On December 15, 2024, Canadian rapper Drake’s X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised in a hack that saw malicious actors promoting a newly minted meme coin called Anita. The hack resulted in an explosive surge in trading volume for the token, which skyrocketed to $4.9 million as fans of the rapper, who has 39 million followers on the platform, rushed to invest in what they believed to be tied to his upcoming tour.
The hackers capitalized on Drake’s massive following by spreading a message that the Anita token was created in partnership with the rapper and his long-time sponsor, the betting platform Stake. The tweet falsely claimed that Anita was connected to Drake’s upcoming Anita Max Wynn Tour, fueling speculation and excitement among fans who assumed the token was legitimate.
Within hours, Anita saw over 7,000 buy orders, pushing its trading volume into the millions. However, the excitement quickly turned to skepticism. Crypto sleuths, including well-known investigator Zachxbt, analyzed the coin and concluded that it was likely a scam. The Anita token’s rapid rise was ultimately seen as a pump-and-dump scheme, a pattern not unfamiliar to the crypto community.
This incident is part of a worrying trend where hackers are increasingly targeting high-profile individuals and their social media accounts to promote fraudulent or scam crypto projects. In December 2024 alone, multiple celebrities, including Cardi B and Doja Cat, had their accounts compromised by similar attackers, who leveraged their influence to push bogus crypto assets.
The hack also echoes another recent controversy involving Halley Welch, the TikTok star known for the viral “Hawk Tuah” video. Welch faced backlash after promoting a meme coin, HAWK, which soared to a $480 million market cap before plummeting, leaving her followers and investors with substantial losses.
In the case of Drake, the attack has sparked further concern about the vulnerability of celebrity social media accounts, and the ease with which malicious actors can manipulate fan loyalty for financial gain. While the Anita coin’s surge was short-lived, it underscores the ongoing dangers of scams within the volatile world of meme coins and cryptocurrencies.
As investigations into the hack continue, Drake has yet to comment on the breach, though the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by social media, especially when coupled with celebrity endorsements or false associations.