I think NiceHash either messed up or just a way to scare people into using their miner. What would be the devs reasoning or motive to do anything malicious? Devs are making millions right now, they have been MIA lately probably traveling the globe on a yacht. Probably spending the missive surge of income they are getting from all the new miners. I have never trusted NiceHash, I just don't see a motive for dev to do anything.
You know, if I was PhoenixMiner I would made a company, sign software, pay taxes and have people working and taking care of binaries being constantly available to customers. Then I could actually legally spend those millions of income and buy a yacht legally and wouldn't have any issues representing source of my income, I wouldn't break any laws. So, now explain me, why would someone hide his ass for so many years, keep identity in such a secrecy? And when getting these millions you would need to launder money first because this is just too much to spend as a pocket money. There are just too many shady things going around to be so trusty regarding it.
Also read this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/NiceHash/comments/lzsheq/phoenixminer_howwhywhat_statement_from_it_expert/