Newest in crypto Africa from throughout the Africa crypto trade, the CAR crypto meme coin is now a scandal. Nigeria has an epidemic of crypto scams, and DCI was hacked in a Kenya crypto rip-off.
Crypto is certainly a hotbed of innovation, however being a community-led trade, controversy is inevitable. The launch of MELANIA and TRUMP meme cash impressed many, together with the president of the Central African Republic (CAR).
After launching the CAR meme coin, costs soared earlier than crashing in a basic shitcoin spectacle, drawing criticism.
In the meantime, Kenya and Nigeria face totally different challenges, largely associated to crypto-related hacks, which dent their respective reputations. This assessment covers among the largest crypto tales in Africa.
Central African Republic Crypto Information: Innovation, Rip-off, or Crypto Profiling?
Per week after the account of Tanzania’s billionaire Mohammed Dewji was hacked and a meme coin launched this week, the X account related to the president of CAR, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, promoted one more meme coin, CAR.
It got here as no shock. CAR is open to crypto and even adopted BTC as authorized tender earlier than repealing the choice.
The CAR meme coin promised to assist speed up nationwide improvement, together with refurbishing a campus and selling nationwide unity.
(Supply)
Nonetheless, questions started to be raised when the undertaking’s web site went offline, and its related account on X was suspended shortly after.
A number of hours later, a brand new web site and social media presence had been launched, undoubtedly elevating issues from the all the time vigilant crypto neighborhood.
A deepfake detection software flagged the second promotional video as a deepfake, elevating extra pink flags. Moreover, safety consultants picked out phishing hyperlinks related to the token.
(Supply)
Following this revelation, the CAR market cap dipped from $600 million to as little as $35 million, which means CAR holders misplaced cash.
But, some suppose the crypto world is biased towards initiatives from Africa.
They argue that whereas Western tasks, reminiscent of meme cash launched by the Trumps, had been overtly acquired surely regardless of the plain moral issues, these from Africa are perceived in a different way and even thought of scams.
Of their view, the skepticism of the CAR meme coin displays double requirements and the unsuitable notion that tasks from Africa are dangerous.
An necessary query arises: Was CAR dismissed due to real safety issues, or is it a type of profiling and crypto discrimination?
Nigeria Crypto Information: A Hackers Playground?
Crypto will not be proof against hacks, and billions are misplaced yearly. A current report reveals that Nigeria, one in all Africa’s powerhouses, led in crypto-related fraud. With a fraud charge of 8.3%, the nation tops different international locations, surpassing Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Based on crypto safety analysis, most scams embrace forgery, phishing, and account takeovers.
Because of this, consultants warn that crypto platforms on the continent ought to think about integrating AI-powered instruments for detection and deterrence whereas being typically vigilant. This needs to be the case, particularly now that crypto adoption continues to blow up.
Doing so helps speed up onboarding whereas lowering verification time by as a lot as 46%.
Kenya Crypto Information: DCI Hacked
Whereas CAR was probably a meme coin following one other X hack, cybercriminals took over the Directorate of Prison Investigations (DCI) social media accounts to advertise one other fraudulent meme coin: DCI coin.
DCI is the nation’s investigative company and a part of the Kenya Police. The token, DCI, claimed to be a part of an initiative to save lots of the nation tens of millions of {dollars}.
For legitimacy, hackers even manipulated social media engagement. As such, many had been caught offside, believing that the DCI token was legit.
SECURITY ALERT!
For some second this night, we skilled a cyber-attack on the DCI digital platforms (X and Fb), however have since regained full management.
Throughout the quick interval, the cyber criminals who tried to take over the accounts posted the knowledge captured on… pic.twitter.com/X2IEw4h1Ci— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) February 9, 2025
Thankfully, the DCI finally regained management, deleted this promotion, and added that it will examine the incident.
Sensible scammer hacked in to DCI Kenya’s account, created a sol memecoin, put in 20 Sol , promoted it on their web page and cashed out 64.7 Sol.
That is $4K to $13K in simply 35 minutes.
pic.twitter.com/5CIibPJ939
— Mutua B (@Mutuabrian_M) February 9, 2025
Nonetheless, DCI buyers ended up being rugged on the finish of the day.
Africa Crypto Information in Transient
- CAR meme coin rallies earlier than dumping. Safety consultants select pink flags
- Nigeria leads in crypto fraud forward of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania additionally
- Kenya’s DCI web site hacked as a rip-off token, DCI, promoted
The put up Africa Crypto Information: CAR Meme Coin Scandal, Nigeria Leads in Crypto Fraud As Kenya’s DCI X Account Hacked appeared first on 99Bitcoins.