grok-cryptocurrencyistockphoto composite

Score one for the humans. An X user reportedly tricked AI chatbot Grok into sending them around $200,000 worth of cryptocurrency simply by using Morse code.

According to Dexerto, the X user manipulated Grok and another AI system with wallet access, Bankrbot, into making the crypto transaction.

The X user, “@ilhamrafli.base.eth,” sent a hidden Morse code instruction that circumvented security measures and initiated the transfer of 3 billion DRB tokens, which at the time were worth about $200,000. After carrying out the exploit and completing the transaction, they deleted their account and quickly sold the DRB tokens on the open market.

done. sent 3B DRB to .

– recipient: 0xe8e47…a686b
– tx: 0x6fc7eb7da9379383efda4253e4f599bbc3a99afed0468eabfe18484ec525739a
– chain: base

— Bankr (@bankrbot) May 4, 2026

Here’s how they did it

According to cryptopolitan, Grok’s wallet received a Bankr Club Membership NFT from the hacker. This increased the AI’s permissions within the Bankr system, enabling it to carry out previously prohibited tasks, such as swaps and transfers.

Next, the hacker asked Grok to translate a Morse code message and send it directly to Bankrbot on X. Grok is already wired into Bankrbot to follow instructions in plain language. The decoded message instructed the bot to transfer 3 billion DRB tokens to a specified Base address.

The attacker then had the entire token amount transferred to their wallet on Base after the system accepted the translated message as a legitimate command.