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Maybe the name Bodganoff doesn't ring a bell to many of you, but I am certain you will recognize the face from the various crypto memes that circulate in abundance within the various Crypto communities.
I am talking about these guys, the French TV personalities and twin brothers Igor & Grichka Bodganoff, that passed away from COVID complications in the a span of some days (Grichka on December 28th, Igor on January 3rd).
Who were the Bogdanoff twins
The Bogdanoffs were famous French TV personalities that lived a life of fame and controversies. Born in southern France to a Russian father who was a painter and a French mother with ties to Austro-Hungarian nobility, the twins were very recognizable faces in French television presenting shows about science like and science fiction series like Doctor WhoStar Trek during the 1980s. Their peculiar faces with their high cheekbones and big lips made them easily recognizable. Interestingly enough they both denied ever undertaking any plastic surgery. (
Well, apart from their interest in television they had a strong interest in science and became embroiled in what was known as the Bogdanoff affair in scientific communities and academia.
The Bogdanoff affair
Both brothers got their PhDs from the University of Burgundy in France, Grichka in mathematics and Igor in theoretical physics. After publishing some academic papers a number of well reputed academics claimed that their PhDs were spoofs made by throwing together theoretical physics terminology and buzzwords that did not make any sense. Whether their PhD theses and papers were an elaborate hoax was hard to tell, and they denied trying to hoax the academic community. Nevertheless, the story made it to mainstream media with and drew a considerable interest regarding whether the evaluation process of obtaining degrees and publishing articles was full proof and rigorous enough. Thereafter, the brothers proceeded with filling lawsuits against various magazines and academics for defamation, while their titles were revoked and their articles removed from the academic journals.
You can read more details on the Bogdanoff affair
Bogdanoff enter the Crypto culture
Years after these events took place, Bogdanoffs became a recognized figure and instant meme in cryptocurrency communities through the video series of Wojak published by Zero Budget Series on Youtube. In them, we follow the journey of Wojak, the main protagonist, as he tries to master the art of buying and trading cryptocurrencies (sometimes panic selling!), hodling, minting and flipping NFTs, getting rugged, travelling in time to buy bitcoin, and whatever else you can think of. Bogdanoff is the main antagonist who manipulates the market pumping and dumping it at his will after Wojak sells or buys. His expressions while ordering his assistant to manipulate the market either by "Pamp eet" or "Domp eet" in a dinstinct French accent will forever remain with the faithful disciples of crypto-culture and the show.
This here is probably one of the most iconic episodes of the show "DOMP EET!
Yet, who knows, maybe the Bogdanoffs found a way to upload their conscience in the blockchain and retain their ability to control and manipulate the market through as digitalized life forms!
