DANNY : DE HEKRory Conacher, a name now synonymous with Ponzi schemes, fake investment platforms, and broken promises, has emerged yet again—this time riding on the back of a health and wellness gimmick called StepChain.

And just like clockwork, it’s not about fitness—it’s about funneling more people into another dangerous multi-level marketing (MLM) trap.

If you’ve heard Rory speak recently, you’d think he was on a mission to recover funds for victims of the very scams he promoted: HyperVerse, We Are All Satoshi, StableDAO, VidiLOOK, and more. He spent months claiming to be leading a class-action lawsuit to recover funds. It turns out, that was just a distraction tactic while he orchestrated his next move: launching STEPClub—the gateway to the StepChain ecosystem.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t a fresh start. It’s a recycled lie, and it’s time to expose it for what it is.

What is StepChain?

On the surface, StepChain appears to be a fitness app that pays you in crypto for walking, running, and doing mental puzzles. It gamifies movement. Sounds fun, right? Until you realise that to unlock rewards, you have to pay to play. StepChain charges $29.95/month, $79.95/quarter, or $299.95/year to participate, with promises of earning Step Points, which might one day convert to crypto via their SCC token.

This isn’t innovation. It’s MLM wrapped in Lycra.

Participants are told they can:

  • Earn up to $155/month by hitting movement targets and referrals
  • Join a $1,000,000 prize pool for top steppers
  • Refer 3 people and get your subscription free
  • Stake SCC coins and earn 35.5% APY returns

But here’s the catch: You can’t buy Step Points—you earn them by moving. Yet, to convert them or even access rewards, you must pay for access. And that’s where the trap begins.

What We Discovered

The StepChain app is published under “Absolutely Digital” on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store—a common tactic used by MLM schemes to obscure ownership and avoid scrutiny from regulators and platform reviewers.

The app’s privacy policy refers to a company called Vida Digital Mobile Limited, registered in Leicester, UK—not StepChain. There’s no sign of a legitimate company structure behind the app’s branding.

The App Store links to a privacy policy hosted at stepchain.net/legal. But if you remove the /legal and try to visit the root domain stepchain.net, you’ll be greeted with a 404 error. There’s no homepage, no public-facing site—just a dead end. This tactic is deliberate: it allows the developers to meet Apple’s privacy policy requirement without offering any real transparency.

The privacy policy itself is dated October 2019, referencing outdated tracking technologies, long-abandoned payment processors, and even “offer walls” where user data is traded for virtual rewards—a red flag buried in the fine print.

Meanwhile, StepChain’s ecosystem includes a maze of domains:

This intentional fragmentation creates confusion, making it difficult to pin down who’s behind the project, who’s collecting the money, and who’s ultimately responsible. It’s classic obfuscation—and it works.

And here’s another oddity: on the Apple App Store, the privacy policy clearly lists a free Gmail address—stepchainapp@gmail.com—as the developer’s contact. However, on the identical version of the policy hosted on stepchain.io, that contact detail has been quietly removed. This kind of inconsistency isn’t just sloppy—it’s suspicious. A company supposedly headquartered in Dubai, London, New York, and Kuala Lumpur should not be using free webmail for customer support, nor should it be hiding it selectively across platforms.

Rory Conacher’s Involvement

Why does this matter? Because Rory Conacher isn’t just promoting StepChain. He’s directing people into it, hosting Zoom calls, and presenting it as a solution after the disaster he left behind.

In reality, Rory is the problem.

His own cousin, Michelle Alistoun, recently came forward with a Damning Letter exposing how Rory took their family’s life savings under false pretenses, claiming he was running a crypto trading desk. Her husband, Sebastien Mangeant, also confirmed that Rory promised secure trust accounts, only to later claim the money vanished due to “black swan events.”

For nearly two years, Michelle and Seb were strung along with endless excuses, false hope, and manipulative voice messages. Michelle even begged Rory for the truth and offered to stop exposing him if he just came clean. Instead, she got more lies, nonsense screenshots, and new promises that never materialized.

Michelle’s letter can be summarised in one sentence: Rory is a master manipulator who leaves devastation in his wake.

