Ever since the latest round of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA6) leaks started, cryptocurrencies have been heavily involved in the operation, and the latest part of the scheme involves ‘CyberLeek’ – the individual or group behind the matter – demanding a 400 Monero (XMR) payment to make contact.
Specifically, shortly after it became known that Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO), the video game’s publisher, was issuing subpoenas to several major technology companies, including Discord and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), to try to track down the hacker, an option to exchange XMR for a marketing spot on the next GTA6 stream became available.
Indeed, ‘CyberLeek’ created the option for people to contact them via a privacy instant messaging platform, Session, and then pay 400 Monero – roughly $168.860 at press time on August 24 – to get a personalized ad spot during the next leak stream.
In a somewhat ironic twist, the hackers explained that they will not help market scams, but that anything else, including gambling and pornography, is acceptable. They also did not disclose any additional details regarding the scheme, with the specifics allegedly only meant to be agreed upon on Session.
GTA6 impact on the cryptocurrency market
Elsewhere, the Monero marketing ploy is not the first cryptocurrency-related part of the GTA6 saga. The hacker already used their streams to promote their own meme coin – also called CyberLeek (CYBERLEEK).
By press time on August 24, there has been no clear reaction to the scheme in the price of Monero, but CYBERLEEK is up nearly 39,000% in the last week. Notably, recent streams claimed that the higher the cryptocurrency’s market capitalization goes, the more footage of GTA6 will be released.
What is behind the GTA6 leaks?
The operation has, so far, been widely described as something of a get-rich-quick scheme, though CyberLeek claims their actual goal is to punish the gaming industry for its anti-consumer practices.
In recent years, prices have been going up despite digital distribution removing much of the traditional logistical costs; anti-piracy measures have often led to legitimate copies working worse than pirated ones; and multiple games have become unavailable due to publishers deciding to shut down servers without providing a way to play locally.
According to GTA6 leakers, the involvement of their meme coin and the Monero marketing scheme is meant to fund an unspecified future project – implied as part of a wider series of attacks targeting the gaming industry – but most journalists, observers, and gamers remain skeptical.
Stop Killing Games – an initiative formed to combat most of the same anti-consumer practices – also took to X to rebuke the leaks and urge its followers not to donate any money:
Do not send these people your money, no matter how much sympathy you may feel for their actions. This is illegal, and frankly, we feel for everyone at Rockstar having to go through this ordeal again, especially just over a week before Rockstar’s own official “Extended Look” premieres. Using illegal means to make a point is unacceptable to us and does nothing to protect our right to keep using what we paid for. No matter how strongly you disagree with the decisions of upper management at these companies, there are still thousands of developers who worked hard on this project — and they’re the ones being hit the hardest.
Take-Two Interactive stock reacts to GTA6 leaks
Finally, despite generating some volatility, the leaks have had only a limited impact on Take-Two Interactive stock. TTWO shares declined 2.20% within the last week of trading to their latest closing price of $239.62, but remain 3.44% in the green in the last 30 days.
Furthermore, though Take-Two Interactive equity is 4.76% down in 2026 overall, it has largely retained the protracted uptrend that started in late March.
Featured image via Shutterstock
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