XRP CTO exposes CEO face-swapping video eyewash: 100 million XRP Airdrop is fabricated

Written by: Zafar Naik, Coinpedia

Compiled by: Jessica, Techub News

Event Focus

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse's deepfake video falsely promotes a 100 million XRP airdrop event.

Ripple CTO David Schwartz exposes scams, warning that this is an AI-generated fraud.

Fraudsters target investors by taking advantage of the XRP price surge and the timing of legal victories.

As the price of XRP rises and optimism around Ripple's legal battles grows, scammers are making a comeback with deepfake technology. A fake video of the Ripple CEO generated by AI is circulating online, falsely promoting a non-existent "100 million XRP airdrop reward program."

Ripple's Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz has come forward to expose the scam and urges the community to remain vigilant. The current trading price of XRP is $3.43, with a nearly 6% increase in the last 24 hours; the market enthusiasm is real—however, the threats are also real.

Ripple CTO exposes fake XRP reward scam

Cryptocurrency scams are not new, but this one stands out due to the use of AI technology. A deepfake video shows a fake Garlinghouse announcing a "Ripple Rewards Program" linked to the progress of a legal battle with the SEC.

In the video, the fake CEO Garlinghouse claims: "Four years ago we were forced to fight back, but we ultimately defeated the SEC... now it is time for us to express our gratitude. I officially launch the Ripple Reward Program and have created an airdrop of 100 million XRP for you."

David Schwartz swiftly spoke out on platform X, pointing directly to "this scam is simply written on the face," and urged the community to stay vigilant.

AI tools are making cryptocurrency scams harder to identify, with dangers far exceeding those of the past.

The price surge has become a breeding ground for scams.

The recent surge of XRP has made it a hot topic. The price skyrocketed to $3.43, and with the expectations of a possible settlement between Ripple and the SEC heating up, the market volatility has been exploited by scammers.

Versan Aljarrah, co-founder of Black Swan Capital and crypto analyst, stated that XRP might be on the verge of a bull market. This is exactly the signal that fraudsters are waiting for – they are well aware that investors are paying close attention, and they use false airdrop promises to lure clicks on phishing links or connect to suspicious wallets.

Such scams often lead to significant losses for victims.

Using Ripple's legal victory as a scam tactic

The scammers had previously exploited Ripple's legal victory to deceive. In August 2024, when Judge Analisa Torres reduced the SEC's claim from $2 billion to $125 million, the false XRP airdrop promotions surged immediately.

Ripple issued a statement warning: "With Wednesday's historic victory, scams have noticeably increased. Please be vigilant against fake Ripple accounts, false executive accounts, and any promotions of 'XRP giveaways' or 'XRP airdrops.'"

Similarly, after the ruling that XRP is not a security, scammers immediately flooded the market with fake promotions. David Schwartz emphasized: "This ruling does not involve any airdrops, giveaways, or special offers."

XRP Investor Information

As deepfake technology evolves, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and fake. The XRP community must remember:

Please refer to the official channels of Ripple for any airdrop information.

Do not transfer funds to unfamiliar links or disclose private information.

Ripple will never actively ask for funds or mnemonic phrases.

During the market frenzy, it is precisely the time when asset security requires the most vigilance.