A newly launched meme coin referred to as LICK has come below scrutiny after on-chain knowledge linked its creation to John Daghita, additionally recognized on-line as “Lick,” who has been accused of stealing $40 million from the US authorities.
In its newest replace, blockchain analytics platform Bubblemaps reported that Daghita not too long ago launched LICK on Solana-based meme coin launchpad, Pump.enjoyable, and has been actively live-streaming on Telegram to advertise the token. In response to the info shared, a single pockets linked to Daghita holds roughly 40% of the full LICK provide, which has sparked quick centralization and danger considerations.
Bubblemaps described the scenario as “unhinged.”
From Seized Funds to Pump.enjoyable
The Bubblemaps replace comes simply days after outstanding on-chain investigator ZachXBT revealed an in depth discovering connecting the “Lick” to wallets tied to large-scale suspected thefts and funds linked to US authorities seizure addresses. ZachXBT stated his investigation stemmed from a leaked recording of a personal group chat, through which a menace actor named “John” was seen screensharing pockets balances and shifting thousands and thousands of {dollars}’ price of cryptocurrency throughout an argument with one other actor.
In response to ZachXBT, the dispute escalated into “band for band,” a observe in cybercrime circles the place contributors try to show wealth by displaying and transferring funds in actual time. The investigator acknowledged that the recording confirmed John controlling a number of wallets and shifting important quantities of crypto whereas being filmed, which allowed the wallets to be traced afterward.
After analyzing the footage, the on-chain sleuth reported that the wallets displayed within the recording may very well be linked to greater than $90 million in suspected thefts. He stated that one pockets within the transaction chain obtained 1,066 WETH on November 20, 2025, which he traced again to a pockets that had obtained $24.9 million from a US authorities handle in March 2024.
Ties to Bitfinex Funds
ZachXBT claimed this handle was related to funds seized from the Bitfinex hack, which he beforehand reported on in October 2024. He additional claimed that the identical pockets obtained over $63 million in inflows from suspected victims and authorities seizure-related addresses throughout the fourth quarter of 2025, together with a further 4,170 ETH, price about $12.4 million on the time, originating from MEXC.
John had a protracted historical past of boasting about his internet price on Telegram and shared identifiers tied to these messages, as per ZachXBT, who additionally added that rumors in cybercrime channels indicated the person may very well be John Daghita, who was arrested in September 2025, although he acknowledged that additional affirmation was wanted.
The investigator raised extra questions on entry to seized funds, whereas citing that John’s father owns CMDSS, an organization holding an energetic US Marshals Service contract associated to managing forfeited crypto property. He harassed that it stays unclear how any entry could have occurred.
In the meantime, public statements from officers confirmed that the US authorities authorities are investigating the matter.
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