The Central African Republic (CAR) shook the crypto community by launching its official memecoin. This memecoin surged to a $530 million market cap in hours. The token debuted on the Solana-based Pump.fun launchpad, and an announcement video was shared on President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s X account. However, controversy followed as deepfake AI detection tools questioned the video’s authenticity. Deepware, an AI detection service, estimated an 82% likelihood that AI-generated the footage. This raised speculation that the announcement could be a hoax or stem from a cyberattack, leaving the community in uncertainty.

Scam Alert? Unveiling the Oddities in CAR's Meme Coin Launch!

Experts have also pointed out major inconsistencies in the project's execution, raising further doubts. The CAR meme coin’s official domain was registered only three days before launch, an uncommon move for a government-backed cryptocurrency. Additionally, the announcement tweet appeared solely in English, ignoring French, the country’s official language. It was also posted at midnight local time, an unusual hour for major government statements. Moreover, X suspended the official @Carmeme_news account, fueling suspicions of a scam or a compromised presidential account. As concerns over deepfake technology and security breaches grow, investors are now prioritizing more credible projects that offer real-world utility.