UK MP’s X Account Hacked to Promote Crypto Scam Token: House of Commons Coin Falls Flat
🇬🇧 UK MP’s Social Media Hacked to Promote Scam Token with Political Branding
LONDON — April 17, 2025 | A cyberattack on the official X account of Lucy Powell, UK Member of Parliament and Leader of the House of Commons, has stirred concern after it was used to push a fraudulent cryptocurrency project.
In a series of now-deleted posts on April 15, the account promoted a token named House of Commons Coin (HOC), touting it as a “community driven digital currency.” The posts linked directly to a decentralized exchange where users could trade the token.
🔐 Hacked Account Promptly Recovered, Token Fails to Gain Traction
A staff member from Powell’s office confirmed to the BBC that the MP’s X account had been compromised, and that “steps were taken quickly to secure the account and remove misleading posts.“
Despite the brief exposure from a verified political figure’s account, the scam coin failed to gain traction. According to DEX Screener, the House of Commons Coin peaked at just over $24,000 in market capitalization and recorded only 736 transactions with a total trading volume of $71,000.
The token’s limited success underscores both the volatility of meme coins and the increasing sophistication of scams targeting public figures.
🌍 Not the First
While Lucy Powell had no prior ties to cryptocurrency, the tactic of hijacking political accounts to pump questionable tokens is not new.
🇺🇸 U.S. Presidents and Memecoins
Both Donald Trump and Melania Trump promoted meme-inspired tokens around their time in office, igniting backlash from critics who questioned the ethics of political figures endorsing speculative assets.
🇦🇷 Argentina’s Presidential Crypto Scandal
In Argentina, President Javier Melei found himself embroiled in controversy after backing a token named LIBRA, which crashed dramatically and led to public outcry and calls for a formal investigation into his alleged role.
🌐 Similar Breach: Ghana President’s X Account Also Targeted
Just a month earlier, in March 2025, the X account of Ghana’s President John Mahama was compromised. Scammers used the account to promote a fake token called Solanafrica, claiming it was supported by the Bank of Ghana and designed to make cross-continental payments “fast and free.”
The account remained in the hackers’ control for 48 hours before being recovered. Mahama’s spokesperson confirmed the breach, warning followers to disregard any crypto-related posts made during the incident.
💡 Final Thoughts: A Call for Stronger Cybersecurity in Politics
This latest incident highlights a growing trend in which politicians’ social platforms are targeted for crypto scams, risking both public trust and financial security for unsuspecting followers.
With the intersection of politics and cryptocurrency continuing to widen, experts are calling for enhanced digital security protocols, particularly for public figures with large audiences.
Share ThisAs trust becomes the new currency online, even a single hack can shake reputations—and portfolios.
