When Bitcoin broke into the public consciousness in 2013, the idea behind it quickly captured people’s imagination: a digital currency for instant, anonymous payments that dispenses with the need for a bank. Its price surged that year, from around $13 to $747.
BitcoinWorld dYdX Acquisition: Unleashing Revolutionary Social Trading on a Decentralized Exchange In the rapidly evolving world of decentralized finance (DeFi), innovation is the key to staying ahead. The recent dYdX acquisition of Pocket Protector marks a pivotal moment, signaling a bold new direction for how users interact with and experience crypto trading. This strategic move by dYdX, a leading decentralized cryptocurrency exchange, aims to integrate advanced social and user-driven trading features, promising a more engaging and collaborative environment for traders worldwide. Why is the dYdX Acquisition of Pocket Protector a Game Changer? dYdX has long been recognized as a powerhouse in the decentralized exchange (DEX) space, offering perpetuals and spot trading with a focus on high performance and deep liquidity. However, the crypto market is constantly evolving, and user demands are shifting. Traders are no longer just looking for efficient execution; they crave community, shared insights, and the ability to learn from others. This is precisely where Pocket Protector comes into play. Pocket Protector, a crypto social trading platform, brings its innovative engineering team and co-founders directly into the dYdX ecosystem. This isn’t just a simple partnership; it’s a full integration designed to supercharge dYdX’s scaling strategy. The core idea is to infuse the robust trading infrastructure of dYdX with the dynamic, interactive elements that make social trading so compelling. Imagine a world where you can not only execute trades seamlessly but also: See what top traders are doing in real-time. Engage in discussions about market trends and strategies. Potentially even replicate successful trades (with appropriate risk management). This strategic move is set to redefine the user experience on dYdX, moving beyond mere transactional interactions to foster a vibrant, knowledge-sharing community. Understanding the Rise of Social Trading in Crypto What exactly is social trading , and why has it gained such immense traction in the crypto space? At its heart, social trading allows individuals to observe and potentially copy the trades of more experienced or successful investors. It’s about leveraging collective intelligence and breaking down the traditional barriers of financial markets. In the volatile world of cryptocurrencies, where information asymmetry can be a major challenge, social trading platforms offer several benefits: Knowledge Sharing: Novice traders can learn from veterans, understanding different strategies and market analysis techniques. Transparency: Many platforms offer detailed statistics on traders’ past performance, allowing users to make informed decisions about who to follow. Community Building: It fosters a sense of community, where traders can discuss, debate, and share insights, making the often solitary act of trading a more collaborative experience. Reduced Entry Barrier: It simplifies complex trading for newcomers, making crypto more accessible. While centralized platforms like eToro have popularized social trading in traditional markets, its application within a decentralized exchange context like dYdX presents unique opportunities and challenges, primarily around maintaining decentralization and user autonomy. The Future of Decentralized Exchange: Beyond Basic Trading For years, the primary focus of a decentralized exchange has been on security, transparency, and censorship resistance, often at the expense of user experience and advanced features. However, as the DeFi ecosystem matures, the demand for more sophisticated and user-friendly interfaces is growing. The dYdX acquisition signifies a major step in this direction. Integrating social features into a DEX is not without its complexities. Unlike centralized platforms, DEXs operate on blockchain technology, meaning every interaction is recorded and immutable. This presents both advantages and challenges: Advantages: Enhanced transparency of trading data, verifiable performance metrics for social leaders, and censorship resistance for community discussions. Challenges: Ensuring user privacy while facilitating social interaction, managing on-chain data for social features efficiently, and designing user interfaces that are both intuitive and decentralized. dYdX’s move suggests a vision where a decentralized exchange can offer the best of both worlds: the security and autonomy of DeFi combined with the engaging, community-driven features typically found on centralized platforms. This could involve features like on-chain leaderboards, decentralized chat functionalities, and even permissionless copy-trading protocols. Revolutionizing Crypto Trading: What This Means for Users The implications of this dYdX acquisition for the everyday user engaged in crypto trading are profound. Imagine logging into dYdX and not only seeing your portfolio but also: Accessing Curated Insights: Top traders on the platform share their analysis, providing valuable context for market movements. Participating in Discussions: Join decentralized forums to discuss specific assets, trading strategies, or macro trends without fear of censorship. Discovering New Strategies: Observe how successful traders manage risk, use leverage, or identify opportunities, allowing you to refine your own approach. Potential for Automated Copy-Trading: While details are yet to be revealed, the integration of a social trading platform could pave the way for features that allow users to automatically mirror the trades of chosen experts, democratizing access to advanced trading strategies. This shift promises to make crypto trading less intimidating for newcomers and more enriching for experienced traders. It transforms the trading experience from a solitary endeavor into a collaborative journey, potentially leading to better-informed decisions and improved overall market efficiency. Driving DeFi Innovation: A Blueprint for the Future Beyond the immediate