Ripple CTO Exposes Deepfake Scam: XRP Investors Targeted in Elaborate X Platform Fraud

Deepfake danger goes crypto. Ripple's chief technology officer has blown the whistle on a sophisticated scam operation using AI-generated impersonations to target XRP holders.

How the scam works: Fraudsters cloned executive identities to push fake giveaways and 'investment opportunities' through verified-looking X accounts. Classic crypto grift—just with 2025's hottest tech twist.

The security paradox continues: While blockchain transactions are immutable, the social engineering around them keeps evolving. This time, bad actors bypassed platform safeguards with Hollywood-grade synthetic media.

XRP army beware: If a 'Ripple executive' DMs you about doubling your holdings, it's about as legit as a three-dollar bill. The CTO's warning comes as no surprise—where there's crypto hype, there's always someone looking to separate fools from their money.

TLDR

• A deepfake video circulating on X falsely claims Ripple is launching a 100 million XRP rewards program.
• Ripple CTO David Schwartz exposed the scam and clarified that Ripple is not offering any airdrops or giveaways.
• The deepfake video surfaced just hours after XRP reached an all-time high, fueling investor excitement.
• Schwartz emphasized that Ripple executives will never ask for personal details or initiate token giveaways.
• Similar scams targeting Ripple investors have occurred after previous legal victories in the SEC case.

A new scam has emerged on X (Twitter), where a deepfake video falsely claims Ripple is launching a 100 million XRP rewards program. The video, featuring a manipulated version of Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, falsely announces an airdrop to celebrate Ripple’s victory over the US SEC. The scam surfaced just hours after XRP reached an all-time high (ATH), fueled by increasing investor interest and the conclusion of the legal battle with the SEC.

Ripple CTO Warns of Fake XRP Airdrop

Ripple CTO David Schwartz has exposed the deepfake video circulating on social media. The video shows a digitally altered Garlinghouse thanking the XRP community and announcing the airdrop. Schwartz promptly alerted the public to the scam, confirming that Ripple has no involvement with any such giveaway.

Obvious scam is obvious.

— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 18, 2025

Ripple’s legal win over the US SEC has brought new attention to the company, and scammers have taken advantage of this momentum. Schwartz made it clear that the company and its executives WOULD never initiate token giveaways or request personal details from users. The CTO’s warning echoed similar messages from previous scams following Ripple’s legal successes.

Scammers Exploit XRP Price Surge and Legal Victory

The scam gained traction amid the excitement surrounding XRP’s price surge to a new ATH. As investor enthusiasm grows, bad actors are using deepfakes and phishing tactics to exploit the situation. Similar incidents occurred after Ripple’s legal victories in 2023 and 2024, where scammers used fake airdrop offers to deceive investors.

Despite the fraudulent activity, analysts remain optimistic about XRP’s potential. On-chain metrics show promising signs for further price increases. However, the rise in social media scams remains a concern, especially with Ripple’s legal wins drawing more attention from the broader crypto community.