GTA 6 ahead of release: Memecoins, leaks and scammers

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GTA 6 ahead of release

13 years of waiting

Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Fans have waited especially long for the new installment: GTA 5 was released back in September 2013. Since then, the franchise has become one of the most successful in the history of the gaming industry.

While GTA 5 has sold around 230 million copies, total sales of the Grand Theft Auto series have approached 475 million units.

The sixth installment could become the most expensive video game in history. Rockstar and Take-Two have not disclosed the exact development cost, but external estimates put it above $1 billion. Parent company Take-Two expects GTA 6 to help drive a record financial year and projects $8 billion to $8.2 billion in net bookings. Analysts believe the game could sell as many as 45 million copies within the first few months after release.

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The hype quickly attracted people looking to make money. In August, an anonymous figure using the name Cyberleek began publishing stolen GTA 6 materials while simultaneously promoting a Solana-based memecoin called CYBERLEEK.

The leaked videos displayed the token’s name alongside the phrase “higher market cap = more leeks” — the higher the market capitalization, the more leaks would follow. On August 23, CYBERLEEK’s market cap climbed to around $25 million.

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A few days later, an address linked to the project received about $146,000 in SOL and 15.4 million tokens in creator fees. Those tokens were then sold for roughly $125,000 worth of SOL. According to GTAForums investigators, the total amount cashed out exceeded $250,000.

The game has attracted scammers

The hype around GTA 6 is also being exploited by more straightforward scammers. During the summer, websites appeared offering access to the game before its official release. The pages were designed in the style of GTA 6, using Vice City imagery, game logos, luxury cars and AI-generated illustrations.

One such website charged $250 for “VIP Digital Access.” Payment could only be made in Bitcoin, Ethereum or USDT. After sending the cryptocurrency, users were asked to enter the transaction ID, wait for payment confirmation and click a button to download the game. No access was provided afterward.

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Rockstar has not launched an early-access program or public beta testing for GTA 6. Cryptocurrency is also convenient for such schemes because once funds are sent, the transaction cannot be reversed or refunded through a bank.

Another scheme appeared after the August leaks. A supposedly working 113 GB build of GTA 6 began circulating on torrent sites. Users who examined the file found that almost all of its size consisted of empty data, while it also contained a small malicious file designed to steal user data.

Will GTA 6 feature cryptocurrency?

Amid the hype surrounding GTA 6, speculation is also growing about the possible appearance of cryptocurrencies inside the game itself. Back in 2023, claims circulated on social media that the new installment would supposedly feature a play-to-earn model, while cars, weapons and other in-game items could be issued as NFTs.

Other versions emerged later. These included claims that characters could receive cryptocurrency for completing certain missions, that GTA 6 would feature an in-game exchange, and that it might support real assets such as Bitcoin. Rockstar has not confirmed any of these claims.

The company has previously taken a fairly strict stance toward blockchain. In November 2022, Rockstar updated its rules for third-party GTA 5 role-playing servers. The restrictions covered the use of cryptocurrencies and crypto assets, including NFTs, as well as the sale of virtual currencies.

So far, neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has announced Bitcoin, NFTs or any other blockchain mechanics for GTA 6. All claims about cryptocurrency inside the game therefore remain rumors.

Crypto hype has outpaced the game

While Rockstar has not confirmed the use of cryptocurrencies or blockchain in GTA 6, a market around them has already emerged on its own. Leaks helped CYBERLEEK reach a market capitalization of around $25 million, while the GTA 6 name is being used to sell fake early access for Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDT.

For now, cryptocurrencies are linked primarily not to GTA 6’s own economy, but to the hype surrounding the game. Whether Rockstar changes that after release remains unknown: the company has officially announced neither Bitcoin nor NFTs nor any other blockchain mechanics.

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