The Central African Republic (CAR) is in trouble over its new cryptocurrency, $CAR. Questions have been raised after experts found that the promo video featuring President Faustin-Archange Touadéra may have been created with deepfake technology. The project’s official social media account has also been suspended.
Announcement and Immediate Reactions
February 9, 2025, @X (formerly Twitter) posted a video from President Touadéra introducing the $CAR token. The post described the token as a tool for national development. But skepticism emerged when experts analyzed the video for deepfake manipulation.
Today, we are launching $CAR – an experiment designed to show how something as simple as a meme can unite people, support national development, and put the Central African Republic on the world stage in a unique way.
— Faustin-Archange Touadéra (@FA_Touadera) February 9, 2025
Contract: 7oBYdEhV4GkXC19ZfgAvXpJWp2Rn9pm1Bx2cVNxFpump
AI detection models flagged the video as suspicious. The Seferbekov model said 82% the footage was AI-generated. The Ensemble model found possible signs of manipulation. Avatarify and Deepware’s deepfake checker did not detect any alterations.
Online debates erupted about the video’s authenticity. Some users thought a third party created the video to scam investors. Others believed technical issues triggered the AI detection tools’ warnings.
Suspension of Official Account
Shortly after the video went viral, the official X account of the $CAR token, @CARMeme_News, was suspended without explanation. This raised more questions about the project. Why would a government-backed initiative be restricted on social media so soon after launch?
President Touadéra’s X account replied to the suspension. He said his team was working with X to restore access. He also assured the public the token supply had been locked according to the distribution plan on the project’s website.
Questions Over Website Domain Registration
Further investigation on the $CAR token website revealed the domain was registered only 3 days before the announcement. The domain was purchased through Namecheap, a budget domain provider, which some experts noted was unusual for a state-backed cryptocurrency project.
A blockchain researcher said, “Governments and big financial initiatives typically register domains well in advance. A last minute registration raises questions about long term planning and credibility.”
Crypto investors have been urged to conduct due diligence before purchasing $CAR tokens. Some exchanges have reportedly delayed listing the token until more clarity emerges.
Official Response and Next Steps
As of now, the CAR government has not provided further statements beyond President Touadéra’s social media post. The team behind $CAR has promised to address security concerns and ensure transparency.
Observers are waiting to see whether X will restore the project’s account and if the government will provide more details on the token’s development and purpose.
The deepfake allegations, along with website registration concerns, have cast uncertainty over the $CAR token. Until officials provide clear evidence to support the project’s legitimacy, investors are likely to remain cautious.
