X Location Feature Sparks Racism and Crypto Kidnapping Fears

The new location-visibility feature on X has sparked an immediate wave of racism, harassment, and doxxing across Crypto Twitter. 

The update has also raised serious safety concerns, with experts warning it could make crypto-targeted crime and kidnappings easier.

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X now has a new “About This Account” feature that displays the country or region linked to every user profile, marking one of the platform’s most significant shifts toward identity transparency. 

The update appears automatically on profile pages and cannot be disabled, giving audiences a clearer sense of where accounts are based. According to the company, the feature helps combat misinformation, reduce bot activity, and provide more context around conversations.

“This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square. We plan to provide many more ways for users to verify the authenticity of the content they see on X,” said Nikita Bier, Head of Product at X. 

The move follows months of internal discussion about how to make interactions on X more accountable and less anonymous.

However, it has also fueled a rise in racist behavior on the platform and intensified fears about security risks, particularly in crypto circles.

Racism Spikes Post-Update

Many users say the feature has already triggered a wave of hostility across the platform. 

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Shortly after the rollout, Crypto Twitter timelines filled with screenshots of xenophobic comments, mocking posts, and targeted harassment aimed at users whose newly revealed locations made them easy targets. 

Different accounts have since reported being singled out for their nationality or region, turning routine discussions into flashpoints for racial slurs and regional prejudice. 

The shift has exposed long-standing cultural tensions within the crypto community, where anonymity has often protected users from personal attacks tied to identity.

Security concerns escalated just as quickly.

Kidnapping Fears Emerge

Prominent crypto figures have warned that disclosing even regional location data poses real-world risks for anyone discussing or holding crypto. 

Several users raised concerns about kidnapping, extortion, and home-targeted crime. These threats are already prevalent in areas where crypto wealth makes individuals vulnerable. Many in the community see anonymity as a key layer of protection. 

Weakening that layer can open new paths for criminals. Users argue that the feature, despite its transparency goals, may expose high-value individuals to danger. They fear it could help bad actors track potential targets by region.