According to Lex Sokolin (@LexSokolin), a prominent figure in the crypto industry, there is a recurring pattern of fake metrics, including inflated follower counts, wash trading volumes, and ghost accounts, which can mislead traders about actual project adoption and market depth (source: Twitter, May 9, 2025). These practices result in artificially high total value locked (TVL) and trading volumes, which may distort price discovery and risk assessments for traders. For active traders, recognizing these red flags is critical for avoiding manipulation and making informed entry and exit decisions in volatile crypto markets.