My Correspondence With Rory

After announcing I’d be doing a blog exposing his role in StepChain, Rory sent me this message:

Dear Danny,

I’ve taken note of your recent announcement about an upcoming blog post regarding me, as well as your past and current statements on various platforms, including YouTube, blogs, and social media. Despite my previous requests, you’ve continued to share inaccurate information. I want to emphasize that I reserve all my rights and will take appropriate action at a time of my choosing to protect my interests and reputation.

Sincerely,
Rory

My reply:

Dear Rory,

Your attempt to silence me with veiled legal threats is as predictable as it is pathetic. I relish any “action” you think you’re capable of taking—because unlike your web of deception, I deal in facts, evidence, and accountability.

Not one breath in my body believes a single word you say. You’re not misunderstood. You’re not misrepresented. You’re a washed-up scammer who’s scrambling because the walls are closing in—and your own cousin now stands among your accusers.

This next blog will pull no punches. It will be thorough. It will be evidence-based. And it will be public.

The fact that you’re even replying to me proves you’re worried—and you should be. Your con is collapsing. Your time is running out.

Danny de Hek
The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger

The Final Red Flags

  • MLM compensation plan disguised as a wellness mission
  • “Up to $1M in monthly prizes” but no verifiable winners
  • SCC token staking promises of 35.5% APY—an absurd, unsustainable rate
  • Domain shell game with different legal names, offices, and brands
  • Use of buzzwords like AI, gamification, charity, and mental wellness to bait emotional buyers
  • Fake urgency, reward inflation, and referral-driven monetisation

StepChain is the same scam, new wrapper.

Victim Testimony: The Class Action That Wasn’t

A striking public comment recently surfaced on Danny de Hek’s YouTube channel, offering firsthand insight from someone who fell for Rory Conacher’s so-called class action lawsuit:

I paid the $15 and after that never heard anything. I’ve since learnt that the money was just used to collect victim information to then sell them into StepChain.

This chilling quote echoes what many suspected all along — the so-called class action wasn’t about justice, but about data mining. Victims were sold the dream of legal redemption, only to be lured into yet another scheme dressed up as a wellness revolution. Rory wasn’t fighting for those who lost money — he was laying the groundwork to funnel them into his next Ponzi under a new brand.

Another user comment..

A damning public comment was recently posted to Danny de Hek’s YouTube community page, revealing the disturbing truth behind Rory Conacher’s so-called “class action” campaign. The user wrote:

“Ok so I paid Cory the $15 I lost $10000 USD to Sam Lees scam. Some of his leaders are now selling Bit Booster as well. When we needed to supply our evidence it was so complicated and I was away in another country… then it got extended and extended and extended. A lot like the original time to pay. Obviously to collect more funds.”

The user continues:

“I never submitted my details as it was also a huge data collection and a lot of info that seemed more than I’d like to give. And then all we hear now is this step count shit… Not once has he provided the information of who he is dealing with in Dubai. Just the authorities. No documents of what is happening being shared with those that paid. If it is a class action we should know what is being done and have access to the documents.”

This chilling testimony validates long-standing concerns that Rory Conacher never intended to pursue justice on behalf of the victims—he was harvesting data, building lists, and preparing to funnel desperate people into yet another trap. StepChain appears to be that trap. The timeline, the bait, the pivot—it all lines up. Rory’s “class action” was never about restitution. It was a deliberate rebranding exercise, and now the very victims he promised to help are once again being exploited.

Walk Away From This

StepChain is nothing more than a Ponzi-style recruitment funnel hidden behind sneakers and smiley influencers. And Rory Conacher is not your guide to wellness. He’s the gatekeeper to financial misery.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:

When someone who’s scammed you before comes knocking with a “new opportunity,” the only step you should take… is in the opposite direction.

Stay sharp. Stay sceptical. And for God’s sake—don’t trust Rory Conacher.

About the Author Danny de Hek, also known as The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger, is a New Zealand-based investigative journalist specializing in exposing crypto fraud, Ponzi schemes, and MLM scams. His work has been featured by Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Guardian Australia, ABC News Australia, and other international outlets.

