Crypto Influencers and Celebrities' Accounts Compromised in Hacking Spree: Is It Time to Ditch the Digital Life and Live Like Cavemen?

Over the weekend, several crypto influencers and celebrities had their X accounts hacked, promoting various tokens such as Luna2, ORDI, and celebrity-inspired memecoins. This led to short-lived price surges.

Did the Hacker Fumbled Hard?

Among the latest victims is Gigantic-Cassocked-Rebirth (GCR), a pseudonymous cryptocurrency investor renowned for profiting from contrarian trades.

GCR confirmed on 26 May that their X account was hacked, allowing the intruder to post promotional content about ORDI and Luna2.0.

This led to temporary price increases of 6% and 274% for the respective tokens.

Many observed that the hacker could have promoted a microcap coin through the account but chose to shill ORDI and Luna2.0 instead, resulting in limited gains.

Crypto analyst Miles Deutscher said:

“GCR hacker fumbled the bag hard."

ORDI already boasts a market cap of $842 million at the time of writing, offering less upside potential than smaller-cap coins.

However, the GCR hack might be part of a broader attack on celebrity X accounts.

Udi Wertheimer, a Bitcoin developer and Ordinals supporter, cautioned that the GCR incident might not be an isolated case, hinting at a larger coordinated effort.

Wertheimer revealed:

“GCR already told us today that there's an operation going on hacking big twitter accounts."

Rapper Supposedly Targeted

Likewise, American rapper Rich The Kid's (Dimitri Leslie Roger) account shared a link with his 2.3 million followers to purchase a new token, RICH, launched via the Solana memecoin creator tool pump.fun.

Within the first two hours, the token's market cap surged to $90,000.

While it remains unconfirmed whether Rich The Kid's X account was hacked, the post has since been deleted.

The current market cap for RICH has now plunged to $60,000.

Caitlyn Jenner, is That Really You?

It seems this was part of a larger campaign targeting celebrity X accounts, including mumble rapper Rich the Kid and former Olympic athlete Caitlyn Jenner, a member of the Kardashian-Jenner family.

Caitlyn Jenner created a buzz in the cryptocurrency community by announcing her eponymous token, JENNER.

Jenner's X and Instagram accounts showcased videos of her promoting the JENNER token, sparking widespread debate and suspicion.

Source: Instagram/CaitlynJenner

Her manager, Sophia Hutchins, supported these promotions with statements assuring followers of the project's legitimacy and dismissing any claims of it being a scam.

Hutchins emphasized her supervisory role and insisted that Jenner’s accounts were secure and not compromised by hackers.

Despite these reassurances, scepticism continued to linger within the crypto community.

The crypto community expressed concerns and extended an invitation to Jenner for a Twitter Space discussion, though she was unable to attend.

Instead, Hutchins represented her, but failed to offer clear insights into the token's value proposition.

The video of Jenner said to their 3.3 million X followers:

“A lot has been going on today, and yes this crypto on my account is real. If you wanna get in on this, get in in a hurry. Get in right now."

Subsequently, the community exhibited mixed reactions, with some remaining hopeful while others suspected a coordinated scam.

Curiously, Jenner's crypto wallet matches the one shared by adult content creator Kazumi, who was also believed to have been hacked while endorsing the "ZUMI" coin on 20 May.

Additionally, there are purported links between tokens like RICH, DOLL, and SOULJA to JENNER, according to one industry observer.

Despite this, Hutchins stated that Jenner's team was unaware of any connections when questioned in X spaces.

Meanwhile, there are speculations that scammers utilised deepfake technology to mimic Jenner in promotional videos.

The launch of the JENNER token took place on pump.fun, a platform on Solana dedicated to meme coins.

Adding to the ambiguity, the official X account of pump.fun actively endorsed the JENNER token.

Despite raised eyebrows, the token saw an astounding surge of 28,000% in value within a single day.

According to DEX Screener data, JENNER has amassed a market capitalisation nearing $23 million within approximately 12 hours of its launch.

This surge in value raises concerns, as it aligns with patterns observed when malicious actors exploit celebrity status for illicit activities, especially in the realm of meme coins devoid of practical utility.

Hacker's Identity Still a Mystery; Crypto Sleuth ZachXBT in Midst of Digging

Crypto sleuth ZachXBT was quick to jump onto the investigation, declaring that the hacker will be revealed in no more than 24 hours.

But as of now, there is no information available regarding the identity of the threat actor responsible for the hacks.

Neither has any individual or group stepped forward to claim responsibility, nor has it been determined if these hacks are linked or orchestrated by a singular entity or group.

This controversy underscores the inherent risks and vulnerabilities within the crypto sphere, particularly concerning prominent figures.

Such vulnerabilities underscore why certain regulators adopt a cautious approach towards the industry, implementing rigorous measures to mitigate potential risks.

Is Convenience Worth the Risk? Maybe it is Time to Go Back to Cave Living

Living in the digital age has undeniably revolutionised the way we interact, work, and conduct our daily lives.

However, this convenience and connectivity come at a price, particularly when it comes to the security and privacy of our personal information.

In today's digital landscape, where vast amounts of data are stored and exchanged online, the risks associated with having all your information accessible are manifold.

First and foremost, the pervasiveness of online platforms and digital services means that our personal information is scattered across numerous databases, servers, and networks, often beyond our control.

From social media profiles and email accounts to financial records and health information, a wealth of sensitive data is stored digitally, leaving us vulnerable to potential breaches and cyberattacks.

Even well-known individuals, with their extensive security measures and resources, are not immune to the threat of hacking and data breaches.

High-profile incidents involving celebrities, politicians, and prominent figures serve as stark reminders of the vulnerabilities inherent in the digital age.

Hackers often target these individuals precisely because of their visibility and influence, seeking to exploit their personal information for various malicious purposes, including identity theft, extortion, and fraud.

For the average person, the risks posed by online exposure are no less significant.

With the proliferation of social engineering tactics and sophisticated hacking techniques, it has become increasingly challenging to safeguard our digital identities.

In light of these dangers, is it time to say goodbye to Web3, Web2, and even Web1, and go back to the stone age?

Ultimately, while the benefits of living in a digital world are undeniable, so too are the risks, necessitating a proactive approach to cybersecurity and personal data protection.