Ripple Faces Intensifying Backlash as ZachXBT Labels XRP an ’Insiders’ Game’

XRP community erupts as blockchain investigator ZachXBT drops bombshell allegations against Ripple's inner circle.

The Accusation

ZachXBT's thread exposes what he calls coordinated insider movements—claiming Ripple executives and early investors have been systematically dumping XRP on retail holders while maintaining artificial price stability through timed announcements.

Market Reaction

Trading volumes spike 300% as the crypto community divides into furious critics and defiant supporters. Exchange inflows hit monthly highs as panic selling clashes with opportunistic buying.

Ripple's Silence

The company's PR team remains unusually quiet—no official statements, no CEO tweets, just the eerie calm that typically precedes either a massive lawsuit or a carefully orchestrated damage control campaign.

Just another day in digital finance—where the only thing more decentralized than the technology seems to be the accountability.

ZachXBT’s Criticism of XRP

The remarks came in response to an X user, Ducky-Royal, who asked about an “XRP Ledger Forensics group” that could help trace and freeze stolen funds. Zach’s reply was straightforward: filing an IC3 report and tracing funds through exchanges was the only realistic option.

An actual answer: Due to the amount stolen the best option is to file an IC3 report and trace to exchanges.

The Ripple foundation is cheap and no longer funds public goods that provide guidance to their community unlike other chains.

Learn more about the industry and scams… pic.twitter.com/cNdXwGx6MH

He added that “the Ripple foundation is cheap and no longer funds public goods” that educate or protect its community, contrasting Ripple with other blockchain projects that continue to finance such initiatives. In his view, the absence of institutional safeguards adds unnecessary risk for XRP holders and makes the token less defensible as an investment.

Allegations of a Personal Grudge

Not everyone agreed that Zach’s position was entirely based on industry analysis. Ripple Van Winkle, a researcher active on X, claimed Zach’s hostility toward Ripple stems from a personal rejection. 

Let me explain….

See, the reason ZachXBT goes so hard at Ripple isn’t just because of some “objective industry analysis.” The real story, the one nobody talks about, is that a few years back he actually tried to get in with Ripple.

He pitched himself as the guy who could… pic.twitter.com/nflA2Txep6

According to his account, ZachXBT once approached Ripple with a proposal to work as an on-chain investigator, promising to “clean house” by tracking stolen funds, uncovering exploits, and strengthening Ripple’s public image.

Ripple executives, however, were reportedly unmoved. Confident in their existing compliance teams, private investigators, and regulatory ties, they are said to have concluded that hiring a high-profile X investigator could create more publicity than practical benefit. The proposal was declined.

XRP Caught in the Crossfire

XRP slipped 3.7% in the past day to trade at $2.88, reflecting the split reaction in the market. Some traders see Zach’s comments as a fair warning about XRP’s problems, while others dismiss them as sour grapes over his history with Ripple.

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