X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is moving to implement a new security measure targeting cryptocurrency scams. Nikita Bier, X’s Head of Product, announced on Wednesday that the platform is developing an auto-locking and verification system that activates when a user posts about cryptocurrency for the first time in their account’s history. Bier made the announcement in response to a user who had recently been hacked. He added that the measure should eliminate roughly 99% of the incentive for bad actors, noting that Google has done little to stop related phishing emails.
The system is designed to flag and lock profiles that suddenly post crypto-related content without any prior history of doing so. According to Bier, this would likely deter malicious actors from hijacking accounts solely to promote crypto tokens. He also noted that a separate form of abuse — where large numbers of users are tagged in posts promoting a cryptocurrency — should now be blocked on the platform as well. Bier described certain financial scams, including those pushing crypto tokens, fake donations, and fraudulent X-branded schemes, as “rampant” on the site.
Bier further elaborated on Thursday that accounts with more than 10,000 followers that suddenly promote a meme coin without any prior connection to cryptocurrency activity should be treated as compromised. He stated plainly that such behavior is “always a hack” in those circumstances. This additional guidance suggests the platform intends to apply stricter scrutiny to high-profile accounts, which have historically been the most attractive targets for scammers. Specific technical details about how the vetting process will work have not yet been made public.
The announcement came shortly before an unrelated incident illustrated the ongoing problem. A user impersonating another individual reportedly misled several news outlets and members of the public into believing that Jonathan, a nearly 200-year-old tortoise recognized as the world’s oldest living land mammal, had died. The account later used the false story to promote a Solana meme coin. Bier subsequently indicated that the auto-locking feature, had it already been in place, could have raised red flags for users well before the hoax was exposed.
X has a documented history of high-profile account takeovers used to run crypto scams. Past victims have included former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, musician Kanye West, and platform owner Elon Musk himself. In September, the company pursued legal action against a group of banned crypto scammers who had allegedly attempted to bribe their way back onto the platform. These incidents have long underscored the need for more proactive security measures against fraudulent crypto activity.
A spokesperson for X did not respond to requests for additional details about how the new feature will assess the legitimacy of first-time crypto posts. It remains unclear precisely how the auto-locking mechanism would have applied in the Jonathan tortoise hoax scenario. Nonetheless, Bier’s statements suggest the platform is taking a more aggressive stance toward detecting and disrupting coordinated crypto fraud, particularly from accounts with no established history in that space.
Originally reported by Decrypt.
