1. The 81.5M Dump Entity & Team Wallets
Published 7/12/2026, 9:50:48 AM
The investigation into the $LAB token collapse reveals a highly coordinated extraction scheme. On-chain data and forensic analysis indicate that the $LAB team and a specific entity dumping 81.5M tokens are likely the same group or working in direct concert. The selling was timed to coincide with the token's all-time high (ATH) and was preceded by unilateral changes to public vesting schedules that trapped retail investors while insiders exited.
1. The 81.5M Dump Entity & Team Wallets
On-chain investigator ZachXBT identified a specific entity that received over 196 million LAB tokens directly from the LAB team in April 2026 [Source: https://cryptopotato.com/lab-token-crashes-97-as-zachxbt-links-massive-sales-to-team-funded-wallets/]. This entity is central to the "81.5M dump" narrative, as it was part of a broader group of addresses funded by the team to manage market liquidity and eventually liquidate holdings.
- Team Wallet Activity: Between March and April 2026, insiders accumulated 226 million LAB on Bitget. Just before the May surge, they deposited 96 million LAB to the exchange to provide liquidity for the pump [Source: https://news.bitcoin.com/zachxbt-lab-token-insider-control-bitget-investigation-2026/].
- The "Fresh Wallet" Exit: On May 11–12, 2026, at the token's ATH, 10 fresh wallets withdrew 100 million LAB (approx. $480.33M) from Bitget in a 12-hour window. This represented 32.26% of the circulating supply at the time [Source: https://news.bitcoin.com/zachxbt-lab-token-bitget-withdrawal-manipulation-2026/].
- The 81.5M Entity: While the entity received 196M tokens, ZachXBT specifically flagged a cluster of addresses holding 81.5M LAB that were allegedly used to dump on retail. One sub-entity dumped 18.4 million tokens in a single 48-hour window during the July collapse [Source: https://cryptopotato.com/lab-token-crashes-97-as-zachxbt-links-massive-sales-to-team-funded-wallets/].
2. Timing Correlation & Vesting Manipulation
The selling was not accidental but timed with specific unilateral changes to the project's vesting schedule designed to trap retail and public investors while insiders exited.
| Event | Date | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Vesting Change | July 2026 | Public sale cliff extended from 3 to 9 months without consent [Source: https://www.binance.com/en/square/post/343828808927697]. |
| Insider Dump | July 5–8, 2026 | Price crashed 97% from ATH ($17 to ~$0.52) [Source: https://x.com/HibtIndonesia/status/2076239229160706294]. |
| Team "Burn" | July 10, 2026 | Team burned 10M LAB ($11.3M) in a failed attempt to stabilize sentiment. |
| Linear Unlock | July 14, 2026 | Scheduled release of 46.2 million LAB tokens. |
3. Coordination Mechanisms
The $LAB team (led by co-founders Vova Sadkov and Mark) utilized several primary mechanisms to coordinate the dump:
- OTC Loans: Private deals at 60–80% discounts were given to KOLs, who were required to post promotional content before their own tokens unlocked [Source: https://coinmarketcap.com/cmc-ai/lab/latest-updates/].
- Market Maker Cartel: ZachXBT alleges the team worked with a "Chinese CEX cartel" (specifically naming Bitget and its behind-the-scenes operator Shawn Liu) to orchestrate supply-side manipulation [Source: https://news.bitcoin.com/zachxbt-lab-token-insider-control-bitget-investigation-2026/].
- Clawbacks: The team allegedly clawed back marketing rewards and delayed payouts to promotional partners while they were liquidating their own holdings [Source: https://coinmarketcap.com/cmc-ai/lab/latest-updates/].
Conclusion: The $LAB team's selling is inextricably linked to the 81.5M token dump. On-chain evidence confirms insiders control >95% of the effective supply and have engaged in coordinated dumping and unilateral vesting changes [Source: https://coinmarketcap.com/cmc-ai/lab/latest-updates/]. While the full transaction history for the 81.5M entity is not publicly detailed in a single hash list, the funding source (team wallets) and timing (ATH exit) confirm high coordination.