EigenLayer X (formerly Twitter) account hacked, used to promote fake EIGEN token airdrop

The official X (formerly Twitter) account of EigenLayer, a restaking protocol developed by Eigen Labs, was hacked on Friday morning

EigenLayer's official X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised on Friday morning, resulting in a series of fraudulent posts.

Eigen Labs quickly confirmed the compromise, urging users to avoid interacting with suspicious links and to verify engagements with their official website, ‘eigenlayer.xyz.’

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT also issued a warning on his Telegram channel, alerting users about the account breach and potential risks. The post says, “EigenLayer X/Twitter account is currently compromised, do not click any links.”

The hackers used the compromised account to promote a fake airdrop of EIGEN tokens, linked to Season 2 of EigenLayer's stakeholder airdrop. According to crypto anti-scam platform Scam Sniffer, the attackers shared a malicious link disguised as a reallocation event for the tokens.

The first fake post was followed by two more, including a “final call” urging users to claim tokens. However, the actual claim period for the legitimate Season 2 stakedrop had already ended, making the posts obvious phishing attempts.

EigenLayer, which lets users stake ether to help secure third-party networks, has become popular in the crypto space. Its growing influence likely made it a target for scammers looking to exploit its user base through social media.

This incident marks the second time that EigenLayer has faced a security breach since October. In an incident on October 4, a hacker stole 1.6 million EIGEN tokens, valued at $5.7 million, through a compromised email thread. The team froze some funds and assured users that the incident did not affect the protocol's core functionality.

This incident is part of a broader trend of social media account hacks being used to promote crypto scams. Other notable victims include the X accounts of celebrities such as Hulk Hogan, Lara and Tiffany Trump, and Doja Cat, as well as corporate accounts like McDonald's.

As these attacks become more frequent, it is evident that enhanced security measures and user vigilance are crucial in the crypto space.