In 2021, if you opened TikTok in Australia, you couldn’t escape the “Golden Trio.” Mikaela Testa, her then-boyfriend Atis Paul, and his sister Anna Paul were flexing designer bags, waterfront mansions, and flashing wealth that made traditional celebrities look completely broke. They were the undisputed royalty of the Australian creator economy.
But I have covered influencer scandals for two decades, and I can tell you a secret. When a 20-something with zero financial background suddenly starts selling you “investment advice” via a locked subscription page, the house of cards is about to collapse.
Fast forward to 2025 and 2026. The Mikaela Testa crypto scam allegations and her explosive public feud with the Paul family have ripped the internet apart. We aren’t just talking about petty TikTok drama here. We are looking at allegations of illegal lotteries, exploiting minors, and highly questionable cryptocurrency pushes.
Here is the unfiltered truth about Mikaela Testa’s controversies, the Atis Paul breakup, and why the “relatable” influencer era is officially dead.
The Core Analysis: Why This Drama Actually Matters
Most people get this wrong. They look at Mikaela Testa calling out Anna Paul in an 8-minute TikTok rant and think, “Oh, just former best friends fighting over a guy.” False. This is entirely about consumer protection.
In my experience analyzing digital media, the shift from brand deals to direct audience monetization created a Wild West. Mikaela’s recent allegations against the Paul family highlight a massive legal loophole. Influencers with millions of young, impressionable followers are operating unregulated casinos and uncertified financial advisories directly from their iPhones. The government watchdogs are simply too slow to catch them.
The “Hushcoin” Hustle: The Mikaela Testa Crypto Scam Era
Let’s rewind to the origin of the financial red flags. In mid-2021, at the absolute peak of the meme-coin bubble, Mikaela and Atis Paul began pushing a new cryptocurrency called Hushcoin.
Atis Paul’s Instagram bio literally read: “I like my girlfriend and crypto.” He set up an OnlyFans account—charging $49.99 a month—promising “Daily updates on the coins I have recommended.” Keep in mind, this guy had absolutely no Australian Financial Services (AFS) license. Mikaela, wielding her massive influence, supported the hustle, exposing her young audience to highly volatile financial speculation.
When you charge a premium for investment strategies under the guise of “pure entertainment,” you are playing a very dangerous legal game. While the regulators watched, fans poured money into these promoted coins. When the crypto market inevitably crashed, the influencers kept their subscription fees, while the fans held the empty bag.
The OnlyFans “Lottery” Blowup (2025-2026)
You would think the crypto heat would force them to lay low. Instead, they pivoted.
Mikaela and Atis split in 2023. By early 2025, Mikaela dropped a nuclear bomb on her former “sister,” Anna Paul. She accused Anna of running what was essentially an illegal lottery.
The alleged scheme? Anna was reportedly telling her largely teenage TikTok audience to subscribe to her $10 OnlyFans account for a chance to win a $1,000 cash giveaway.
Mikaela called it out brutally: “If you have to incentivise people to buy your exclusive website by running cash giveaways… you’re basically running an illegal lottery.”
She wasn’t wrong. In Australia, charging an entry fee (the OF subscription) for a chance to win cash is legally classed as a lottery, which requires strict licensing. Mikaela exposing this wasn’t just petty revenge; it was a former insider blowing the whistle on how top-tier creators actually fund their luxury lifestyles.
Influencer Grifts: The Crypto Era vs. The OnlyFans Lottery Era
Here is a brutal look at how the monetization tactics evolved from 2021 to 2026.
| Feature | The Crypto Era (2021) | The OnlyFans Lottery Era (2025-2026) |
| The Product | Alt-coins (Hushcoin) | $10 OF Subscriptions |
| The Promise | “Get rich quick like us” | “Win $1,000 cash” |
| The Target | Young male investors | Teenage girls and young mothers |
| The Legal Gray Area | Unlicensed financial advice | Unlicensed lottery/gambling |
| The Result | Fans lost investments | Mikaela publicly exposed the scheme |
Insider Tips: How to Spot an Influencer Scam
I have investigated dozens of these online schemes. Here are three specific tips to protect your wallet from your favorite creators.
- The “Link in Bio” Audit: If an influencer tells you to buy a coin or enter a cash giveaway, look for a legal disclaimer. If their only credential is a blue verification checkmark, close the app immediately.
- Watch the Lifestyle, Not the Advice: Influencers like Mikaela and Atis made their millions from you (ad revenue and subscriptions), not from the crypto coins they were shilling. Never take financial advice from someone whose primary income is selling their lifestyle.
- The “Pity Play” Red Flag: During the fallout, Anna Paul tried to claim she grew up “broke” to gain sympathy. Mikaela aggressively debunked this with photos of Anna flying first-class as a teen. Be wary of millionaires pretending to be middle-class just to seem relatable.
FAQ: The Mikaela Testa & Atis Paul Mess
Q1: Did Mikaela Testa and Atis Paul break up?
Yes. After dating for several years, Mikaela and Atis split in early 2023. Atis recently stated that their relationship was “unhealthy” and destroyed both of their mental health. The breakup eventually triggered the massive 2025 public feud between Mikaela and Atis’s sister.
Q2: Was Mikaela Testa actually involved in a crypto scam?
Mikaela and Atis actively promoted Hushcoin and a $49.99/month “crypto advice” OnlyFans page in 2021. While they were not officially indicted for a “scam,” financial watchdogs heavily criticized them for providing unlicensed, highly risky financial advice to minors.
Q3: Why did Mikaela Testa call out Anna Paul?
In 2025, Mikaela accused Anna of running illegal lotteries—forcing young fans to buy her OnlyFans subscription for a chance to win cash. She also accused Anna of fat-shaming a fan at a meet-and-greet and lying to her audience about growing up poor.
Q4: How did Anna Paul respond to the allegations?
Anna posted an 8-minute response video claiming she was “shocked” by the betrayal. She denied fat-shaming (claiming she only called the fan “sweaty”), defended her childhood financial struggles, and stated her family’s luxury items were either fake or bought cheap at garage sales.
Q5: What is Mikaela Testa’s net worth?
As of 2026, Mikaela Testa’s net worth is estimated to be between $2 million and $4 million. She built this wealth primarily through her massive OnlyFans earnings, brand deals, and social media presence before the drama peaked.
The era of the untouchable influencer is over.
The Mikaela Testa and Paul family fallout proved that the glossy, curated friendships you see on TikTok are often held together by brand deals and mutual secrets. When the money gets complicated, the knives come out.
My final piece of advice? Stop funding the luxury lifestyles of internet celebrities who treat their fanbases like ATMs. Enjoy the content, laugh at the drama, but keep your credit card firmly in your wallet.
