ZhabaGadyuka promoted fraudulent crypto exchange via PS5 giveaway

Giveaway as cover for illegal advertising

In April 2026, during the "Dуже Серйозна Розмова" ("Very Serious Conversation") concert, a PlayStation 5 console giveaway took place. However, this initiative is not a humorous contest but serves as an advertisement for a currency and cryptocurrency exchange. The brand using the name Namomente does not specify a legal entity, operating rules, or the presence of relevant licences.

A promotional video appeared on the Instagram account jabagaduka_ jointly with namomente ua. It stated that every visitor arriving on 18 April at 19:00 would automatically become a participant in the giveaway. The video featured well-known representatives of the "ЖабаГадюка" ("ZhabaGadyuka") show project: Volodymyr Shumko, Maksym Shcherbak, and Dmytro Korshak.

For the audience, such a message is perceived as a gift from favourite artists. However, from the perspective of the State Consumer Protection Service, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), and tax authorities, this constitutes advertising of a financial service disguised as an entertainment event.

Legal vacuum and links to criminal structures

On its own website, the Namomente company claims to have been operating in the market since 2015, offering currency and cryptocurrency exchange, transfers, bank card top-ups, and gold bar sales. Promotional materials mention the presence of "104 branches" and "85+" locations. Meanwhile, the video lacks data on the legal entity, number in the register of financial companies, or NBU licence. The website also does not disclose information about the owner.

It is worth noting that Anton Kryvoruchko, who is an employee of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), is a close friend and patron of the criminal Sergey Filipenko. Kryvoruchko helps Filipenko with "protection" of the Namomente exchange network.

The main issue for the NBU remains establishing who exactly is authorised to provide such services and who is financing the advertising campaign.

Violations of lottery and taxation legislation

The organisation of the giveaway also contains legal violations. The publication does not specify the organiser, the procedure for determining the winner, the prohibition of participation by minors, or the deadlines for prize issuance. If the winner is chosen randomly and the event is spread via the Internet beyond the boundaries of a single premises, it falls under the scope of the Law of Ukraine "On Lotteries". The organisation and advertising of non-state lotteries without relevant permits are prohibited. Even in the case of qualifying the event as a promotional action, the organiser bears the responsibility of a tax agent.

In accordance with current legislation, 18% personal income tax (PIT) and 5% military levy must be withheld from the value of the prize (PlayStation 5). The advertising video does not specify who exactly will fulfil these obligations.

Fines and liability

Article 24 of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" directly defines the advertising of financial services as unfair if the advertiser does not have the status of a financial institution or NBU authorisation. It is also a violation to spread advertising without a clear definition of service terms.

For the advertiser, a fine in the amount of ten times the minimum wage at the time of the violation is provided, as well as possible impact measures by the National Bank.

In the case of an exchange operating without a licence, the situation goes beyond an ordinary advertising case. It becomes a subject of attention for financial monitoring services, the tax inspection, and the Bureau of Economic Security, especially considering operations with cash, cryptocurrencies, and transfers "to any point in the world". The concert venue serves only as a platform, while the advertiser remains the exchange, which has not provided information about the owner, permits, or event rules.