Conspiracy Theories, Geopolitics, Cryptocurrencies—The "News Factory of the Mask Era" Created by Noufal

Is the Shortest Route to "Musk's Ear" Not News but "Replies"?

Since acquiring X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk's posts have become a "supermassive media" entity, covering everything from business announcements to geopolitics and domestic politics. What happens there is not just broadcasting. **"Who he replies to and who he quotes and reposts"** determines the next topic, the next protagonist, and the next wave of public opinion.

In the midst of this, Mario Nawfal, a Lebanese-Australian influencer/entrepreneur, has rapidly risen to prominence. According to reports, in a certain period after the U.S. presidential election, Musk reacted (replies, reposts, etc.) to Nawfal's posts 1,311 times, surpassing other accounts. Nawfal himself has around 2.6 million followers on X, and Musk's "reactions" are depicted as the growth engine for this. Moneycontrol

The question here is not just about evaluating individuals.Why and how can a single influencer elicit the "most influential reply in the world"? And what does this mechanism do to democracy, the information space, and business?

1) Who is Nawfal: From Kitchen Appliances to "Citizen Journalism"

AFP/L’Orient Today calls Nawfal an "influencer/'citizen journalist'," noting his approach to a wide range of figures, including Musk, RFK Jr., Andrew Tate, and Belarusian President Lukashenko, centered around X's audio program "Roundtable." L'Orient Today

Other reports state that he moved to Dubai in 2016 and founded a cryptocurrency marketing company, IBC (International Blockchain Consulting Group), in 2017. After previously dealing in kitchenware sales, he shifted his focus to the cryptocurrency realm, commercializing his exposure and programs on X. Moneycontrol

This profile itself is not uncommon. However, what is decisively different is that "the connection with Musk" itself has become a business asset.

2) The Turning Point: "FTX Collapse" and "10 Minutes of Participation"

Reports consistently emphasize the event where Musk suddenly joined Nawfal's broadcast on X Spaces (audio distribution) concerning the 2022 FTX cryptocurrency exchange collapse. According to articles, the stay was about "10 minutes." Even so, Nawfal's followers tripled in a few weeks, and the unit price (selling price) of IBC skyrocketed. Moneycontrol

As a growth story in the SNS era, it seems like a "coincidental buzz." However, the same reports continue to describe how Nawfal's sales materials mention Musk over 20 times, with screenshots of Musk praising Nawfal. Package prices range from over $60,000 to nearly $200,000. Moneycontrol

In other words, even if the turning point was coincidental, it was transformed into a **"reproducible mechanism of coincidence."**

3) Pivot to the Political Realm: Right-Wing Influencers × "Program Factory"

The next stage is the shift from cryptocurrency to political and social issues. Reports indicate that "Roundtable" shifted to more politically charged guests, featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones, Andrew Tate, and even figures known as white supremacists. Moneycontrol

To support this "programming," Nawfal has assembled a global staff structure, including researchers, ghostwriters, and account managers, with posts sometimes reaching "hundreds per hour." The media division, Citizen Journalism Network (CJN), reportedly has about 80 people, with even more personnel when including the cryptocurrency side. Moneycontrol

Furthermore, regarding CJN, a Business Wire release describes it as an entity aligned with "decentralized media," "freedom of speech," and the "town square" concept of X. Business Wire

At this point, it's no longer just an "individual influencer." It is a quasi-media company with editorial and production departments.

4) What Happens When You Reach "Musk's Ear": The Romanian Case

A symbolic case involves a hardline right-wing Romanian politician. According to reports, the politician called Nawfal, who then posted the recording on X. Musk subsequently spread numerous related posts, causing the internationally obscure politician to suddenly emerge as a "right-wing topic." Moneycontrol

Here lies the modern "shortest route to publicity."
Government officials and politicians approach accounts that Musk frequently responds to rather than newspaper editorial offices. If successful, what follows is the "most influential quote repost in the world."

5) Geopolitics and Concerns of "Authoritarian Justification"

In an April 2025 article, the Guardian reported that Nawfal conducted interviews with leaders and high-ranking officials allied with the Putin regime, and Musk reposted Nawfal's posts numerous times in a short period. The article names the Serbian president, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, Belarusian President Lukashenko, and the Slovakian prime minister, citing experts who suggest that "Russian propaganda uses a narrative that pretends to represent 'the true voice of America.'" The Guardian

Of course, interviews themselves are a journalistic method. The problem is that if the sharpness of questions, verification, refutability, and contextual presentation are weak, viewers may consume them as "justification videos" rather than "reporting." AFP/L’Orient Today also describes Nawfal's approach to Lukashenko as "full of nods and lacking in-depth exploration." L'Orient Today

6) Criticism: Misinformation, Bot Suspicions, and "Past Business"

As influence grows, so does criticism. Reports mainly raise three points.

(a) Spread of Misinformation and Unverified Information
There are claims that Nawfal's feed repeatedly shares "inaccurate or unverified material." Meanwhile, he argues that the "error rate is low" due to the sheer volume of posts. Moneycontrol

(b) Suspicions of "Inflated" Engagement
Other reports, citing a review by Israeli company Cyabra, suggest that a significant portion of accounts reacting to Nawfal's posts may involve "fake activity." Nawfal denies this. Moneycontrol

(c) Financial Suspicions and Past Administrative Actions
AFP/L’Orient Today organizes allegations, including a 2015 case where Australian authorities fined Nawfal's kitchen appliance sales company for "misleading representations," and claims and lawsuits regarding "pump and dump" schemes in the cryptocurrency field (he reportedly denied illegal activity at the time, acknowledged mistakes, and promised repayment). L'Orient Today

What is important here is that readers do not make hasty judgments about fact recognition. Many are "accusations, claims, and media reports" and are not definitive condemnations. However, since Musk's dissemination can function as a "stamp of trust," there remains a risk that a person with unresolved suspicions gains a massive amplification device.

7) SNS Reactions: A Structure Where Praise and Disgust Grow Simultaneously

Reactions on SNS are not neatly divided; rather, the same post simultaneously amplifies "praise" and "criticism."

Praise Side: "End of Legacy Media," "We Are the Media"
Australian media B&T introduces the flow where Nawfal, regarding the new X program "69 Minutes" (including variations in notation), stirs up by suggesting "driving a nail into legacy media," launching weekly broadcasts. The show is hosted by Australian presenter Erin Moran, and Nawfal's side promotes it with phrases like "next strike" and "We are the media now." Bandt

This resonates with "anti-legacy media" sentiment. To those with doubts or anger, the combination of large capital and SNS programs appears as a "device for counterattack."

Criticism Side: "Thin Sources," "Lack of Verification," "Community Note Cases"
On the other hand, criticism targets the methods of information. A Medium article by a former Guardian editor argues that Nawfal's posts often lack links, making it difficult to verify sources, and cites cases where community notes intervened, discussing the potential for becoming a hotbed of misinformation. Medium

"Spectacle" Reactions
Furthermore, Crikey sarcastically notes that the first episode of the Moran-hosted program broadly covered topics friendly to conspiracy theories, leaving the impression that the show is tailored for "timeline consumption that bites on anything." Crikey

In short, SNS reactions are as follows.

• Anti-Legacy Media Group: Thrilling/Spokesperson/"Closer to the Truth"

• Verification-Focused Group: Dangerous/Misinformation/Authoritarian Propaganda Device

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