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 traditional 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 overview 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 yet 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 growth, together with refurbishing a campus and selling nationwide unity.
(Supply)
Nevertheless, questions started to be raised when the mission’s web site went offline, and its related account on X was suspended shortly after.
Just a few hours later, a brand new web site and social media presence had been launched, undoubtedly elevating issues from the at all times vigilant crypto neighborhood.
A deepfake detection device flagged the second promotional video as a deepfake, elevating extra pink flags. Moreover, safety specialists 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 initiatives, comparable to meme cash launched by the Trumps, had been brazenly obtained no doubt regardless of the plain moral issues, these from Africa are perceived in another way and even thought of scams.
Of their view, the skepticism of the CAR meme coin displays double requirements and the unsuitable notion that initiatives 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 isn’t proof against hacks, and billions are misplaced yearly. A current report reveals that Nigeria, considered one of Africa’s powerhouses, led in crypto-related fraud. With a fraud fee of 8.3%, the nation tops different international locations, surpassing Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
In keeping with crypto safety analysis, most scams embrace forgery, phishing, and account takeovers.
For that reason, specialists warn that crypto platforms on the continent ought to contemplate 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 doubtless 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 hundreds of thousands 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.
In the course of the quick interval, the cyber criminals who tried to take over the accounts posted the data captured on… pic.twitter.com/X2IEw4h1Ci— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) February 9, 2025
Happily, the DCI finally regained management, deleted this promotion, and added that it might examine the incident.
Good 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
Nevertheless, 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 specialists 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 publish Africa Crypto Information: CAR Meme Coin Scandal, Nigeria Leads in Crypto Fraud As Kenya’s DCI X Account Hacked appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
