- A recent study by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) sheds light on how Twitter bot activity and tweets from influencers like Elon Musk significantly sway the prices of various altcoins.
- The study raises questions regarding the potential role of cryptocurrency exchange FTX or Alameda Research in coordinating Twitter bot activity, as the bot-generated tweets often spiked following FTX’s social media posts about certain tokens.
The world of cryptocurrencies, while fascinating, holds intriguing secrets within its digital corridors. A recent exploration by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has cracked open an intriguing aspect of this world, discovering how automated Twitter accounts – or ‘bots’ – may be orchestrating shifts in altcoin prices, in an intriguing dance with prominent influencers such as Elon Musk.
Investigating the Puppeteers Behind Altcoin Price Movements
Digging deep into Twitter’s underworld, NCRI’s study examined over 3 million tweets from the start of 2019 to late January 2023. The focus? Eighteen altcoins listed on FTX, a renowned cryptocurrency exchange. The study unearthed a surprising revelation: tweets from automated bot accounts played a pivotal role in pumping up the values of these altcoins, with coins such as The Sandbox, Gala, Gods Unchained, and LooksRare often witnessing an inauthentic tweet storm following an FTX social media post about them.
The strategic timing of these bot activities raises serious questions. Was there a puppeteer behind the scenes? Could FTX or Alameda Research, perhaps, be pulling the strings of this intricately coordinated Twitter bot activity, thereby indirectly manipulating the market values? The study leaves these questions hanging in the air like invisible threads, inviting deeper examination into this digital marionette show.
Besides the bot activities, the study highlighted the impact of high-profile tweets. Enter Elon Musk, a figure known for his market-moving social media commentary. The research identified a correlation between the tech mogul’s tweets and price shifts in two meme-inspired coins, Pepe and PSYOP.
For instance, a Musk tweet featuring a Pepe meme caused a startling 50% price jump for the token within 24 hours. Simultaneously, the study noticed a surge of new bot accounts, all conveniently active a day prior to Pepe’s launch, hinting at a premeditated plan to harness bots in inflating the token’s popularity.
The implications of these findings extend beyond the boundaries of cryptocurrencies. Social media-induced frenzy, such as the one witnessed in 2022 around “meme stocks” like GameStop and AMC, demonstrates how this phenomenon could impact traditional securities. As we delve further into the realm of digital assets, understanding these cyber puppeteers’ influence on market dynamics becomes increasingly crucial.
