The Central African Republic (CAR) made headlines with the sudden launch of a meme-based cryptocurrency called $CAR, only for the project to be engulfed in controversy hours later. Allegations of deepfake technology, website shutdowns, and account suspensions have raised serious questions about the legitimacy of the initiative.
CAR’s Meme Coin Experiment
The announcement of the $CAR token was made through the official X (formerly Twitter) account of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. The statement described $CAR as a new experimental digital asset aimed at:
Uniting the people of CAR through blockchain technology
Attracting global investors to support the nation’s development
Elevating CAR’s presence in the crypto industry
The token was launched on Solana’s Pump.fun platform, quickly gaining attention from the crypto community. Traders flocked to participate, pushing $CAR to a rapid surge in valuation—a phenomenon reminiscent of viral meme coin launches.
However, doubts about the authenticity of the launch quickly surfaced.
Deepfake Allegations: Was the Announcement AI-Generated?
Soon after the launch, AI forensic analysts examined the president’s video announcement, concluding that it showed strong indicators of being AI-generated.
AI Detection Tools used on the video suggested a high probability of deepfake elements, particularly in speech synchronization and facial expressions.
The official government website for the project suddenly disappeared, fueling speculation that the initiative was not officially sanctioned.
The official X account linked to the token was suspended—an unusual move if the project were legitimate.
Given the recent rise in deepfake scams within the cryptocurrency sector, concerns grew over whether the $CAR project was truly backed by the government or if it was an elaborate hoax.
Website Shutdown and Social Media Censorship
The controversy intensified when the official $CAR token website was abruptly taken offline, leaving no trace of the project’s original whitepaper or roadmap.
- The project’s official X account was suspended just hours after the launch.
- President Touadéra’s X account acknowledged the suspension, stating that efforts were underway to restore the official project communication channels.
- The lack of clarity from CAR’s government has left investors confused about whether the initiative was real or a coordinated scam.
Crypto Community Reacts: Fraud or Experiment Gone Wrong?
The cryptocurrency community reacted swiftly, with many questioning whether the CAR government was truly involved or if bad actors had orchestrated a high-profile scam.
“This has all the hallmarks of a rug pull,” commented a Solana-based investor.
“Why would a national government launch a meme coin on Pump.fun?” asked a crypto analyst.
“If it’s real, CAR just made history. If it’s fake, it’s one of the biggest crypto hoaxes ever.”
Many traders who jumped into $CAR early are now worried about potential losses, as the lack of official confirmation from the government leaves the token’s future uncertain.
Is the $CAR Coin Real or a Hoax? What’s Next?
With the website gone, social media suspended, and deepfake allegations emerging, the legitimacy of the $CAR coin is now under intense scrutiny.
Key questions remain unanswered:
Did the Central African Republic officially endorse this token?
Was this a fraudulent project leveraging AI-generated content to appear legitimate?
Will the CAR government clarify its stance or launch legal action against possible fraudsters?
As of now, the government has not issued an official statement confirming or denying its involvement. The crypto world awaits further clarity, while investors remain on high alert for potential scams in the volatile digital currency space.