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Appendix: Company Response & My Reply

Email from Philippe Bednarek <p@atlasgroup.bm>
Chairman, Atlas Group
Sent to: Danny de Hek (The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger)

Subject: Response to Your Inquiry

Dear Mr. De Hek,

Thank you for your inquiry. Please find below our detailed responses to your questions:

1. Trademark & Ownership
StepChain was registered in the UK in August 2019 under trademark number UK00918115185, and internationally in the US in February 2020 under number 1535150, as an online fitness application developed by Vida Digital Mobile Limited. The company has been registered with Companies House in England since January 2017 under number 10576828. Vida Digital Mobile is wholly owned by Absolutely Digital DMCC, a UAE-based company (www.absolutelydigital.net). Both entities are subsidiaries of the Atlas Group of Companies (www.atlasgroup.bm), which I co-founded in 1994 with my business partner, Jean-Michel Alfieri.

2. Corporate Location
Vida Digital Mobile was incorporated in the UK due to the group’s long standing presence in London since 1999. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, all StepChain team members work remotely, and the group’s headquarters have been relocated to the UAE.

3. App Background & Strategic Evolution
Since 2017, Vida Digital Mobile has operated multiple health and wellness applications (including Golden Steps and Fitwin), primarily distributed through telecom operators such as Orange and Africell. Originally, StepChain was developed as a B2B solution for banks and insurance companies. In 2022, we shifted to a B2C model via Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) following an approach by Sam Lee. Despite being defrauded of $125,000 by him in 2023, we continued independently with that strategy until May 1st, 2025, when we officially transitioned to a two-level Affiliate Marketing model, completely phasing out MLM.

4. Nature of the Product
StepChain is a wellness subscription app priced at $29.95 per month, aligned with standard pricing for similar apps. It is not an investment, and subscriptions can be cancelled at any time. The app’s primary goal is to encourage a healthier lifestyle, supported by community engagement. Members accumulate points which can be redeemed for electronics, fitness equipment, and, for those consistently using the app for 3.5 years, even a Tesla. The $1 million prize pool is based on a target user base of 100,000 by Q4 2027. Referrals are completely optional; many users participate solely for personal wellness.

5. Web Presence
Our official website is https://thestepclub.com.
www.stepchain.net is a legacy B2B site, largely inactive except for a few remaining links.
www.stepchain.io is independently operated by a StepChain member in the UAE with our authorization for promotional purposes.

6. StepChain Coin (SCC)
SCC is a utility token designed to serve as the native currency within our ecosystem. It is earned through physical activity and will eventually be used for both subscriptions and reward redemptions. Our secured ICO portal is https://stepchain-ico.com, currently in beta as the ICO has not yet officially launched.

7. Team
StepChain and StepClub are led by a seasoned team with long-standing ties to the Atlas Group, including Gonzalo Gandia, Debora Turner, Darren Vickers, Elena Gorodnicheva, and Maria Almgren.

8. Collaboration with Rory Conacher
We were introduced to Rory Conacher in late 2023, following the Sam Lee incident, and joined his efforts to pursue legal action. He was open about his past dealings with Sam Lee and provided a credible and transparent account. Since January 15th, 2025, Rory has been the membership representative and spokesperson, providing counsel and advice. The shift from MLM to affiliate marketing was made based on his recommendation.

While I fully support your mission to expose fraudulent schemes and deceptive practices, I regret that inaccurate and defamatory information about our company was published without prior contact or clarification. Our counsels are currently evaluating the damages to our businesses and reputation.

Best regards,
Philippe Bednarek
Chairman, Atlas Group

My Reply: Danny de Hek – The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger

Dear Mr. Bednarek,

Thank you for your detailed response. While I appreciate the time you’ve taken to clarify your position and the structure behind StepChain, I must respectfully state that much of what you’ve outlined does not address the very real and substantial concerns raised in my investigation—concerns which remain unanswered for your paying subscribers, public app users, and anyone marketed to by Rory Conacher, a figure you have chosen to align your brand with despite his known history of promoting HyperVerse, VidiLOOK, We Are All Satoshi, and StableDAO.

