Near Protocol's X account surprised its nearly two million followers on May 8 by posting a 27-second Morse Code video at around 6:18 pm UTC cryptically stating, 'Darkness is coming.'

Without further explanation, the post set off a wave of speculation and confusion among the crypto community.

Two hours later, the account continued its enigmatic messaging, releasing four consecutive tweets in a gothic font reminiscent of heavy metal bands.

The messages were ominous and cryptic: 'The sun rises in the east,' 'Take back your thoughts,' 'Darkness,' and 'Reclaim your sovereignty.' The account's name and description were also altered to match this gothic theme, further deepening the mystery.

The crypto community on X and blockchain investigators have raised concerns, suspecting a potential hijack of Near Protocol's social media account. Yet, as of this writing, Near Protocol has not given an official confirmation, leaving room for widespread speculation.

Some supporters, however, interpret these tweets as a prelude to a major upcoming announcement within the ecosystem.

This incident arrives amid a turbulent period for Near Foundation, which recently announced layoffs affecting 40% of its staff, including those in marketing, business development, and community teams.

This move was part of a strategic decision to narrow the Foundation's focus towards more impactful activities, aiming for greater efficiency and a leaner operation as the ecosystem progresses towards its decentralization goals.

'The Near Foundation will support affected colleagues during this time to help them find new opportunities in the NEAR ecosystem, the Web3 industry, and beyond.'

The peculiar activities on Near Protocol's X account, against the backdrop of organizational restructuring and the crypto industry's volatile landscape, have left the community watching closely for the subsequent development.