benefits to dYdX users, this dYdX acquisition serves as a significant catalyst for broader DeFi innovation . It sets a precedent for how decentralized protocols can evolve to meet the growing demands for user-centric features while maintaining their core principles of decentralization and transparency. This strategic integration could inspire other DeFi projects to explore similar avenues, leading to a new wave of user-friendly and community-driven applications across the ecosystem. It highlights a maturing DeFi landscape where the focus is shifting from purely foundational infrastructure to enhancing the end-user experience. The future of DeFi could see: More intuitive interfaces for complex protocols. Increased interoperability between different DeFi applications. Greater emphasis on community governance and collective intelligence. dYdX is not just acquiring a company; it’s acquiring a vision for a more connected, collaborative, and accessible future for decentralized finance. This move could well be a blueprint for how DeFi continues to grow and onboard the next wave of users, proving that decentralization doesn’t have to mean isolation. The dYdX acquisition of Pocket Protector is more than just a business transaction; it’s a strategic maneuver that could redefine the landscape of decentralized finance. By integrating sophisticated social trading features, dYdX is poised to offer a richer, more interactive, and community-driven crypto trading experience on its decentralized exchange . This bold step not only enhances dYdX’s platform but also serves as a powerful example of how continuous DeFi innovation can bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and mainstream usability. As the DeFi space continues to mature, such strategic integrations will be crucial in fostering adoption and unlocking the full potential of decentralized finance for everyone. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. What is the main purpose of dYdX acquiring Pocket Protector? The primary purpose of the dYdX acquisition of Pocket Protector is to integrate advanced social and user-driven trading features into the dYdX decentralized exchange, enhancing the user experience and fostering a more collaborative crypto trading environment. 2. How will social trading features be integrated into a decentralized exchange like dYdX? While specific technical details are still emerging, the integration will likely involve on-chain leaderboards, decentralized chat functionalities, and potentially permissionless copy-trading protocols, all designed to maintain the core principles of decentralization while offering engaging social elements. 3. What are the benefits of social trading for crypto traders? Social trading offers numerous benefits, including knowledge sharing from experienced traders, increased transparency of trading performance, community building among users, and a lower barrier to entry for new traders looking to understand complex crypto trading strategies. 4. Will this acquisition impact the decentralization of dYdX? dYdX remains committed to its decentralized principles. The integration of social features will be carefully designed to ensure that user autonomy and the core decentralized nature of the exchange are preserved, likely leveraging on-chain data and decentralized communication methods. 5. What does this acquisition mean for the future of DeFi innovation? This dYdX acquisition is a significant step for DeFi innovation, demonstrating how decentralized protocols can evolve to offer more user-centric and community-driven features. It sets a precedent for other DeFi projects to explore similar integrations, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the decentralized space. If you found this article insightful, please share it with your network! Help us spread the word about the exciting developments in decentralized finance and the future of crypto trading. To learn more about the latest crypto market trends, explore our article on key developments shaping DeFi institutional adoption. This post dYdX Acquisition: Unleashing Revolutionary Social Trading on a Decentralized Exchange first appeared on BitcoinWorld and is written by Editorial Team
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There's speculation about when the Fed will resume its interest rate cuts, which have been on hold since January. At this point, the majority of Fed members expect the first rate cut of the year to occur in July or September at the latest. Speaking recently, Fed member Christopher Waller stated that he wants to cut interest rates in July due to rising growth and labor market risks. Speaking at the New York University Money Marketers meeting, Waller said he believes the Fed should cut interest rates at the end of July because of the growing risks to the economy and the high likelihood that inflation from tariffs will lead to a persistent increase in price pressures. “It makes sense for the FOMC to cut the policy rate by 25 basis points at its meeting in two weeks at the end of July. “I see the hard and soft data on economic activity and the labor market as consistent: The economy is still growing, but its momentum has slowed significantly, and risks to the (Federal Open Market Committee's) employment mandate have increased. This justifies lowering interest rates.” Waller warned that delaying a rate cut this month could lead to more aggressive measures in the future. He added that Fed policy is not set in stone and that decisions about where to set interest rates will be made on a meeting-by-meeting basis. The FED last lowered its policy rate by 25 basis points in December 2024. Aside from his expectations for a rate cut, Waller also made statements about stablecoins. Following the approval of the GENIUS and Clarity Acts in the US House of Representatives, Waller stated that stablecoins introduce competition to the payments system but do not pose a threat. Waller added that no one from the Donald Trump administration contacted him about the Fed chair position. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: Fed Member Waller Made Important Statements Regarding Cryptocurrency and Interest Rate Cuts! He Warned: "Don't Be Late!"