StepChain’s infrastructure is obfuscated across at least four domains, has a privacy policy dated 2019 hosted on a 404 dead homepage (stepchain.net), and alternately lists Vida Digital Mobile Ltd, Absolutely Digital DMCC, and StepClub.com—a pattern consistent with fraud concealment tactics used by past crypto-based MLM operations.

Rory Conacher’s move from a failed “class action” campaign (for which he collected personal data and money from victims) to now positioning himself as a wellness ambassador through StepChain is not only deceptive—it’s offensive to the very people he claimed to be helping.

Your own admission that StepChain shifted to MLM “following an approach by Sam Lee”—a man globally known for defrauding investors—further damages any claim of innocence. The decision to continue MLM even after being defrauded, then promote a crypto coin and $1M prize pool based on “step activity,” is not a pivot to health—it’s a pivot to rebrand a scam with athletic packaging.

If you wish to rebuild trust, I suggest the following:

  • Cut all ties with Rory Conacher immediately.
  • Disclose financial data on where user subscriptions and SCC token purchases are going.
  • Clarify how “Tesla giveaways” are funded and who, if anyone, has ever received such rewards.
  • Update your privacy policies and domain integrity to reflect actual transparency.

Until then, the warnings will continue. Because people deserve to know when a product is designed not for health—but for financial extraction under the illusion of movement.

Kind regards,
Danny de Hek
The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger

Full Correspondence Between StepChain Director Philippe Bednarek and Danny de Hek

Email from Philippe Bednarek (May 23, 2025):

Dear Mr. De Hek,
Thank you for inviting me to a live interview. I’d be delighted to share my insights as Director at StepChain but also maybe as a former Jehovah’s Witness… Given my current location in Europe, please provide some time slots that accommodate our respective time zones.
Best regards,
PB

Follow-up email from Philippe Bednarek (May 24, 2025):

Dear Mr. De Hek,
I was simply responding positively to your offer for a live interview. You’ve withdrawn that offer, which is your right.
I respect investigative work when it’s conducted with professionalism. I respect free speech, until defamation becomes a business model.
Someone shared a link to one of your live broadcasts about my company. I watched you swear, berate, insult, and name-shame people. Clearly, you’ve found your style. Upon reviewing your website, I was even more disturbed by the extent of your monetization obsession: “Buy me a coffee,” G Suite resales, WordPress and Shopify promos, sponsored posts, affiliate links, $43 for a 20-minute call, $260 for a video session, and coaching packages priced at $1,200 (!). You even promote dropshipping as a passive income opportunity, despite the fact that many consumer protection agencies have flagged it as a high-risk industry.
Yes, as a former Jehovah’s Witness, I value integrity and accountability and I practice what I preach. So should you.
I’m a lawyer with 31 years of entrepreneurial experience in telecommunications and digital services. While I respect differing opinions, I am not obliged to conduct my business in a way that pleases you, so long as it remains within the bounds of the law. You don’t support MLM? Then take on Amway or Herbalife. You object to two-tier affiliate programs? Share your feelings with some high-profile companies like Binance or ClickFunnels. I will not accept to be bullied. Our model pays 25% on direct referrals and up to 15% on indirect referrals. Referrals are optional. Where exactly do you see an “exploitative fundamental structure”?
I’m not interested in your personal vendetta against Mr. Conacher. As I’ve already stated, we use his expertise and are satisfied with his contributions. He is neither an employee nor a shareholder. Like you, I’m not a judge or a prosecutor, and if he made mistakes in the past, I believe in second chances and redemption. If you deem me guilty by association, I encourage you to (re)read 1984 or Fahrenheit 451.
You were right about one thing: the interview would have been “direct and uncomfortable.” But for both of us. Perhaps that’s why you chose to decline it.
Best regards,
PB
P.S. I have no doubt you will publish this letter the same way you did with the first one. But I found it odd that the version of your commentary differed from the response you sent me privately.

Reply from Danny de Hek (May 23, 2025):

Dear Mr. Bednarek,

Thank you for your follow-up.

Let me clarify: I haven’t withdrawn the invitation for an interview—I’ve simply made it clear I’m not interested in facilitating a PR exercise. If your intent is genuine accountability, not damage control, then I welcome it. But I see little value in staging a conversation where difficult questions are dodged instead of answered.

