Steve Baran appears to be the operator of DigitalCoin Share, a cryptocurrency-based recruitment scheme. The company’s website domain was registered in November 2017, and marketing materials surfaced around March 2018. Baran’s identity was confirmed through his name appearing on a JW Player account hosting a promotional video and by analyzing his YouTube channels.
DigitalCoin Share offers no legitimate products or services for resale. Participants can only market affiliate memberships. These memberships grant access to third-party discount travel and e-commerce platforms, which do not represent a core business function. The scheme’s revenue is generated solely through affiliate recruitment.
The compensation plan centers on a 2×2 matrix cycler. Affiliates purchase positions, starting at $150 for the "Starter" tier. This tier promises a $300 commission and a new matrix position upon filling all six slots in the matrix. Higher tiers, "Pro" ($500 investment, $1000 commission) and "Club" ($1500 investment, $3000 commission), offer proportionally larger payouts.
A 50% matching bonus is available on commissions earned by personally recruited affiliates. All payouts within DigitalCoin Share are made in litecoin, a cryptocurrency. This choice of payment method obscures the flow of funds and adds a layer of anonymity for the operators.
A "Fast Start Bonus" is offered to affiliates who recruit two new members within their first thirty days and then cycle. The bonus amount mirrors the initial investment cost of the tier the new recruits join. For example, recruiting two Starter members yields a $150 bonus.
Joining DigitalCoin Share necessitates purchasing at least one matrix position. The minimum entry cost is $150 for the Starter tier, escalating to $500 for Pro and $1500 for Club. These investments are not for tangible assets or services but for participation in the matrix cycler.
Baran has a history of promoting other questionable online ventures. Approximately two years before launching DigitalCoin Share, he was involved with Talk Fusion. Evidence from his Facebook page suggests he also promoted Skinny Body Care, indicating a pattern of association with multi-level marketing schemes that lack substantial product value.
The scheme’s structure, relying entirely on new member investments to pay existing members, is characteristic of a Ponzi cycler. The use of a cryptocurrency for payouts further complicates tracking and recovery for potential victims.