Near Protocol’s X page hacked for the second time, until it was revealed to be a marketing plot

On September 4, Near Protocol’s X page was reportedly hacked, though unlike most crypto hacks, this breach didn’t involve promoting scams or phishing. Instead, the hackers posted a series of anti-crypto messages directed at the cryptocurrency community and the broader web3 space.

Later, it was revealed that this was in fact a marketing plot by the company to do a 4chan style tech marketing. Some people have taken very poorly to this marketing tactic given the recent attacks on crypto projects.

• Crypto Hacks: In most cryptocurrency hacks, bad actors take control of accounts to launch phishing campaigns and steal funds.

The marketing was taken in poor taste since Near Protocol’s X account had faced a similar breach in May.

Other recent crypto-related account breaches include Trump family members promoting a fake Solana memecoin, and scammers using Kylian Mbappe’s likeness to steal over $1 million from traders. Accounts belonging to Metallica and Frax Finance founder Sam Kazemian have also been targeted by hackers, underscoring the vulnerability of high-profile figures and projects in the crypto space.