You claim to “respect investigative work” and “free speech”—until, it seems, someone applies it to you. You accuse me of defamation, yet fail to specify any falsehood I’ve published. Instead, you attack my business model, as though charging for services undermines the credibility of my content.

Yes, I charge for consultations. Yes, I help people build dropshipping businesses. That’s called entrepreneurship—something you and I apparently share. The difference? I don’t disguise monetisation behind the facade of a wellness platform peddling crypto tokens through known Ponzi promoters.

Let’s address your key claims:

On MLM vs. Affiliate Marketing

You assert that StepChain transitioned from MLM to a “two-tier affiliate model” as of May 1st. But this isn’t an innovation—it’s a tired playbook. MLMs facing scrutiny often relabel their structure without altering the financial mechanics.

Mr. Bednarek, while you continue to assert that Step Club has shifted away from multilevel marketing into a simple affiliate model, I would encourage you to revisit your own words in the following publicly available recording:
https://youtu.be/JrilDN3TBpM?t=2911 (timestamp 00:49:00–00:54:50).

In this segment, a participant sketches out the compensation structure on a whiteboard, with your confirmation and Rory’s elaboration. The discussion clearly describes users earning 15% commissions on second-level referrals without limit. Despite your statements, this structure inherently behaves as a multilevel marketing scheme. Two tiers of perpetually paid referrals is MLM—no matter how you brand it.

Calling it “accountability” or “support” does not change the mathematics. This footage contradicts your written denials and reinforces that StepChain is MLM by structure, even if the label has changed.

On Rory Conacher

You defend Rory Conacher as “transparent about his past” and deserving of a second chance. But this isn’t a case of past sins—it’s an ongoing pattern. Rory is still actively promoting his fraudulent “class action” lawsuit with no visible legal filings, no representation, and no results—while now pitching that same misled community a new “opportunity” under your brand.

He defrauded his cousin. He misled the public. And now he’s your spokesperson. That’s not just an error in judgment—it’s complicity.

On Platform Obfuscation

You’ve acknowledged:

  • stepchain.net returns a 404 (yet it’s still referenced in your App Store privacy links).

  • stepchain.io is operated by a third party in the UAE.

  • thestepclub.com is your active portal.

  • And your iOS App Store listing uses a Gmail address (stepchainapp@gmail.com), not a corporate email.

You’ve also offered no explanation for why the privacy policy hosted at stepchain.net/legal was removed from stepchain.io, or why it is outdated and references offer walls, defunct payment gateways, and tracking policies last updated in 2019.

If your operation is legitimate, why is it hidden behind disconnected domains, old policy pages, and inconsistent branding?

On the $1M Monthly Prize Pool

You advertise $1 million in prizes monthly—yet there’s no public proof. No winners named. No itemised breakdowns. No legal disclosures. No audit trail.

You suggest the rewards could include a Tesla after 3.5 years of consistent use. That’s not just speculative—that’s an unsubstantiated earnings claim. Show the math. Publish winners. Until then, it’s marketing puffery.

On Dropshipping & Risk

You criticize me for offering drop shipping services, citing “high risk” according to unnamed agencies. Meanwhile, I’ve helped people sell over 8,000 products a year with no incidents of fraud or deception. Risk exists in any business—but StepChain’s structure presents unregulated crypto promotions wrapped in MLM mechanics, which regulators take far more seriously than product arbitrage.

You claim my blog was monetized? Yes—it funds my investigative work. But monetization is not deception. Deception is offering crypto commissions through a health app run by a man with a fraud history and pretending that’s a legitimate affiliate model.

On Defamation and Free Speech

You continue to insinuate defamation without naming a single falsehood. As a self-described lawyer, you should know this:
Truth is an absolute defence to defamation. Commentary based on verifiable public material and real testimonies is not illegal—it’s protected speech. If you believe otherwise, you are free to challenge my claims in a court of law.

But you won’t—because you know I’ve done my homework. If I’ve erred, I’ll correct it. If I haven’t, you can’t intimidate me with vague threats.

Closing Thoughts

I don’t expect you to like what I say. But I’m not here for your approval—I’m here to protect the public.

