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Central African Republic’s Memecoin Sparks Deepfake Concerns
Controversial Launch of CAR Memecoin
It is believed that the Central African Republic (CAR) recently launched an official memecoin CAR, but concerns quickly arose after AI deepfake detectors flagged a video of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra announcing the project. Despite the skepticism, the token surged to a $527 million market cap on February 9.
Deepfake Suspicions & Community Doubts
Touadéra’s video statement, featured on the token’s official website, was analyzed by multiple AI detection tools. One model estimated an 82% chance it was fake, while two others found no deepfake evidence. This led to speculation that the president’s X account may have been hacked.
Further raising doubts, blockchain researcher Yokai Ryujin pointed out that the project’s website domain was registered only three days before the announcement—an unusual move for a government-backed initiative. Adding to the mystery, X suspended the token’s official account, though Touadéra claimed he was working to restore it.
CAR’s Crypto History
CAR has experimented with cryptocurrency before. In 2022, it briefly adopted Bitcoin as legal tender and launched Sango Coin, a token aimed at attracting foreign investment. However, these efforts faced strong regional opposition, and the government repealed its pro-crypto laws in 2023.
Tokenomics & Liquidity Issues
The memecoin’s tokenomics indicate significant centralization, with large portions held in just a few wallets. While 20% of the supply was meant for liquidity, no funds have been allocated to a liquidity pool yet, raising concerns about the project’s transparency.
