Fans of FC Barcelona faced a double blow yesterday as hackers briefly took over the club’s official Instagram account, promoting a seemingly legitimate cryptocurrency called "$FCB" on the Solana blockchain.
Claiming the club was “building something massive on Solana,” the attackers promised users that “we’re going to the moon,” sharing the token’s address across two separate posts.
The posts quickly gained traction, racking up a total of over 135 million likes, 3,660 comments, and 2,399 reposts before the club regained control of its account.
The $FCB token scam leveraged Barcelona’s 144 million Instagram followers and the hype around Solana, a blockchain known for fast, low-cost transactions.
Hackers presented the token as an official club initiative, offering special rewards and early access benefits.
Unsuspecting fans who tried to purchase or trade the token risked losing funds, with no recourse due to the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies.
This type of attack is reminiscent of high-profile social media hacks in 2020, when several celebrity Twitter accounts were compromised to promote Bitcoin giveaway scams, netting attackers over $100,000 within minutes.
The FC Barcelona incident illustrates how trusted brands and influential figures are used to manipulate users into sending digital assets.
The $FCB token experienced typical Solana memecoin volatility.
Created at 0:45 AM UTC, its market value quickly rose to $3 million before crashing to just $47,800.
@FCBarcelona Instagram account got hacked, hacker posted some promotional posts of a fake coin $FCB
▫️ The scam token pumped to $3 Million before crashing to $45,000
▫️ There is no statement issued yet from the club yet
▫️ The coin was launched on pump fun with a fake… pic.twitter.com/m3ty2ktP4s
— Crypto Aman (@cryptoamanclub) October 7, 2025
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Trading volume for the first 24 hours reached $3.5 million, while the token’s creator earned nearly $26,000 in rewards via Pump.fun.
While a real FC Barcelona crypto project isn’t impossible, there has been no official announcement from the club.
Barcelona previously partnered with Socios in 2023 to release a “fan token” and has featured crypto sponsors such as Whitebit and Chilix on its kit.
Source: X
Whitebit, a crypto exchange with links to Justin Sun, remains a current sponsor of the club.
Other football clubs, including Inter Milan, Flamengo, AS Roma, PSG, and Tottenham Hotspur, have also engaged in crypto sponsorships or fan token initiatives, though the overall market appears relatively dormant, with 64 fan tokens holding a combined market cap of $296,000 according to CoinGecko.
The FC Barcelona hack is a stark reminder that even well-known brands can be exploited for scams.
Fans and investors are advised to verify official announcements across multiple channels and to use exchanges and wallets with robust security measures, such as two-factor authentication and official verification.
Understanding the underlying blockchain and exercising caution with unverified tokens can prevent potential losses.
This attack mirrors a similar scam on 1 October 2025, when Disney’s Instagram account was briefly hijacked to promote a fake "Disney Solana" coin, with victims reportedly losing thousands of dollars.
FC Barcelona fans, already facing disappointment after a 4-1 defeat to Sevilla at the weekend, now contend with losses from a scam that preyed on both trust and excitement around crypto.
The US Treasury and IRS have approved new rules allowing crypto exchange-traded products to stake digital assets and share staking rewards with investors. The move gives clear legal guidance for funds holding tokens like Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano to offer regulated on-chain returns.
AnaisForward Industries announced a $1 billion share buyback and filed a resale prospectus with the US SEC to strengthen investor confidence.
AnaisGemini has launched a Solana-themed credit card that lets users earn SOL rewards and automatically stake them for up to 6.77% APY. The card offers no fees and supports instant payouts in over 50 cryptocurrencies, combining lifestyle partnerships with crypto rewards.
WeatherlyEthereum continues to lead blockchain development, gaining more than 16,000 new developers between January and September 2025. Solana’s developer base is expanding rapidly, though some figures may be underestimated due to incomplete reporting.
WeatherlyThe official Dota 2 YouTube channel was briefly hacked to promote a fake Solana token called dota2coin, livestreaming the scam to thousands of viewers. A separate esports partner, PGL, was also hacked to stream a fake Bitcoin giveaway, but no user accounts or personal data were compromised.
WeatherlyStripe has launched a new feature allowing US businesses to accept recurring payments in stablecoins like USDC, USDP, and USDG across multiple blockchains. The system uses smart contracts for easier payments, supports over 400 wallets, and lets companies receive fiat settlements while managing subscriptions from their Stripe dashboard.
AnaisPhantom has launched its own stablecoin called CASH, built with Stripe and Bridge, to turn its wallet into a full payments app. It offers free transfers, debit card access and Visa integration, aiming to challenge big players in the growing stablecoin market.
WeatherlySolana (SOL) investors are on edge after the red-hot altcoin plunged 12% in just 48 hours, wiping out over $112 million in leveraged bets and plunging to $213—its lowest in two weeks.
XingChiGalaxy Digital led a major buying spree, acquiring 6.5 million Solana (SOL) tokens worth $1.55 billion over five days, pushing Solana’s price above $240. The firm also partnered with Multicoin Capital and Jump Crypto to fund Forward Industries’ Solana treasury strategy, driving strong investor interest and boosting the company’s shares.
WeatherlyMailer Lite hit by a $600,000 phishing attack. Exploiting a system flaw, attackers impersonate web3 firms, draining wallets. Mailer Lite responds with investigation. Experts stress enhanced cybersecurity measures and user education.
EdmundTelcoin's effective response and recovery from a major security breach underscores the importance of robust security and trust in the digital currency world.
Brian
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