The Official Pokémon Account Was Hacked to Pull a Memecoin Scam
The official Pokémon account on X was compromised in an apparent cryptocurrency scam, with hackers gaining unauthorized access to promote a memecoin called $POKEMON. The breach lasted approximately 30 minutes before being resolved.
During this window, attackers posted promotional content for the cryptocurrency, crafting the messaging to appear as though the coin was an official creation aligned with Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebrations. The hackers made deliberate efforts to lend legitimacy to the scam, including timing and framing the announcement in a manner consistent with official brand communications.
Community reaction was mixed. Experienced users quickly recognized the compromise, understanding that The Pokémon Company would never officially create or endorse cryptocurrency. However, some followers were initially intrigued by the themed memecoin, particularly given the convincing presentation and the legitimacy of the source account.
The incident reflects a broader trend in which threat actors target major corporate social media accounts to facilitate cryptocurrency schemes. Such account takeovers have become an increasingly popular avenue for quick financial gain, with hackers repeatedly attempting similar exploits against high-profile brands. The temporary nature of this breach—lasting only half an hour—underscores both the effectiveness of rapid response protocols and the minimal window hackers often have before detection.