- Near Protocol’s official X account posted a series of cryptic tweets, including a Morse code video saying “Darkness is coming” and messages in gothic font asking followers to “reclaim your sovereignty.”
- The unusual tweets raised suspicions of a potential security breach or hack, although Near Protocol has not yet commented on the incident.
- Some in the crypto community speculate the tweets could be hinting at something bigger coming to the Near ecosystem, while others suspect the account was compromised.
Near Protocol’s official Twitter account posted a series of cryptic tweets, raising concerns about a potential security breach or hack.
The Strange Tweets
On May 8th around 6:18 pm UTC, Near Protocol’s official Twitter account posted a 27-second long Morse Code video without providing any context. The message read “Darkness is coming”.
Two hours later, Near’s account posted four consecutive tweets using a gothic font. The messages said “The sun rises in the east. Take back your thoughts. Darkness. Reclaim your sovereignty.”
Additionally, Near’s account name and description were also changed to match the gothic theme of the tweets.
Community Reaction
The crypto community, including blockchain investigators, suspect a possible account hijack. However, no official confirmation has been received from Near Protocol at the time of writing.
A handful of Near Protocol supporters see the tweets as a sign of something bigger coming to the ecosystem.
Prior Social Media Security Incidents
In January earlier this year, the Twitter account of crypto data aggregator CoinGecko was compromised and used to run a phishing scam. The company managed to regain control of its account following a quick intervention.
Recent Near Protocol Changes
In recent months, Near Protocol laid off 40% of its staff to “significantly consolidate the core Foundation team.” The cuts involved letting go of 35 employees in marketing, business development and community teams after a review that concluded inefficiencies in operations.
The Foundation said it plans to further diminish its footprint as the ecosystem progresses toward decentralization.
Conclusion
The strange tweets from Near Protocol’s official Twitter account have sparked confusion and speculation in the crypto community. While some see potential signs of an account hack, no official confirmation has been provided yet. The incident also comes on the heels of recent staff cuts and structural changes at Near.
