Suspicions Surround NEAR Protocol Amid Alleged Hacker Activity
As of now, NEAR Protocol has yet to issue any statements regarding the Morse code snippet and unusual tweets appearing on their X account.
Suspicions Surround NEAR Protocol Amid Alleged Hacker Activity. Photo: NEAR Protocol
In the early hours of May 9th (Vietnam time), NEAR Protocol's X account unexpectedly posted a 27-second Morse code snippet without providing further information. The community quickly spread news of this puzzling event, and upon decoding, it translated to "Darkness is coming."
Two hours later, NEAR's account continued to post four messages using Gothic script, a medieval European style from the 12th century known for its difficulty in reading. The messages conveyed "the sun rises in the east," "reclaim your thoughts," "darkness," and "reclaim your sovereignty."
Even the account name and description of NEAR Protocol were altered in the Gothic style of these tweets.
Currently, it is unclear whether NEAR is under attack or if there are internal issues at play. The project has not taken any action for over half a day.
On a positive note, it's possible NEAR is teasing some impending "Big News" for its established ecosystem.
Earlier this year, the Near Foundation, the protocol's development organization, conducted a 40% staff layoff, citing a focus on core activities. The price of NEAR doubled in just half of March 2024 and has seen a staggering 350% increase compared to a year ago.
