Posting about crypto for the first time requires verification! X rolls out new anti-scam rules to prevent hackers from stealing accounts and promoting scam tokens

X rolls out a mandatory verification mechanism for crypto-related content. Accounts are locked the first time they’re mentioned, reflecting the dire situation in which scam amounts for 2025 could be approaching $17 billion.

X launches mandatory verification, locking accounts on the first post

Social media platform X has recently introduced a new round of anti-scam measures. For accounts that publish content related to cryptocurrencies for the first time, an account-locking mechanism will be triggered immediately. Users must complete identity verification before they can continue posting.

The mechanism is mainly aimed at scenarios in which an account is hacked and then used to promote investment scams. X product lead Nikita Bier said the system will identify whether an account has made its “first mention of cryptocurrency.” Once the trigger conditions are met, the account’s right to post will be paused. This move is believed to significantly reduce the success rate of hackers using high-trust accounts to spread scam information in a short period of time.

Image source: X/@nikitabier X product lead Nikita Bier said the system will identify whether an account has made its “first mention of cryptocurrency.” Once the trigger conditions are met, the account’s right to post will be paused

The platform noted that in the past, attackers often stole account credentials through phishing pages. After taking over the account, they would immediately publish investment scam content. The new mechanism tries to cut off operational permissions directly during this “golden window,” preventing scam information from spreading.

Crypto scams surge in scale, with full-year figures feared to reach $17 billion

According to statistics from Chainalysis, crypto scam amounts in 2025 have already reached about $14 billion (about NT$420 billion) and may be revised upward to $17 billion after the full tally is completed, indicating that the scam industry is still rapidly expanding.

At the same time, data from the Federal Trade Commission shows that in the first three quarters of 2025, there were 113,842 investment-scam cases, with cumulative losses of about $6.1 billion—approximately NT$183 billion—nearing the level for all of 2024.

Further analysis points out that cryptocurrencies have become one of the important tools for scam fund flows, second only to bank transfers. Because blockchain transactions are difficult to reverse, once funds are transferred out, victims can almost never get their money back, which significantly increases the success rate of scams.

Social platforms become scam gateways, trust mechanisms are abused

Data shows that about 38% of investment-scam cases originate from social media platforms, making them the largest source of leads. Compared with the 29% share in 2020, this indicates that scam activity is rapidly shifting toward leveraging social-media trust mechanisms.

Hackers typically target accounts with a fan base. Once the takeover is successful, they post investment opportunities or airdrop activities using a familiar identity, exploiting followers’ trust to run scams. This type of attack also drives up the amount lost per scam transaction. The average transaction value increased from $782 in 2024 to $2,764 in 2025.

In addition, scam cases impersonating celebrities or official accounts have also grown explosively, with a year-over-year increase of as much as 1,400%, becoming one of the most common tactics currently seen in crypto scams.

Platforms and email loopholes intertwine, posing challenges for anti-scam defenses

X said the account-locking mechanism is only a temporary defensive measure, because the source of scams often comes from external systems, such as email phishing attacks. Some industry insiders note that shortcomings in email services’ spam filtering make phishing links easier to penetrate to users, forming a complete attack chain.

As some email services adjust their features, their spam-protection capabilities may decline, further increasing the likelihood that users are exposed to scam risks.

Overall, this policy shift shows social platforms moving from “content governance” toward “behavior restrictions,” attempting to block scams with more coercive measures. However, in an environment where crypto assets are highly liquid and anonymity is common, the scam industry still has a high degree of adaptability. The ongoing tug-of-war between platforms and regulators is unlikely to end anytime soon in the short term.

This article is generated by the Crypto Agent that compiles information from multiple parties, with editing and review by Crypto City. It is still in the training stage and may contain logical biases or information errors. The content is for reference only and should not be considered investment advice.