You chose to work with a known scam promoter. You chose to maintain a multilevel commission model while denying it. You chose to build your app around ambiguity, inconsistent messaging, and flashy promises. That’s not on me. That’s on you.

So yes—I will post your replies. I will link your statements. And I will let the public judge who’s operating in good faith and who’s rewriting history.

Sincerely,
Danny de Hek
The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger

P.S. – Since you mentioned being a lawyer, you might enjoy reading about my last defamation case in the High Court of New Zealand. It’s a strong precedent regarding free speech and investigative commentary. You can find the details here:
https://www.dehek.com/general/ponzi-scheme-scamalerts/landmark-verdict-de-hek-triumphs-with-27500-indemnity-costs-unraveling-the-mccullah-vs-de-hek/

Reply from Philippe Bednarek (May 26, 2025):

Dear Mr. De Hek,

There is one more thing you and I have in common: you don’t like my business and the way I run it. I don’t like how you are harming a good cause. Exposing scams requires rigor and attention to detail. It requires the ability to distinguish between spotting a few mistakes and errors and identifying an illegal business model. I’m still waiting for a clear explanation as to why StepChain would be considered illegal.

Unfortunately, you seem too lazy to analyze a project with an unbiased mind. Referral commission? Bad. Crypto? Evil. Someone you dislike is involved? Let’s lash out on YouTube, berating and disparaging without any sense of measure.

An honest investigation requires reaching out to the company’s executives to ask “uncomfortable” questions before publishing anything. It requires conducting proper legal research before drawing any hasty conclusions. It requires understanding the business model before cowardly reporting an app to the App Store like a WWII snitch.

We gave you a free membership. You registered but never used the app. No offense, but based on your online photos, you might have benefited from our program by walking 10,000 steps a day. You could have experienced firsthand the support of a wellness-focused community. StepChain has thousands of satisfied members who appreciate that support, motivated by iPhones, wearables, headphones, and other items they redeem on the marketplace, while enjoying side revenue from referrals. But we should deprive them of this because you don’t like it?

Or maybe you’re just too busy. Photographer, interior designer, travel guide, website developer, digital marketer, business consultant, content creator, podcaster, window cleaner (!) and of course, dropshipper. You are a living Swiss Army knife—master of none. Speaking of dropshipping, here’s an article about the industry you seem to love so much: https://www.chargeflow.io/blog/spot-avoid-dropshipping-scams. I’m not implying you are a scammer, I’m simply pointing out that your industry is full of them. That is what I call a sense of measure.

My law degrees are at your disposal, should you wish to verify them. Though, I must admit, I’m a little envious: despite having no academic credentials, you manage to charge $1,200 for an hour of Zoom coaching. Quite a feat. Your advices must be exceptional. What kind of clients pay that kind of money to a self-proclaimed “satirist”? For your sense of humor? Perhaps publishing a few testimonials would help ease any suspicion of racketeering.

Let me be clear: you may have done a good job exposing a few scams, but based on the lack of professionalism you’ve displayed with StepChain, I wonder if you’re not just a broken clock, right twice a day. The problem is when you’re wrong, it’s defamation. I can’t help but wonder how many others you’ve defamed due to your indolence and lack of seriousness. Maybe none, maybe a few, maybe a lot. You wrote, “If I’ve erred, I’ll correct it.” Sadly, that’s not how it works. You should ask victims of crimes, once the damage is done, it’s done.

 If I needed another proof of your sloppiness: the High Court decision you sent me is absolutely not a “strong precedent regarding free speech and investigative commentary”. It is about discontinuation of a proceeding and gagging writ. I let your Legal Aid lawyers explain you the difference.

As you already know, I don’t like your show. I find it vulgar and repulsive, undermining the cause. I wouldn’t want my kids watching you insult, mock and name-shame others from your basement. Your bullying is a cry for attention. You remind me of Alex Jones and InfoWars, buta microscopic kiwi version. I wouldn’t be surprised if your story ends the same way with someone drawing a line around your sense of impunity. I’m still wondering why YouTube, LinkedIn, and other platforms tolerate your antics. I’ll find out soon.

