On: Postmodern Ponzi Schemes: Empirical Analysis of High-Yield Investment Programs [pdf]

People promoting their own investments to push up the price!?!?! Gasp!

Everything you describe happens in the equity market as well. It's simple speculation, not a Ponzi or Pyramid Scheme.

Also I'm not going to go into the details of each, but: Ponzi Scheme != Pyramid Scheme != Speculation