X Prepares New Rule to Lock Accounts After First Crypto-Related Post

As part of its ongoing efforts to combat cryptocurrency scams, Elon Musk’s X platform is preparing to implement a new measure aimed at reducing the incentive to hack accounts for promoting illicit projects.

Nikita Bier, the company’s Head of Product, stated that X is “working on automatic account locking and verification if a user posts about cryptocurrencies for the first time in their account history.”

A New Mechanism to Curb Account Hacking

According to Bier, “This measure will eliminate 99% of the motivation", referring to the reduced incentives for hackers. He also criticized Google for its shortcomings in effectively preventing phishing emails.

Despite the significance of this step, Bier has not yet provided a specific timeline for the rollout of the new feature.

A Hacking Incident Reveals the Scale of the Problem

In a now-deleted post attributed to a veteran trader’s account, Bier noted: “If you have more than 10,000 followers and suddenly post about a satirical cryptocurrency with no prior connection to crypto, that’s a clear red flag.” It was later confirmed that the account had indeed been compromised.

The announcement of this new measure came in response to a post by Benjamin White, founder of the prediction platform Predictfully, who shared his experience of falling victim to an online scam.

How Do Scams Work?

Benjamin explained that he received an email that appeared to come from X, claiming that he had violated copyright rules in two of his posts. The message included fabricated screenshots to make the claim appear legitimate.

“I reacted the way most people would in that moment,” he said, explaining that he ended up logging into a fake website designed to mimic X. As a result, hackers gained full control of his account, changing both his password and the associated email address.

Exploiting Hacked Accounts to Promote Scams

Within minutes, the compromised account began posting fraudulent cryptocurrency-related content, using tokens, links, and pages that closely imitated Benjamin’s identity.

He noted that he submitted two support requests to X within about an hour. During that short period, more than 1,300 similar hacking cases were reported.

“That’s when I realized this wasn’t rare, it’s happening constantly to a large number of users,” he said. He later managed to recover his account within 24 hours, despite the attackers attempting to extort $4,000 from him, which he refused to pay.

Benjamin added that he will no longer interact with suspicious emails, even if they appear legitimate, and plans to use a YubiKey, a physical authentication device, to strengthen his account security.

X's Ongoing Efforts to Combat Fraudulent Content

This is not the first time X has taken action against automated accounts and spam, particularly content linked to cryptocurrency-related fraud.

In January, the platform targeted applications such as InfoFi (Information Finance), which monetize financial data and user engagement. Bier argued that these accounts often generate poorly managed content and contribute to the spread of spam, prompting enforcement actions.

While the crypto community largely welcomed the move, some users expressed frustration due to associated financial losses.

Improving User Experience and Expanding Digital Content

At the same time, X continues to enhance user experience by introducing “Starter Packs,” designed to help new users discover accounts aligned with their interests.

These packs include crypto-related categories such as “Cryptocurrency Founders” and “Passionate Bitcoin Supporters,” reflecting the platform’s growing focus on curated and specialized digital content.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk continues to express support for cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, recently sharing an anime-style video about the asset, underscoring his ongoing interest in the sector.