Key Takeaways:
- ZKJ token misplaced over 90% of its worth in a single hour, sparking suspicions of a rug pull presumably involving wallets linked to the Polyhedra crew.
- Liquidity swimming pools linked to Binance Alpha Factors have been drained throughout the crash, elevating questions on oversight and platform threat.
- Excessive APYs might have inspired merchants to carry ZKJ, amplifying losses as soon as liquidity disappeared.
The ZKJ value, issued by the Polyhedra undertaking, collapsed by 90% in only one hour, triggering panic throughout the crypto neighborhood. Customers and analysts at the moment are asking whether or not this was a sudden liquidity failure or a fastidiously deliberate rug pull involving the undertaking’s personal crew.
Suspicions intensified after on-chain researchers flagged a collection of surprising transactions tied to wallets allegedly linked to the undertaking. The incident unfolded amid rising consideration to Binance Alpha Factors farming, the place ZKJ was actively used.

Did the Polyhedra Group Crash the ZKJ Worth on Goal?
Following the sudden value drop, neighborhood members started looking for explanations. Some merchants concluded that the crew behind Polyhedra had orchestrated the occasion. In response to on-chain researcher Tracer, the crew might have used a number of wallets to quietly exit their positions and drain liquidity.
This sample follows a typical “exit liquidity” state of affairs. A undertaking builds hype with common updates, sturdy social media presence, and visual partnerships. In the meantime, the token positive factors worth, and merchants purchase in, anticipating long-term progress. Then, insiders pull out instantly, leaving others to soak up the losses.
@DeFiTracer @DeFiTracer crew dumps all the time hit completely different while you notice 'constructing' was simply code for 'prepping exit liquidity'. DESCRIBE_IMAGE: a cartoon dev crew casually tossing baggage labeled $ZKJ off a cliff whereas retail merchants scramble to catch them with nets.
— CodeNeo (@IamCodeNeo) June 15, 2025
On this case, nonetheless, it’s nonetheless unclear whether or not Polyhedra was malicious from the beginning or if one thing went unsuitable later.
Three wallets reportedly linked to the crew interacted with the Koge (KOGE) pool paired with ZKJ. These wallets started eradicating giant quantities of liquidity from the KOGE/USDT pool, which triggered the ZKJ value to fall by greater than 80%, from $63 to $25. As quickly as merchants misplaced the flexibility to exit via KOGE, many switched into ZKJ as a substitute, hoping to salvage funds. This, in flip, inflated the ZKJ pool.
On the identical time, the wallets suspected of main the sell-off started unloading giant quantities of ZKJ into the market. Some even created an phantasm of wholesome quantity by first swapping KOGE for ZKJ, then rapidly dumping their ZKJ holdings.
The primary indicators of hassle got here from KOGE.
Its pool ran out of USDT, leaving LPs caught with out exit liquidity.
Merchants rushed to swap KOGE into ZKJ
Beginning a wave of panic promoting and breaking ZKJ’s value flooring.
Each tokens began to fall
(3/8) pic.twitter.com/4mDgecgPKn— StarPlatinum (@StarPlatinumSOL) June 15, 2025
Binance Alpha Factors Involvement Raised Purple Flags
The KOGE/ZKJ pool was the primary liquidity supply utilized in Binance’s Alpha Factors program, which made the scenario much more regarding. Neighborhood members started questioning how such a high-profile failure ended up being a part of Binance’s ecosystem.
Polyhedra denied that the crew was chargeable for the crash. A session with co-founder Tiancheng Xie is scheduled for June 17.
Polyhedra’s co-founder and CTO @Tiancheng_Xie shall be accessible to reply questions round Sunday’s crash at present, 17 June at 3 pm UTC, streamed throughout Discord and X.
— Polyhedra (@PolyhedraZK) June 17, 2025
A New Lesson for Crypto Traders?
Many within the crypto neighborhood described the ZKJ value crash as a textbook rip-off. The undertaking’s management rejected these accusations. On his private X (previously Twitter) account, Tiancheng Xie promised a buyback plan however added that “we have to determine the present scenario.”
We are going to buyback extra. Now we have to determine present scenario and we have to forestall future monetary assault. https://t.co/AuYMA65aj6
— Tiancheng Xie (@Tiancheng_Xie) June 16, 2025
A dealer often known as Poodle mentioned he obtained ZKJ throughout an airdrop and selected to maintain farming as a substitute of promoting. In consequence, he misplaced practically $9,000.
Folly and Braveness: How I Held $ZKJ, Believed, and Ended Up With Nothing
I didn’t promote my $ZKJ after the airdrop.
Why? As a result of I believed.
The undertaking rewarded me as a loyal consumer, and I assumed, that is it. I’ve earned it. I’m in it for the long term.
I didn’t need to be the man… pic.twitter.com/9OQhthYRL3— Poodle
(@onepunchman182) June 16, 2025
Some customers additionally identified that the Annual Proportion Yield (APY) for the ZKJ/KOGE pair on Binance Alpha Factors was near 700%, which can have served as bait for unsuspecting traders.
Whereas some individuals attempt to farm $zkj for these juicy APR sitting at 686% and 408%
They weren't truly farming, they have been the Yield.
Lure was clearly set with an insane reward and quantity.
If it's too good to be true, RUN!
Unhappy to see, to say the least pic.twitter.com/6eOi8FA6AB—
ᄃムt
(@mztacat) June 15, 2025
Including to the stress, a serious token unlock is scheduled for June 19, with 15.53 million ZK tokens set to enter circulation. With liquidity already drained and lots of holders promoting at a loss, this elevated provide may drive costs even decrease if new patrons don’t step in.
Bybit has already introduced that the June 18 Perpetual Contract for ZKJ/USDT shall be suspended. Though Polyhedra responded and plans to carry a public Q&A, investor losses and the entire wipeout of ZKJ and KOGE liquidity swimming pools have raised severe doubts in regards to the undertaking’s credibility.
Even when the crew didn’t straight trigger the collapse, the end result has already broken neighborhood belief. Many at the moment are watching intently to see whether or not the undertaking introduces any payback or restitution plan. This incident may find yourself as yet one more cautionary instance of the dangers behind crypto’s high-yield, high-volatility tradition.
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