CZ’s $90M Grok Token Scam: Crypto’s ’Genius’ Billionaire Gets Played

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao just got schooled in the oldest crypto game—buying vaporware. Scammers dumped 90 million fake Grok tokens on him, proving even ’visionaries’ can’t resist a hype train. The kicker? The tokens were worth less than the gas fees to mint them—a poetic end for an industry built on greater-fool math.

In Brief

• CZ received 90 million fake Grok tokens in a sophisticated crypto trap.
• Grok, Musk’s AI, inspired a memecoin that became a scam target.
• AI scams exploit deepfakes, phishing, and fake tokens en masse.

A Flood of Fake Tokens Crashes onto CZ’s Wallet

He said that an X crypto would never see the light of day. But everything changed on April 21, when the address associated with the former Binance CEO,. The information, revealed by PeckShield, immediately alerted the ecosystem:

The address labeled CZ received 90 million $GroK.

It was, but a fraudulent token issued en masse, widely distributed via multisend.

The goal?by capitalizing on CZ’s image and Elon Musk’s aura. The, which is unofficial, saw its price soar byand reach.

The fault lies with a response from the Grok chatbot, which, when asked a question by a user, mentioned this very GrokCoin. The token’s address was real, and panic was just beginning.

Deepfake, phishing, Pump.fun: when scams become digital art

This is not an isolated incident. For several weeks,. For example, Musknext.org offered a fake livestream supposedly hosted by the billionaire’s AI, promising. Denis Thomas sounded the alarm on X:

A new cryptocurrency scam is circulating […] They use a fake Elon Musk AI stream to promote a fake giveaway.

On Solana (SOL), the platform: hundreds of memecoins are launched every day, including several variants of GrokCoin. One token creator is reportedly behind.

Manipulating AI so it suggests a coin name and wallet address, and exploiting the gullibility of crowds.

Meanwhile,. Just in 2024, they have cost the crypto industry over a billion dollars, according to CertiK. Techniques are evolving with AI, deepfakes, and an astonishing adaptability. Scams have become an art form, a digital performance where every click can be costly.

AI under influence: between satire, manipulation, and a new gold rush

Theis the new winning (or losing) ticket of crypto speculation. A mere mention of Grok in a post sends the market into a frenzy. Theis enough to trigger collective FOMO. The problem? These AI signals are manipulable, distortable, and easily weaponized.

And while some make fortunes in a few hours, others lose everything. On one side, the digital Wild West runs wild; on the other, legislators struggle to keep pace. In New York,, with fines reaching up to $5 million.

In this algorithmic circus, where AIs boost phishing by suggesting crypto names and scammers walk a thin red line, vigilance is no longer advice. It is a necessity.

Maximize your Cointribune experience with our "Read to Earn" program! For every article you read, earn points and access exclusive rewards. Sign up now and start earning benefits.