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Hackers recently exploited Jair Bolsonaro’s social media account to promote a fraudulent meme coin, BRAZIL, leading to a staggering 10,000% rise in its value.
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Despite limited engagement with cryptocurrencies during his presidency, Bolsonaro was targeted as scammers increasingly leverage political figures to maximize their schemes.
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The rise of political meme coin scams highlights significant risks in the crypto landscape, with fraudsters reportedly earning millions as they prey on unsuspecting newcomers.
Scammers hacked Jair Bolsonaro’s social media to promote a fake meme coin, BRAZIL, which surged 10,000%, raising concerns about political fraud in crypto.
The Escalating Threat of Political Meme Coin Scams
In recent weeks, the crypto space has witnessed a troubling surge in social media scams, with the latest involving Jair Bolsonaro’s hacked account. A Brazilian influencer reported that Bolsonaro’s official profile was compromised, with scammers promoting a dubious meme coin called BRAZIL.
Although the post was quickly removed, it was too late—the scammers had already extracted a staggering $1.3 million from unsuspecting investors. This incident is part of a growing trend involving political meme coins that has potential investors on high alert.
“Bolsonaro’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) was hacked and they released a cryptocurrency called ‘BRAZIL’, which rose +10,000% in minutes! Be careful, don’t buy it. It’s a scam, and Bolsonaro’s sons have already warned about it on their official profiles,” stated Berman, shedding light on the incident’s legitimacy.
Throughout his presidency, Bolsonaro took a backseat approach regarding the cryptocurrency community, only implementing supportive regulations after losing the 2022 election. Meanwhile, ongoing advancements in the industry continued under his successor, with significant developments like the approval of a Solana ETF by financial regulators.
Understanding the Allure Behind Political Meme Coins
The growing trend of political meme coins has drawn the attention of many in the cryptocurrency community. As noted by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, the rise corresponds with illicit activities targeting novice users. Following the launch of the TRUMP meme coin, scammers swiftly identified a lucrative opportunity, earning approximately $857 million by exploiting individuals new to crypto.
This trend has inspired other scam operations, including a Filipino group promoting a deceptive XRP wallet purportedly associated with the US Treasury—alluding to a misguided expectation among investors that more high-profile endorsements will follow. The desperation to capitalize on each emerging meme coin often results in substantial financial losses for many.
As Buterin articulately discussed, “The risk of politician coins comes from the fact that they are such a perfect bribery vehicle. If a politician issues a coin, you do not even need to send *them* any coins to give them money. Instead, you just buy and hold the coin, and this increases the value of their holdings passively.” This sentiment encapsulates the inherent risks tied to politically branded cryptocurrencies.
Even authentic political meme coins breed unease among seasoned investors due to their speculative nature. Continuous hacking attempts leveraging these coins for theft introduce a severe risk to the crypto community’s reputation.
Conclusion
The hacking of Bolsonaro’s social media account used to promote the BRAZIL meme coin highlights the persistent vulnerabilities within the crypto space. This incident is a sobering reminder of the evolving tactics employed by scammers to exploit public figures for monetary gain.
With rising uncertainty surrounding political meme tokens, investors must exercise heightened caution. As the landscape continues to evolve, ensuring personal diligence and ethical engagement with cryptocurrencies will be crucial for maintaining a trustworthy and reputable ecosystem.