I’m not a therapist, but there’s a lot to say about your desperate pursuit of fame. I see you constantly bragging about your mention in newspapers like The New York Times or a documentary about Sam Lee. I’m sure you dream of a Netflix special all about you.

On a final and positive note: I appreciate that, as you promised, you publish our exchange on your website. At least on that point, you are a man of your word.

Best Regards,

Philippe Bednarek

Chairman, Atlas Group

PS: I m still available for a live interview

Reply from Danny de Hek (May 26, 2025):

Dear Mr. Bednarek,

Thank you for your detailed letter. I appreciate your effort to respond—though it’s clear you’re more offended by how I said things than what I exposed.

Let’s begin with your product.

StepChain presents itself as a health and wellness app, but your monetization model reveals a deeper structure: commissions for recruiting others, upsells into a “coin” that promises 35.5% APY, and a multi-domain web footprint that obfuscates the true ownership. That’s not just “referral marketing”—it’s a textbook MLM play, and it doesn’t matter if you call it affiliate-based or community-powered. If it walks like a duck…

Your own statements prove this. In a public Zoom recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrilDN3TBpM), from timestamp 00:49:00 to 00:54:50, a StepChain representative (with Rory Conacher’s confirmation) outlines a commission system that pays 15% on second-tier referrals, with no cap on width. You may label this “support” or “network growth,” but in regulatory language, this is multi-level marketing. Renaming the scheme doesn’t change its DNA.

Now, let’s address your $1 million prize pool. You’ve claimed StepChain offers $1M in giveaways each month. That’s an eye-catching figure. But who audits this? Who verifies the actual prizes? Are these real iPhones and Teslas or vaporware incentives tied to unreachable milestones? If your platform truly gives away $1 million per month, I challenge you to publish monthly breakdowns of those giveaways. Transparency is the antidote to skepticism—and so far, there’s none.

Your reliance on Rory Conacher as a spokesperson is another glaring issue. This is a man who misled hundreds of victims through HyperVerse, We Are All Satoshi, VidiLOOK, and StableDAO. He ran a class-action promise for over a year while privately recruiting those same victims into StepChain. That’s not redemption. That’s rerouting the scam pipeline.

You also took a few personal shots at me, so allow me to clarify:

  • I don’t charge $1,200 for an hour of coaching. That’s a 10-hour business package, clearly outlined on my site.

  • Yes, I run multiple businesses. Dropshipping is one of them. You called it high-risk—but I’ve processed over 8,000 successful transactions with satisfied customers and no regulatory issues.

  • Unlike you, I operate with my name and face on the front of every venture. I don’t hide behind shell websites or Gmail addresses.

And let’s touch on defamation. You write: “This is not how it works. You should ask victims of crimes.” Well, I do. That’s why I exposed Rory. That’s why I question StepChain. Defamation is not defined by discomfort. It requires falsehood, malice, and damages. If I’ve stated anything incorrect, I invite you to refute it publicly—with facts.

Also worth noting: you mocked my High Court win in New Zealand, calling it “not a precedent.” You’re right—it wasn’t a full trial. It was a discontinuance, where the plaintiff (who sued me for defamation) was ordered to pay $27,500 in indemnity costs. That speaks volumes about the court’s view of the case’s merit. You’re welcome to read the full ruling here:
https://www.dehek.com/general/ponzi-scheme-scamalerts/landmark-verdict-de-hek-triumphs-with-27500-indemnity-costs-unraveling-the-mccullah-vs-de-hek/

Finally, I find it ironic that you accuse me of chasing fame while scouring my website and social profiles with the enthusiasm of a gossip columnist. You don’t like my tone? Fine. But tone is not the issue here—truth is.

If you want to salvage StepChain’s reputation, here’s your checklist:

  • Cut ties with known scammers.

  • Publish verifiable prize data.

  • Shut down the token sale until it’s licensed.

  • Replace vague Gmail and broken domains with real infrastructure.

Until then, I will continue doing what I do best—exposing the patterns that repeat across failed MLMs, vaporware tokens, and false promises dressed up as tech.

Sincerely,
Danny de Hek
The Crypto Ponzi Scheme Avenger