Shoutout to the Cryptocurrencies that haven't paid influencers to promote their coin but rather let their tech/ideas do the talking

I just wanted to take a moment to appreciate the cryptocurrency projects that have stayed true to their roots and let their technology and community do the talking, without resorting to paid promotions like influencer marketing.
(Protip: You know a coin is at least shady when it has been promoted by an influencer)

Here’s a list of some popular coins that didn’t pay influencers to push their coins but instead focused on building something people saw value on their own:

• Bitcoin (BTC) – The OG that never needed influencers. Bitcoin’s reputation as digital gold stands strong on the shoulders of its decentralized, community-driven movement.
• Ethereum (ETH) – The backbone of decentralized apps (dApps) and smart contracts. Ethereum continues to evolve without chasing influencer-driven hype.
• Cardano (ADA) – Focused on peer-reviewed research and scientific rigor, Cardano’s dedication to long-term goals has kept it away from paying for attention.
• Monero (XMR) – Privacy is power, and Monero has always stood by its commitment to privacy without paying for promotion. Its tech speaks louder than words.
• Litecoin (LTC) – "The silver to Bitcoin’s gold" has earned its place through utility and reliability, not paid promotions.
• Tezos (XTZ) – Focused on governance and self-amendment, Tezos is all about building a blockchain that evolves with its community—no influencer noise needed.
• Zcash (ZEC) – Another privacy-focused project, Zcash lets its zero-knowledge proofs and privacy protocols do the talking.
• Algorand (ALGO) – With a focus on solving blockchain trilemma (decentralization, scalability, and security), Algorand focuses on building a robust ecosystem without flashy marketing.
• Cosmos (ATOM) – The internet of blockchains is here, and Cosmos is letting its vision of interconnectivity take center stage—no influencer payments required.
• Chainlink (LINK) – Powering smart contracts with real-world data, Chainlink lets its use cases and partnerships show its strength, no influencer hype needed.
• Polkadot (DOT) – Focused on interoperability and multi-chain solutions, Polkadot continues to build out a solid tech foundation without paying for followers or hype.
• NEO (NEO) – "The Ethereum of China" has been quietly developing its ecosystem and bridging digital economies without shelling out to influencers.
• Avalanche (AVAX) – Promising high throughput and low fees, Avalanche is proving its worth with solid tech, not influencer endorsements.
• Solana (SOL) – While the project is known for its fast and low-cost transactions, it’s also worth noting that Solana has made waves through innovation rather than relying on paid promotions.

(I think the list is accurate based on my research, don't trust me, do your own research.
In case I'm wrong, please correct me and I will update the list)

Also I don't like every coin I listed here, due to various reasons but gotta pay respect where it's due.

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Edits:

-For people asking why a certain coin in not in the list, I added some coins, If you want to name others feel free to do so in the comments. There are thousands of coins, unfortunatly I can't put them all in a list and also verify every single one, which hasn't paid promoters.