The Grand Theft Auto 6 leak saga became one of the biggest gaming stories of August, as an anonymous account operating under the name CyberLeek repeatedly shared unauthorised gameplay footage online. The leaks spread rapidly across social media and gaming communities, drawing attention to both the content itself and the way it was being monetised.
With Rockstar Games having since presented an official Extended Look at GTA 6, attention has now shifted to another question: how much money did CyberLeek actually make from the leak operation?
The answer appears to be closely linked to the $CYBERLEEK meme coin launched on the Solana blockchain, which was repeatedly promoted alongside the leaked footage.
The Meme Coin Became the Main
The $CYBERLEEK token played a central role in the leak campaign. Clips shared by the account carried the token’s ticker and messaging encouraging viewers to associate the value of the cryptocurrency with the release of more leaked footage.
As interest in the leaks grew, the meme coin’s market value rose sharply. Its market capitalisation reportedly reached around $22 million, while its 24-hour trading volume at one point exceeded $112 million.
Rather than relying only on selling a large personal token holding, the operation appears to have generated money through creator fees linked to transactions involving the cryptocurrency.
The token’s creators also burned around 270 million tokens. The move came as the project gained attention and helped shape the way the cryptocurrency was presented to potential buyers.
Blockchain Trail Reveals a Major Cash-Out
On-chain transactions provide a clearer picture of the money generated from the operation.
Blockchain data shows that the contract owner claimed approximately $146,000 worth of wrapped SOL along with 15.4 million tokens in creator fees. These assets were subsequently sold in a transaction that generated roughly $125,000 in SOL.
Further transactions pushed the total amount withdrawn from the project above $250,000. The proceeds were distributed across four newly created wallets, while at least 91 SOL was sent to a KuCoin account.
The available transaction trail has led to estimates that CyberLeek’s meme coin operation generated between $250,000 and $300,000.
However, the gross amount taken out of the cryptocurrency project should not necessarily be treated as the leaker’s final personal profit. Blockchain analysis has also indicated that money was spent to establish and operate the project, meaning the actual profit could have been lower.
Take-Two’s Investigation Adds Another Dimension
The financial gains have also become significant because Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games’ parent company, has been pursuing information that could help identify the people behind the leaks.
Take-Two filed requests seeking information from platforms including Microsoft and Discord as part of its efforts to trace the CyberLeek operation. The requests sought account and technical information that could potentially help investigators identify those involved.
The investigation has also extended to other platforms connected with the circulation of the leaked material. The legal campaign highlights the potential consequences facing whoever was responsible for distributing the unauthorised GTA 6 footage.
The Leaks May Have Ended, but the Investigation Continues
CyberLeek’s activity generated enormous attention during the short period in which the footage was released. However, following the cryptocurrency cash-out, no comparable stream of new leaks has emerged.
Rockstar’s official Extended Look at GTA 6 has also changed the situation. The studio has now publicly revealed a substantial amount of gameplay and information about the upcoming title, reducing the impact of some of the material that previously circulated through unofficial channels.
For CyberLeek, the operation therefore appears to have produced a substantial financial return in a remarkably short period. But the money trail has also become an important part of the investigation into the leaks.
Based on the publicly visible transactions, the meme coin operation appears to have generated roughly $250,000 to $300,000. The exact amount ultimately retained by the person or people behind CyberLeek remains less certain.
What is clear is that the GTA 6 leaks were not simply an attempt to attract attention. The $CYBERLEEK campaign turned the unprecedented interest surrounding Rockstar’s game into a cryptocurrency operation, creating a financial trail that could prove important as the investigation continues.
