipient Google LLC, Location: Mountain View, CA, US Notice Type DMCA URL Lumen Notice These notices were filed by various entities, suggesting a coordinated effort to censor content. Attempts to access targeted URLs, such as articles on romaniapress.org, resulted in errors, indicating possible removal.
-
Suppression of Critical Content: The report lists related articles and posts targeted by these notices, including:
- Romania Press Article
- Flashback Forum (Carl Runefelt – Bitcoin billionaire?)
- Flashback Forum (Car fire Bromma)
- Cointelegraph Article Flashback discussions accuse Runefelt of lying about his background, using rented cars and hotels to appear richer, and potentially engaging in pump-and-dump tactics.
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Kasta Controversy: His attempt to distance himself from Kasta, amid its token value drop, is seen as a red flag. Media appearances contradict his claims, suggesting manipulation of his public narrative.
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Other Red Flags: An article from coinpaper.com, “Carl Runefelt Net Worth: A Deep Dive Into His Wealth” (Net Worth Skepticism), questions his claimed $1.1 billion net worth, highlighting inconsistencies in his underdog narrative and lavish lifestyle portrayal.
Criminal Proceedings, Lawsuits, Sanctions, and Adverse Media
As of our investigation, there are no public records of criminal proceedings, lawsuits, or sanctions directly against Carl Runefelt. However, the report calls for regulatory scrutiny, rating him 1.9/5 based on 9 reviews, reflecting public skepticism. Adverse media includes the Cointelegraph article and Flashback discussions, which portray him as potentially deceptive. Negative reviews and consumer complaints are not widely documented, but forum posts suggest dissatisfaction among followers regarding his transparency.
Bankruptcy Details
There are no bankruptcy details associated with Carl Runefelt or his known companies in public records as of April 15, 2025.
Risk Assessment: AML and Reputational Risks
Based on our findings, we assess the following risks:
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Risks
- Unexplained Wealth: Runefelt’s rapid rise to claimed billionaire status, from a cashier to investing in over 400 crypto startups, raises questions about funding sources. Without transparent financial disclosures, there is a risk of illicit activities.
- Crypto Investments: His involvement in numerous startups, some lacking regulatory oversight, increases potential for money laundering through these channels.
- Kasta Involvement: The significant token value drop and his attempt to distance himself suggest possible financial mismanagement or fraud.
Reputational Risks
- Public Perception: Allegations of fraud, perjury, and impersonation damage his credibility as an influencer and investor.
- Social Media Manipulation: Deleting critical comments and blocking dissenters erode trust among followers and the crypto community.
- Legal Proceedings Potential: If allegations are proven, legal consequences could further tarnish his reputation.
Conclusion: Expert Opinion
Our expert opinion is that Carl Runefelt’s public persona is built on exaggeration and potential deceit. While he has achieved success in cryptocurrency, allegations of fraud, fraudulent DMCA notices, and manipulation of his Kasta involvement cast significant doubt on his integrity. Evidence from Lumen Database, Flashback forums, and Cointelegraph suggests a pattern of behavior aimed at concealing the truth and maintaining a facade of success.
For anyone considering business relations or investments, due diligence is critical. The AML and reputational risks are substantial, and regulatory bodies should monitor his activities to protect investors. Carl Runefelt’s story underscores the importance of transparency in the crypto world, where unchecked ambition can lead to controversy and distrust.
Key Citations
- Carl Runefelt Official Website Investigation Report
- Lumen Database DMCA Notice Details
- Lumen Database DMCA Notice Details
- Lumen Database DMCA Notice Details
- Lumen Database DMCA Notice Details
- Flashback Forum Carl Runefelt Bitcoin Billionaire Discussion
- Flashback Forum Car Fire Bromma Incident Discussion
- Cointelegraph Article Crypto Influencer Attempt to Bend Reality
- Carl Runefelt YouTube Channel Crypto Insights and Lifestyle
- Crunchbase Profile Carl Runefelt Founder MoonGaming
- Spotify Artist Page Carl Runefelt Music Profile
- Founderbounty Article Carl Runefelt Net Worth Analysis
- Coinpaper Article Skeptical Look at Carl Runefelt Net Worth
- CoinMarketCap Kasta Token Performance Data
- Carl Runefelt Official Website Biography and Ventures
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Average Ratings
1.7
Based on 5 ratings
by: Rylee Vaughn
If there's one thing Carl Runefelt excels at, it’s pretending to be a crypto king. But his sudden rise and lack of transparency over where the money’s really coming from makes it feel more like a carefully orchestrated con than...
by: Silas Hendricks
When you start hiding negative reviews with fraudulent DMCA notices, you know you're in damage control mode. Carl's attempt to scrub critical content shows he's more about creating a perfect image than owning up to his questionable decisions.
by: Lexi Barron
Runefelt’s crypto ventures seem more like a gamble than a genius strategy. With projects like Kasta falling 98%, it's clear he’s either a bad investor or a fraud who can’t keep his own house in order
by: Pierce Maddox
Self-proclaimed billionaire or just a well-crafted image? Too many inconsistencies surround Carl's narrative he claims to have left his grocery store job for crypto, but was he really just playing with family money all along?
by: Mira Sloan
Carl Runefelt, ‘The Moon’? More like 'The Mirage.' From claiming to be a self-made crypto mogul to allegedly using family wealth for his rise, it’s hard to take his story seriously. Transparency isn’t his strong suit.
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