By Pascal Ibe
Many news blogs and social media pages have claimed that a 12 year old Russian boy is the founder of of TapSwap, a popular cryptocurrency app that allows users to tap on a game and earn coins that can later be turned into real money.
This claim has continued to trend for over two weeks ago on popular news blogs.These Blog include, Gistlovers, 9jaflaver, GistReel, Katagun DailyPost, etc.
In a series of posts on social media, the boy, whose real name isn’t yet known, has been rumored to be the creator of TapSwap.
@Babafella2: “So the boy who created the TAP SWAP App is a 12-year-old Russian boy. What could you create when you were his age?”
@itzclarkson: “Breaking News: 12-year-old Russian Boy creates Tap Swap app, gains popularity in Nigeria. OYA, make una continue tapping.”
@AkinBamTips: “TapSwap was created by a 12-year-old Russian boy who did it for homework.”
@sparkle_akoga: “So it is a 12-year-old Russian Boy who created the Tap-Swap App. What is happening to our innovation and creative act?”
TapSwap coin mining enables users to earn Tap tokens by engaging with the TapSwap Telegram bot. Unlike traditional mining, which requires expensive hardware and technical know-how, TapSwap simplifies the process. Users can start mining by simply tapping an icon within the Telegram bot interface.
TapSwap offers a unique approach to crypto mining that doesn’t necessitate advanced technical skills or costly equipment. This accessibility has contributed to its widespread popularity, particularly among those new to cryptocurrency
To verify this, thefactwatch first performed a simple Google image reverse search, we discovered that the boy whom social media users claimed as founder of tapswap coin is False.
Verification
We traced and found a report published in 2022 titled: A 12-year-old Russian declares on camera that he wants to live in the USSR
In the report, a propaganda video with the voiceover of the Kremlin’s rhetoric, in which a child was involved. A 12-year-old boy, Denys, from Nizhny Novgorod in the Russian Federation, thanks the Russian occupiers on camera for “returning the peace that was previously stolen.”
At the same time, the boy, who was born 19 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, confesses his love for the USSR, says that he likes Soviet cartoons and films, and only on this basis says that he would like to live “in the same friendly and a great country, as before.”
The corresponding video appeared on Telegram on March 3, 2022.
See the report here
Also, thefactwatch saw the video of the same boy on YouTube in 2022.
Watch video here
When we checked the authenticity of the video on Metadata, results showed that the video was not doctored.
Finding the Owner Of Tapswap
When we typed a simple keyword “Who created TapSwap“, on Google search, the name Kibiru Muthaka appeared as result.
Tapswapcoin.com, a website for Tapswap crypto mining news and updates (not official website) confirmed that Kibiru Muthaka is the founder.
RochetReach, a website use to find email and phone numbers displayed Kibiru Muthaka profile as Tapswap leader.
On his LinkedIn profile with over 700 followers, Kibiru Muthaka wrote, “Entrepreneur and investor with a diverse background in venture building, investment, and regulatory affairs across diverse sectors and regions. As the Founder of TapSwap, I lead a pioneering effort to simplify crypto exchange, championing accessibility, education, and inclusivity in digital asset ownership for Africa and beyond.
“With a deep involvement in the crypto space since the 2017 ICO boom, coupled with my standing as a top 2% futures trader on a tier-1 exchange (2019 – 2022) and an advocate of Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA), I possess firsthand insights and on-ground experience into the challenges faced by Africa in accessing crypto.
“Concurrently, my roles as an Angel Investor in ventures like Love Handle SG and Gridless reflect my dedication to supporting innovative solutions that address critical challenges in Asia’s food industry and Africa’s energy sector. Complemented by a proven track record in team leadership, strategic vision, and fostering innovation, I am poised to continue driving positive impact and shaping the future of emerging markets.
Verdict
The posts that claimed that a 12 year old Russian boy is the founder of Tapswap crypto mining app is FALSE.
Findings showed that photo of the boy first appeared online in 2022.
On the other hand, thefactwatch cannot get thorough confirmation from strong sources if Kibiru Muthaka is truly Tapswap owner. But multi websites including a LinkedIn account, indicated that he’s the owner of the crypto mining app.
