Blockchain investigator ZachXBT uncovered a coordinated network of over 10 accounts on X (Twitter) that manufacture viral panic about war and politics to drive traffic to cryptocurrency pump-and-dump schemes. He then raised a sharper question: what happens when a state actor runs the same operation?
The investigation reveals an organized infrastructure behind accounts that millions of X users engage with daily, unaware that the content is fabricated.
AI Personas, Purchased Followers, and a Six-Figure Exit
Operators reportedly purchase established accounts with existing follower bases, deploy AI-generated personas, and post sensationalist war and political content multiple times daily.
Related accounts repost each other’s material to amplify reach, pushing fabricated or exaggerated stories to millions of views.
One example account, @wanglaurentceo, used AI to create, according to ZachXBT, a fake Asian version of prominent X personality Mario Nawfal.
Larger accounts unknowingly boost the content by engaging in replies and quote posts. Behind the scenes, the network pivots to promoting crypto scams.
ZachXBT traced on-chain evidence showing all 10 accounts promoted the token $ORAMAMA on February 22, 2026, then never mentioned it again. He estimated the scheme generated six-figure profits.
Shortly after publication, all 11 accounts blocked ZachXBT simultaneously, suggesting a single operator controls the entire cluster.
The Nation-State Warning
ZachXBT’s sharpest concern went beyond crypto fraud. He said it is “scary to think about the implications” if a nation-state actor ran the same scheme rather than a meme coin scammer.
The infrastructure required is minimal. Purchased accounts, AI-generated content, and coordinated amplification are all cheap and accessible.
He called for platform bans and legal consequences for coordinated manipulation, noting that propaganda from these networks reaches X users daily.
ZachXBT recommended that users review recent post history and account details before engaging with any content, given the widespread prevalence of AI-generated spam on social media.
The investigation builds on ZachXBT’s earlier exposure of a fake account called “Rashid bin Saeed” that posted fabricated Iranian military strike lists to farm engagement for similar scams.
That finding suggests the coordinated network may extend beyond the 11 accounts identified so far.
