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Robinhood CEO's X account hacked to promote fake memecoin

Created at 23 Jul · 6:21 PM3 sources↑ Market-relevant
IN SHORT

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev's X account was compromised and used to promote a fake memecoin, Vladhood ($VLAD), falsely claiming it would be listed on the Robinhood app. Robinhood confirmed the hack, stating the post was removed and access was being restored.

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Key Numbers

$10 millionpeak market cap for Vladhood memecoin
$4 millioncurrent market cap for Vladhood memecoin
$1 millionprofits cashed out by insiders
$1.1 millionrevenue earned by Robinhood chain in last seven days
$2.11 millionrevenue earned by Robinhood chain since launch
$309 milliontotal value locked on Robinhood chain

Who's Involved

Vlad Tenev
CEO of Robinhood, whose X account was hacked
Robinhood
Company whose CEO's X account was hacked to promote a fake memecoin
Robinhood Comms
Official communications account for Robinhood
Robinhood CEO's X account hacked to promote fake memecoin

↳ Why This Matters

The hack highlights ongoing security vulnerabilities in the crypto space and the potential for scams to exploit the popularity of new blockchain networks and meme coins.

Key facts

  • Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev's X account was hacked.
  • Hackers promoted a fake memecoin called Vladhood ($VLAD).
  • The post falsely claimed the token would be listed on the Robinhood app.
  • Robinhood confirmed the hack and stated the post was removed.
  • The Robinhood chain has attracted significant activity and meme coin trading.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev's X account was compromised and used to promote a fake memecoin called Vladhood ($VLAD), which falsely claimed it would be listed on the Robinhood app. Robinhood confirmed the hack through its official communications account, stating they were working with X to restore access and that the fraudulent post had been removed. The incident occurred as Robinhood's recently launched blockchain network has generated significant buzz and activity, partly due to meme coin trading. The network has earned over $1.1 million in revenue in the last seven days, with a total value locked of $309 million. The Vladhood memecoin surged to a market cap of around $10 million before trading above $4 million, with insiders reportedly cashing out over $1 million in profits.

Frequently asked questions

No, Robinhood has stated it has not launched a memecoin, and the token promoted via the hacked account was identified as a scam.

Users quickly identified the token as a scam, and Robinhood Chain's blockchain explorer subsequently labeled the contract address as fraudulent.

Yes, hacks and scams continue to be prevalent in the crypto industry, though the total value stolen has recently declined.

What Happens Next

01Robinhood is working with X to restore full access to CEO Vlad Tenev's account.
02Further analysis of meme coin activity on Robinhood's blockchain is expected.

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Cadence

How It Developed

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev's X account was hacked to promote a fake memecoin.
The hackers claimed the memecoin, Vladhood, was the official mascot of the Robinhood chain.
The hackers falsely stated the memecoin would be listed on the Robinhood app.
Robinhood confirmed the hack and stated the fraudulent post was removed.
The Vladhood memecoin reached a market cap of approximately $10 million before trading above $4 million.
Robinhood's new blockchain network has generated significant buzz and activity, partly due to meme coin trading.
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Sources

T1
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev's X account hacked to promote token amid memecoin frenzyCoinDesk
T1
Robinhood CEO’s X account hacked in apparent memecoin scamA hacker reportedly took over Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev’s X account to promote a fake “VLAD” memecoin, posting what appeared to be a malicious token contract address.Cointelegraph
T1
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev’s X Account Hacked to Promote Fake MemecoinCoinGape

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