X Platform Sees Continued Rise in Crypto Spam Despite Musk's Anti-Bot Efforts

Despite perceptions of improvement, reports indicate that crypto-related spam and bot activity continue to plague the X platform, formerly known as Twitter. Journalist David Weigel recently commented on the situation, stating, > "Ever since Elon fixed the bot problem, it's been much easier for me to find the crypto investments that helpful people keep posting in my replies." This observation, however, contrasts with numerous findings suggesting a persistent, and in some cases, escalating challenge.

Upon acquiring Twitter in 2022, Elon Musk made a public commitment to eradicate spam bots, declaring he would "defeat the spam bots or die trying." The platform's integrity, particularly against malicious automated accounts, was a central promise of his takeover. This pledge set high expectations among users for a cleaner, more authentic online environment.

However, recent research and user experiences suggest these efforts have fallen short, especially concerning cryptocurrency scams. A 2025 study from the University of California and the University of Southern California Information Sciences Institute revealed an increase in coordinated bot accounts and a "substantial upward trend in cryptocurrency posts" following Musk's acquisition. This indicates that the problem has not been resolved but rather evolved, with sophisticated networks continuing to operate.

The crypto community on X remains particularly susceptible to these automated threats, encountering a barrage of scam messages, impersonation accounts, and phishing links. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has publicly urged Elon Musk to ban bots, highlighting the ongoing battle against spam that targets users with fake tokens and pump-and-dump schemes. Many users report that the issue has worsened, with a lack of effective moderation making it difficult to distinguish legitimate content from scams.

X has implemented measures to combat bots, including testing a policy to charge new users a small fee for basic functions and uncovering a crypto scam bribery network. While X's Global Government Affairs team has affirmed an "absolute" commitment to platform integrity, these initiatives have not fully stemmed the tide of malicious activity. Experts describe the fight against spam as a "cat-and-mouse game," where sophisticated scammers constantly adapt to bypass detection.

The ongoing prevalence of crypto spam and bots presents a significant challenge for X, impacting user experience and the platform's credibility. Despite Elon Musk's stated intentions and some operational interventions, the platform continues to grapple with automated threats, leaving many users, like David Weigel, to navigate a landscape still rife with unsolicited and potentially fraudulent crypto investment solicitations.