On September 18, a stream appeared on the Cardano YouTube channel, showcasing a deepfake of the blockchain's founder, Charles Hoskinson, promoting a cryptocurrency scam.
This live broadcast purported to be a public meeting for the Catalyst project, which is a decentralized fund aimed at supporting innovation and community grants. The stream lasted nearly two hours.
Fake stream featuring the deepfake of Hoskinson. Source: Cointelegraph.A post accompanying the video promised to "change lives in just minutes," and included a QR code.
Hoskinson alerted users about the scam stream via his social media account on platform X.
The IOG YouTube apparently has been compromised. Do not trust any videos or click on any links on it. Working with YouTube to take it down and reset credentials
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) September 18, 2026
"It seems the IOG YouTube account has been hacked. Do not trust any videos or click on any links," the developer stated.
The Cardano team is currently focused on removing the account and resetting the credentials.
It’s worth noting that in May, unknown individuals hacked the social media accounts of trader Keith Gill, known as Roaring Kitty, promoting the meme coin RKC.