USDT-Fueled Reputation Warfare: Crypto Influencer Exposes $25,000 Bribe to Attack XRP

A prominent cryptocurrency influencer known as Pumpius has publicly alleged that he was offered a $25,000 bribe, paid in the stablecoin USDT, to launch a coordinated public attack against Ripple and its digital asset, XRP. The offer, which reportedly came via private message, points to a sophisticated and well-funded campaign aimed at manipulating market sentiment and damaging the reputation of one of the industry's most established projects. This incident, emerging from a figure active since 2013, underscores the high-stakes and often murky battlefield of cryptocurrency reputation management, where financial incentives are now being deployed to shape public narrative. The use of USDT for such a transaction highlights the seamless and borderless nature of these potential smear campaigns, allowing for instantaneous, pseudonymous payments to incentivize public commentary. While the veracity of the claim and the identity of the backers remain unconfirmed, the allegation itself is significant. It reveals a new dimension of market warfare beyond traditional volatility—where perception, fueled by social media influencers and potentially backed by substantial capital, can become a targeted weapon. For investors and observers, this serves as a stark reminder to critically evaluate the motives behind seemingly organic negative commentary in the crypto space. The integrity of public discourse is paramount for a maturing asset class, and incidents like this threaten to undermine trust in the information ecosystem surrounding digital assets like XRP. As the market evolves, the resilience of projects may increasingly be tested not just by technology or regulation, but by their ability to withstand coordinated reputation attacks financed through instruments like USDT.

Crypto Influencer Claims $25,000 Offer to Defame XRP in Coordinated Campaign

Pumpius, a long-standing crypto influencer active since 2013, alleges he was offered $25,000 in USDT to publicly attack Ripple and its associated digital asset, XRP. The proposal reportedly arrived via private message, suggesting a coordinated effort to undermine the project.

Such tactics highlight the increasingly high-stakes nature of cryptocurrency reputation wars. Market participants now face not only volatility but also potential orchestrated disinformation campaigns targeting specific assets.