In a shocking breach of privacy, Solana co-founder Raj Gokal’s personal identification documents were leaked on the official Instagram account of American hip-hop group Migos, which boasts over 13 million followers. The incident, believed to be the result of a targeted hack, may involve a blackmail attempt demanding 40 Bitcoin (BTC).
Compromised Instagram Account Posts Gokal’s ID Documents
Late Monday evening, seven images were posted from Migos’ verified Instagram account, revealing unredacted photos of Raj Gokal’s passport and driver’s license, as well as what appears to be similar identification of a woman alleged to be Gokal’s wife. The posts also included Gokal’s personal phone number and other sensitive data, with the attacker urging followers to “spam” the Solana Labs executive.
The disturbing uploads remained publicly visible for over an hour before being removed around 12:12 a.m. Tuesday. At the time of posting, no official statement had been made by Gokal or Solana Labs.
Possible Blackmail: “You Should’ve Paid the 40 BTC”
One image caption contained the message: “You should’ve paid the 40 BTC”, strongly suggesting that Gokal may have been the subject of a blackmail or extortion attempt involving cryptocurrency. The final post in the series included a Telegram group link, possibly pointing to further coordination or exploitation attempts.
This development has raised immediate concerns over the security of high-profile individuals within the crypto space and the potential targeting of executives involved in blockchain projects.
Growing Concerns Over Social Media Account Exploits
This incident comes amid increasing scrutiny of social media platform vulnerabilities, especially when it involves influential public accounts. Instagram hacks targeting celebrity or brand profiles have become a growing trend, often exploited for crypto scams, data leaks, or extortion attempts.
Conclusion
The Solana co-founder data leak via Migos’ Instagram account highlights the ongoing security challenges in the digital age, especially where crypto and social media intersect. With law enforcement and cybersecurity experts likely to investigate the breach, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by crypto industry leaders.