X has deployed an automated system that locks accounts posting about cryptocurrency for the first time, targeting hackers who hijack profiles to promote fraudulent investment schemes. Product lead Nikita Bier confirmed the measure, stating it eliminates 99% of the incentive for account theft. The move follows a surge in scams where attackers compromise accounts via phishing emails mimicking copyright notices, then use them to push crypto promotions.

The platform's crackdown builds on existing efforts to dismantle spam networks and organized crypto-pumping groups. Bier criticized Google for failing to filter phishing emails through Gmail, calling X's auto-lock a necessary workaround. Meanwhile, the FTC reports crypto scams have drained $6.1 billion from victims in 2024, with social media platforms serving as key vectors for irreversible blockchain fraud.