First time posting crypto content—verify! X rolls out new anti-scam rules to stop hackers from stealing accounts and promoting spam coins

X rolls out a mandatory verification mechanism for crypto-related content: accounts are locked the first time they are mentioned. Given the severe situation, scam amounts in 2025 could be approaching 17 billion USD.

X’s mandatory verification mechanism goes live—accounts get locked the first time they post

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

The mechanism mainly targets scenarios where accounts are hacked and then used to promote investment scams. Nikita Bier, X’s product lead, said the system will identify whether the account is making a “first mention of cryptocurrency.” Once the trigger condition is met, the account’s posting privileges will be suspended. This move is viewed as being able to significantly reduce the success rate of hackers using highly trusted accounts to spread scam information in a short period of time.

Source image: X/@nikitabier X product lead Nikita Bier says the system will identify whether the account is making a “first mention of cryptocurrency”; once the trigger condition is met, the account’s posting privileges will be suspended

The platform said 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 aims to cut off operational permissions directly during this “golden window” and prevent scam information from spreading.

Crypto scam volume surges—could reach 17 billion USD for the year

According to Chainalysis statistics, the amount of crypto scams in 2025 has already reached about 14 billion USD (about 8B NTD), and after full reporting is completed, it may be revised upward to 17 billion USD, showing that the scam industry is still expanding rapidly.

Meanwhile, 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 USD, or about 183 billion NTD—nearing the level of all of 2024.

Further analysis points out that cryptocurrency has become one of the important tools for scam funds—second only to bank transfers. Because blockchain transactions are difficult to reverse, once funds are transferred out, victims can hardly get their money back, which significantly increases the success rate of scams.

Social platforms become a gateway for scams, and 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 29% in 2020, this indicates that scam activity is rapidly shifting toward using social trust mechanisms.

Hackers typically target accounts with a strong follower base. Once the intrusion succeeds, they post investment opportunities or airdrop activities using an identity that looks familiar, leveraging followers’ trust to carry out the scam. This type of attack also increases the amount of money scammed per transaction: the average transaction amount rises from 782 USD in 2024 to 2,764 USD 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 major methods in today’s crypto scams.

Platform and email vulnerabilities intertwine—anti-scam defenses face challenges

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

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

Overall, this policy wave shows that social media platforms are shifting from “content moderation” to “behavior restrictions,” trying to block scams with stronger, more mandatory measures. But 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 power struggle between platforms and regulators is unlikely to end in the short term.

This article compiles information from various parties generated by the Crypto Agent, with review and editing 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 taken as investment advice.