Hackers seized control of Myanmar's military junta leader's official X account, promoting a fake cryptocurrency, potentially sparking a dangerous trend where scammers manipulate high-profile figures to endorse scam tokens and dupe investors.

The incident unfolded when Min Aung Hlaing's X account, known formerly as Twitter, began touting a supposed national cryptocurrency launch on February 22. Dubbed as "Myanmar first national crypto," the posts aimed to give the impression of an authentic digital asset.

Crypto enthusiasts on X quickly identified anomalies as the hackers shared multiple cryptocurrency wallet addresses before deleting them. Following this, they claimed a delay in the launch and supplied a new wallet address, arousing further suspicion.

Detected by vigilant users, the compromised account raised concerns about whether a military-run government could effectively introduce a cryptocurrency, contradicting decentralized principles. Observers highlighted that state-backed digital currencies often serve financial control rather than fostering innovation, speculating that nations facing economic sanctions may turn to cryptocurrencies to circumvent traditional financial systems.

This breach targeting Myanmar's junta leader adds to a worrisome trend of cyber threats against political figures. For instance, scammers recently impersonated the Saudi Crown Prince and former Malaysian Prime Minister on X to promote fraudulent tokens, underscoring the importance of verifying sources before engaging in token promotions associated with public figures. Stay alert in this sea of deceitful schemes.