Cardano Founder Impersonated in AI-Generated Scam Livestream

A fake livestream featuring an AI-generated video of Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, was broadcast on the IOG YouTube channel. The stream promised to 'double your wealth' for anyone who sent cryptocurrency first.

The attackers hijacked the Input Output Group's (IOG) verified YouTube channel and used Catalyst branding, logos, and imagery to make it appear legitimate.

IOG warned users not to interact with the compromised channel until further notice. The company has not explained how the attackers gained access or disclosed any confirmed loss figures.

The attack follows a pattern of AI-generated deepfake scams that have been on the rise since late 2024. Deepfakes accounted for an estimated $4.6 billion in losses, representing roughly 40% of high-value fraud cases in 2025.