Sydney Sweeney’s X Account Hacked in Pump-and-Dump Scheme

• Sydney Sweeney’s X account hack led to a $10M trading surge and a 90% price drop for the Solana token SWEENEY within hours.
• The hacker, claiming responsibility for the hack, also breached 50 Cent’s and Hulk Hogan’s X accounts, signalling ongoing threats.
• Repeated hacks of celebrity X accounts, like Sydney Sweeney’s, highlight a worrying trend and the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity.

Sydney Sweeney’s X account was hacked, promoting a Solana-based token named SWEENEY. This hack led to a classic pump-and-dump scheme, causing financial turmoil. The token amassed over $10 million in trading volume within two hours. The posts, made from Sweeney’s X account, boosted the token’s visibility.

One of the hacked posts stated, “Well, I think it’s time… $sweeney is now live 100mc incoming,”. Within an hour after the first spike, SWEENEY’s price fell by almost 90%. DEX Screener reports that the token’s market capitalization fell from $3.85 million to $1.2 million.

The Hack’s Broader Implications

Besides the immediate financial impact, this incident raises broader cybersecurity concerns. The hacker, who claimed responsibility, posted on a Telegram channel linked to the token. They also took credit for hacking 50 Cent’s and Hulk Hogan’s X accounts. The hacker mentioned plans to target another celebrity soon, hinting at continued threats.

Moreover, this hack highlights the recurring issue of celebrity accounts being targeted. This incident is the second time Sweeney’s X account was compromised. In January, hackers promoted the Solana token MILK, which now has a market cap of $1 million. These repeated hacks signify a worrying trend for celebrities and their fans.

Celebrity Endorsements in Crypto

In recent months, several minor celebrities have promoted various crypto tokens. Caitlyn Jenner and Iggy Azalea launched Solana-based meme coins. These tokens initially involved memecoin collaborator Sahil Arora. Other celebrities like Rich the Kid, David Adedeji Adeleke Oon, and Floyd Mayweather also had token launches promoted from their X accounts.

Azalea’s MOTHER token was the most successful among celebrity-endorsed tokens. It peaked at a $148.9 million market cap. However, its market cap has since declined by nearly $100 million, according to CoinGecko.

The hacking of Sydney Sweeney’s X account to promote SWEENEY highlights the ongoing risks in the crypto market. Moreover, the hacker’s claims of previous and future hacks underline the importance of enhanced cybersecurity measures.