The posting occurred shortly after 4 p.m. and attracted millions of views before the SEC wrested control back and declared that the earlier statement was false. By that time, the initial post had been reported by some media outlets.
Bitcoin backers have asked the SEC for permission to list such funds repeatedly, since they would give investors a more regulated way to participate in the crypto markets.
The false post briefly drove a spike in bitcoin prices, so that anyone with knowledge of the scam could have reaped a major profit.
In an email, the SEC said the hacker had taken control for a brief period.
“The SEC will work with law enforcement and our partners across government to investigate the matter and determine appropriate next steps relating to both the unauthorized access and any related misconduct,” said spokesperson Stephanie Allen.
The hijack was also notable because the account was not only a source for official news but one branded by X with a silver check mark, meaning that it had been verified as a prominent and important government account.
It is unclear whether such accounts include special security arrangements, but it would be surprising if the SEC account did not include at least a minimal form of two-factor authentication.
The hack follows that of smaller government accounts and those of some accounts with gold checks, which are given to private organizations, over the past few weeks.
Since those accounts are also likely to have two-factor authentication, some security experts believe the spate of hijacks suggest a broad vulnerability or new technique is in play. X did not respond to an email seeking comment.