Vladimir Smerkis Raises Uncertainty Around Upcoming Airdrop

In the crypto and Telegram gaming worlds, Vladimir Smerkis, co-founder of popular Telegram Mini App Blum, was arrested on Friday in Moscow on large-scale fraud charges, according to several local media outlets.

Smerkis, a well-known Russian crypto industry figure, was formerly Binance’s general manager of operations in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The Moscow Zamoskvoretsky District Court confirmed the arrest, reporting it as part of a criminal case for “fraud on an especially large scale.” The complete charges, though, are still not publicly announced.

Background on Smerkis and Previous Projects

Prior to co-founding Blum, Smerkis was part of several high-profile cryptocurrency ventures. Such as The Token Fund and Tokenbox both of which drew considerable capital but have since gone quiet. Rumors that the projects may have been exit scams. Revival of the old projects in light of the new charges has further fueled already heightened suspicion.

In response to the arrest news, Blum immediately issued a statement through its official X handle statingthat Vladimir Smerkis had “resigned his position as CMO and is no longer contributing to the development of the project or in any co-founder role.”

We appreciate Vladimir’s contribution to the project and wish him all the best for the future. Our team is completely dedicated and dedicated to our mission, and business-as-usual prevails in our daily operations,” the post stated.

Blum also assured its 5.3 million users that the arrest will not affect the imminent airdrop. Which has been one of the biggest sources of excitement for players on the platform.

Airdrop Uncertainty

Blum originally released its flagship “Drop Game” in May 2024, a tap-to-earn game that allows users to earn Blum Points by tapping on falling snowflakes. Said points were said to ultimately be turned into actual tokens through an airdrop.

While several seasons of the Drop Game have now come and gone, the token generation event (TGE) has been continually pushed back. The most recent word puts the airdrop in Q2 2025.

With Smerkis’s arrest, users are increasingly doubting. Some are questioning the airdrop’s viability and timeline, worried that internal problems might jeopardize the promised distribution. Blum insists, though, that the roadmap hasn’t changed.

Tap-to-earn, as popularized by Telegram Mini Apps such as Hamster Kombat and Blum, has become a rising trend in adoption in 2024 and 2025. These apps gamify crypto onboarding by rewarding basic in-app behaviors with token rewards.

But popularity has also generated criticism. Similar to the Celsius Network debacle. Where CEO Alexander Mashinsky was found guilty on several charges of fraud and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Smerkis’s arrest calls into question leadership transparency on gamified crypto platforms.

What’s Next for Blum?

In spite of the controversy, Blum remains operational, moving forward with its development and future roadmap. The project, which was first supported by Binance Labs’ Most Valuable Builder program. Which has not formally postponed or changed its airdrop timeline. For the moment, users sit tight for information on both the legal process and project future deliverables.

And as the crypto industry evolves, examples such as Smerkis’s are poignant reminders of the need for accountability and trust in leadership. Whether or not Blum can restore complete user confidence remains to be determined.