Tech
Metallica’s X account was hacked to promote the Solana crypto scam
The official X account of the legendary heavy metal band Metallica was briefly hacked to promote a crypto scam. Hackers used the opportunity to promote a fraudulent Solana (SOL)-based token under the ticker METAL late Tuesday EST (June 25).
THE unauthorized posts now deleted claimed a partnership with Ticketmaster and the involvement of fintech company MoonPay. However, both companies quickly distanced themselves from the project. MoonPay President Keith Grossman said so explicitly denied any connection:
If someone offers you a $METAL token, they’re not the master of puppets – they’re the master of scams! 🎸
Keep your keys safe and ride the lightning responsibly!⚡️
Hackers attempted to lure potential buyers by promising exclusive benefits such as free concert tickets, customized gaming consoles and products in exchange for METAL tokens. In another deleted post he even suggested that the token would offer staking rewards.
Metallica’s crypto scam token
Despite these claims, the token’s value plummeted shortly after its launch. According to data from Dexscreener, METAL’s total value briefly peaked at $3.37 million before plummeting to around $90,000 in three hours. The price has fallen almost 100% from its highest point.
The Metallica team has since regained control of the X account and deleted all posts related to the fake token. The band and its management have not yet commented on the incident, and the method of the account hack remains unclear.
This event serves as a reminder of the current risks of cryptocurrency rip-offs and the importance of verifying information from official sources, even when it appears to come from verified accounts of known entities.
The report follows early June losses suggesting that Metallica are planning to hold a concert in Fortnite.