Crypto Influencer's 'Not Financial Advice' Disclaimer Now Longer Than Actual Advice

A cryptocurrency influencer's legal disclaimer preceding his investment recommendations has grown to exceed the length of the recommendations themselves by a factor of twenty-four, following consultations with an attorney who described the influencer's previous disclaimers as "charmingly inadequate." Blockchain personality Tyler Shill, who has 2.3 million followers across platforms, began his latest video with the statement: "I think MOONDOG token is going to absolutely send it this quarter, easy 10x, load up your bags." This recommendation lasted fourteen words and four seconds. The disclaimer that preceded it lasted 340 words and ninety-seven seconds, delivered at approximately double conversational speed in a tone his editor describes as "auctioneer meets terms and conditions." Key excerpts from the disclaimer include: "This is not financial advice, investment advice, tax advice, legal advice, medical advice, or advice of any kind. I am not a financial advisor, registered broker-dealer, licensed investment consultant, or person of sound judgment. Any resemblance between my statements and actionable financial guidance is coincidental and should be treated as such." The disclaimer also includes the phrases "past performance is not indicative of future results," "I may hold positions in tokens discussed," "the value of digital assets can go to zero, and frequently does," and "by watching this video you acknowledge that I am essentially a man talking into a camera in my apartment and that listening to me is a choice you are making freely and without duress." Shill's attorney, who charges $450 per hour, has recommended expanding the disclaimer further to include jurisdictional limitations and a waiver of consequential damages. This would bring the disclaimer to approximately 600 words, or roughly forty-three times the length of the advice itself. "The ideal ratio is for the disclaimer to be so long that no one watches the actual recommendation," the attorney explained. "That way, nobody acts on it, and my client is protected. It's the safest content strategy: unwatchable content." Shill's MOONDOG recommendation has since lost 94% of its value. The disclaimer performed as designed.