TLDR
- Ripple’s legal victories are being exploited by scammers with fake XRP giveaways.
- David Schwartz quickly debunked a deepfake video promising free XRP rewards.
- XRP’s price surged to $3.62 amid legal optimism, attracting more scams.
- Scammers target XRP holders by using Ripple’s success to create fake promotions.
A deepfake video involving Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is spreading across social media platforms, falsely claiming an XRP rewards program. The video suggests an airdrop of 100 million XRP in celebration of Ripple’s success in the ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), David Schwartz, quickly identified and warned the XRP community about this fraudulent video, labeling it as a deepfake. This warning comes as scammers exploit the current positive sentiment around Ripple’s legal victories and XRP’s growing market value.
Ripple CEO Deepfake Video Exposed as Fraud
As the community awaits an imminent Ripple vs SEC case settlement, a positive sentiment has taken over the XRP space. However, scammers are exploiting this optimistic environment and anticipation to defraud unsuspecting individuals.
With a potential bull run on the horizon, the XRP market is already buzzing with optimism. Currently, XRP is valued at $3.62, up by a massive 16% in a day. Experts like Black Swan Capitalist co-founder Versan Aljarrah remain optimistic about the XRP potential rally.
Amidst this excitement, a fake video claiming to offer free XRP rewards has gone viral. The video features a deepfake of Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, falsely stating that Ripple has won its legal battle and announcing a 100 million XRP airdrop.
Obvious scam is obvious.
— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 18, 2025
This fraudulent content is capitalizing on the growing hype, making it harder for users to distinguish the scam from legitimate news, increasing the risk of getting scammed.
Ripple CTO David Schwartz swiftly warned the community, calling the video “an obvious scam” and clarifying that it’s an “AI-generated fake.” He urged XRP holders to stay cautious and avoid clicking on suspicious links or sharing sensitive information.
Scammers Exploit Ripple’s Legal Wins to Deceive Users
This isn’t the first time scammers have exploited Ripple’s legal victories to deceive the XRP community. Following Ripple’s past wins in its ongoing lawsuit with the SEC, scammers have consistently taken advantage of the optimism surrounding these events.
Fake news, phishing schemes, and fraudulent giveaways have become common, with the latest deepfake video being just another example of this pattern.
For example, in August 2024, Ripple achieved a significant legal victory when Judge Analisa Torres ordered a $125 million penalty, far less than the $2 billion the SEC had sought. This was quickly followed by scams promoting fake XRP airdrops and rewards.
Similar tactics were used after Ripple’s 2023 win, when a court ruled that XRP was not a security, prompting David Schwartz to warn the community about fraudulent giveaways.
David Schwartz has repeatedly emphasized that Ripple and its executives will never ask users to send funds or participate in such promotions. He urges the XRP community to remain cautious, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and stay alert to these ongoing scams.
Ripple’s Continued Legal Wins and XRP’s Growth
Ripple’s ongoing legal success has had a significant impact on XRP’s growth. As the legal situation with the SEC becomes more favorable for Ripple, XRP’s price has surged, recently hitting new all-time highs. This increase in value is fueled by growing optimism that Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC is nearing its conclusion.
XRP’s price has surpassed its 2018 peak, reflecting rising confidence in Ripple’s future. The adoption of XRP Ledger by hundreds of financial institutions for cross-border payments strengthens the utility and value of XRP, further contributing to its market growth.
Additionally, Ripple’s focus on regulatory-compliant blockchain solutions and the launch of Ripple USD, a stablecoin, is expected to drive further demand.
However, the XRP community must remain cautious of scams. As Schwartz has warned, scammers continue to exploit Ripple’s legal victories to deceive users. He urges the community to be vigilant and avoid falling for offers that seem too good to be true.
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