Having made an ambitious entry into esports, Clutchain immediately bet on big names. First, the project signed the all-female Pigeons roster, which was primarily made up of former Imperial Valkyries players. A few days later, they also unveiled a men’s team featuring ScreaM, Nivera, and Kyojin.
At the outset, everything looked like a serious bid for a spot on the professional scene. However, along with the first announcements came questions about the project itself. In its analysis of the situation, the analytical publication HLTV notes that even at the time of Clutchain’s debut, there was already considerable controversy surrounding the organization.
Even before the official debut on March 21, French content creator Nyouz released an analysis of Clutchain. He highlighted several potential “red flags”: unclear KYC requirements, a paid subscription, a €96 founder’s package, and other gamified projects linked to the founder.
Clutchain was built around a mobile app linked to Counter-Strike and FACEIT. Users earned the platform’s internal currency for kills, completing tasks, playing mini-games, and ranking high on leaderboards. Earnings could be directed toward environmental initiatives—from planting trees to cleaning up the oceans.
Users also received Clutch for their involvement in real-world projects. This currency could be exchanged for entries into prize drawings, including a gaming PC worth €2,500. There was also a separate premium subscription with additional bonuses.
However, Clutchchain didn’t want to make money solely from the app. The company planned to launch a network of “gaming pods” for two or five people, equipped with powerful PCs and RGB lighting, which could be booked through the platform.
What Went Wrong with Clutchain
Clutchain, which signed the Pigeons women’s roster and a men’s team featuring ScreaM and Nivera this spring, ultimately left its players without payments totaling more than €70,000.
The problems began even before the project actually fell apart. The founder of Clutchain asked ScreaM and Nivera to refer to themselves as “co-owners,” even though they had not received any shares in the company. The situation was further exacerbated by a video from French blogger Nyouz, which sparked a scandal surrounding the organization and its players.
Subsequently, problems began to arise directly within the team:
- The players demanded a public explanation from the CEO but did not receive one;
- the women’s team traveled to a LAN event in Brazil without having received their May salaries;
- boot camps and promotional shoots were repeatedly canceled at the last minute;
- the platform’s audience turned out to be extremely small—fewer than 30 active users per month;
- The CEO unilaterally terminated the contracts and failed to pay the amounts due, citing the company’s registration in the UAE;
- In an interview with HLTV, the head of Clutchain, in turn, accused the players of failing to fulfill their promotional obligations.
As a result, the women’s roster is set to receive approximately €28,000, while the men’s roster will receive an additional €40,000 or so. According to HLTV sources, ScreaM had planned to end his professional career with Clutchchain.