Bitcoin has seen a significant uptrend in recent weeks, climbing steadily within its ascending channel and recently hitting a new all-time high at around $123,000. However, signs of buyer exhaustion and potential distribution are starting to surface. From price action patterns to miner behavior and funding sentiment, the market seems to be entering a sensitive inflection point where a correction may be needed before the next leg up. Let’s break it down from the top. By ShayanMarkets The Daily Chart On the daily timeframe, Bitcoin remains well inside its long-term ascending channel and recently printed a clean breakout above the $108K–$110K resistance zone. The price reached as high as $123K and is seemingly targeting the $140K area. This zone coincides with a potential area of profit-taking and the mid-line of the channel. The market structure remains decisively bullish, with higher highs and higher lows continuing uninterrupted. The 50-day and 100-day moving averages, located around the $100K mark, are positively sloped, offering strong dynamic support just below the price. If Bitcoin declines, this zone, along with the lower boundary of the channel, is the most probable area for a bullish reaction. Still, as long as the price holds above $108K, bulls remain in firm control, and the market might not revisit the lower boundary of the channel anytime soon. The 4-Hour Chart The 4-hour chart reveals a developing Head and Shoulders pattern, with the left shoulder already formed, the head established near $123K, and the right shoulder currently shaping up. Importantly, this pattern is not yet confirmed, as the neckline has not been broken. However, the structure suggests that if the neckline around the $117K–$116K low fails to hold, a bearish continuation toward the golden Fibonacci zone becomes highly probable. The potential rebound zone lies between $112K and $111K, which corresponds to the 0.618–0.786 retracement levels. This region aligns with the base of the rally from early July, making it a confluence of both technical and psychological support. If the neckline breaks with volume, the drop could accelerate rapidly as trapped longs exit and short-term momentum flips bearish. Until then, bulls still have time to defend the neckline and invalidate the reversal structure, but the window is narrowing. Onchain Analysis Bitcoin Retail Activity Surge Moving on to on-chain metrics, the Miners Position Index has spiked recently, indicating a notable rise in miner outflows to exchanges. Historically, this level marks increased selling activity from miners, often aligning with local tops or periods of cooling in the market. The timing of this spike, right as BTC tapped $123K, is not coincidental. Miners tend to offload during periods of price strength to maximize profits and fund their operations. This kind of on-chain behavior often precedes either a local top or a sideways grind while the market absorbs this supply. It doesn’t necessarily mean a macro reversal is coming, but it does raise short-term caution, especially when paired with overheated funding and slowing spot momentum. The post Bitcoin Price Analysis: Is Bitcoin Due for a Reset Before Its Next Breakout?? appeared first on CryptoPotato .
Earnings season just exposed exactly how much Europe is bleeding from Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs. Industrial and consumer-facing companies across the region are now reporting weaker profits, rising expenses, and slower investment as the impact of U.S. trade policies finally crashes into their bottom lines. What started as a mild 0.2% drop in expected profits for firms on the Stoxx Europe 600 index has now become a projected 0.7% decline, according to LSEG, as more companies speak out about the real-world consequences of escalating trade tensions. Europe’s profit margins are slim The biggest names in manufacturing are already taking hits. Jaguar Land Rover , owned by Tata Motors, said its retail sales dropped 15.1% for the quarter that ended June 30. The company blamed a complete stop in U.S.-bound shipments in April, directly linked to the new American import tariffs. Volvo Group’s CEO, Martin Lundstedt, said weak North American demand, driven by both the tariffs and the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2027 emissions rules, forced them to “reduce production capacity” on that side of the Atlantic. Norway-based Tomra Systems, which builds machines for recycling waste, said its clients are now backing off from buying new equipment. In its own words, customers are hesitating due to “macroeconomic and tariff uncertainty,” which has started delaying investment decisions across the board. The same mood has taken hold at Swiss industrial heavyweight ABB. The company said buyers in its robotics division are now in a “wait-and-see mode” because of continued tariff complications , which has already led to project delays. EU lines up countermeasures while pushing talks With less than two weeks until Trump’s self-imposed August 1 deadline, officials in Europe are scrambling to stop another wave of duties. Negotiations between the European Union and the United States are happening behind closed doors, but there’s no guarantee they’ll end in a deal. If they don’t, Brussels is preparing to retaliate. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the European side is “very eager” to strike a trade agreement. She told reporters Thursday that Brussels is finally exploring “ways to lower their tariff and their non-tariff barriers that we have long said harm our workers and our companies.” But while public talk suggests cooperation, behind the scenes, Brussels is building a legal and political wall of countermeasures. Michal Baranowski, Poland’s undersecretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, broke down the plan in an interview with CNBC’s Europe Early Edition. “The first part of the EU’s strategy is to negotiate with U.S. officials in good faith,” he said . “The second one is, let’s prepare for countermeasures in case we don’t [reach a deal]. And we have countermeasures on both the steel and aluminium tariffs as well as the initial package of 72 billion [euros] for so-called reciprocal tariffs.” Baranowski said they’re also watching other countries in similar situations to get a broader view of how everyone else is responding, though coordination isn’t the goal. Baranowski also made it clear that the transatlantic trade link is vital for both sides, saying, “Washington has as much to gain or to lose from this relationship as Europe.” His remarks came shortly after Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s top trade official, visited Washington for further discussions. But the urgency is clear. The U.S. and EU are tied together in the biggest trade and investment partnership on Earth. Together, they account for nearly 30% of the world’s trade in goods and services and 43% of the world’s GDP. In 2024, total trade between the two hit 1.68 trillion euros, or around $1.96 trillion. That breaks down to 4.6 billion euros in daily transactions; money that both sides depend on to keep jobs, supply chains, and businesses moving. Trump has repeatedly complained that this relationship is unfair. He continues to point at the EU’s trade surplus with the U.S. as proof that Europe is taking advantage of American industry. Your crypto news deserves attention - KEY Difference Wire puts you on 250+ top sites
BitcoinWorld Crypto Market Funding Surges: An Unprecedented Boom for Digital Assets Are you ready for some truly groundbreaking news from the world of digital assets? The global cryptocurrency market has just witnessed an extraordinary milestone, attracting a staggering $10 billion in funding during the second quarter of 2025 . This isn’t just a big number; it represents the highest level of crypto market funding seen in three years, signaling a pivotal moment for the industry. This massive influx of capital, as highlighted by a CryptoRank report via BeInCrypto, points to a clear trend: increasing institutional participation and a growing embrace from governments worldwide. It’s a powerful validation of the crypto space, moving it further into the mainstream financial landscape. What’s Driving This Unprecedented Crypto Market Funding Frenzy? The sheer volume of capital flowing into the crypto market in Q2 2025 is more than just a statistic; it’s a resounding vote of confidence. This isn’t merely retail speculation; it’s the sophisticated financial world placing significant bets on the future of decentralized technologies. So, what exactly is fueling this remarkable surge? Growing Institutional Appetite: Large financial institutions, once hesitant, are now actively seeking exposure to digital assets. They’re recognizing the potential for diversification, high returns, and the inherent innovation within blockchain technology. This includes hedge funds, venture capital firms, traditional asset managers, and even corporate treasuries. Evolving Regulatory Clarity: While challenges remain, many jurisdictions are making strides in establishing clearer regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies and blockchain. This evolving landscape provides a greater sense of security for institutional investors, reducing perceived risks and making it easier for them to allocate significant capital. Technological Maturation: The underlying technology has advanced considerably. We’re seeing more robust infrastructure, scalable solutions, and real-world use cases emerging across various sectors, making crypto projects more attractive and viable investment opportunities. Macroeconomic Factors: In an era of shifting global economics, digital assets are increasingly viewed as a hedge against inflation or a source of uncorrelated returns, drawing in capital from diverse investment portfolios. This confluence of factors has created a fertile ground for substantial crypto market funding , propelling the industry into a new phase of development and adoption. A Clear Shift in Crypto Investment Trends: Towards Maturity Beyond the headline-grabbing dollar figures, the CryptoRank report sheds light on a crucial evolution within the market: a significant shift in crypto investment trends . We’re observing a distinct pivot from early-stage, high-risk ventures towards more established, late-stage projects. What does this mean for the ecosystem? Historically, much of the venture capital in crypto flowed into nascent startups, often with unproven concepts and minimal products. While this fostered incredible innovation, it also came with high failure rates. The current trend suggests a more discerning approach: Focus on Proven Models: Investors are prioritizing projects with demonstrable traction, a clear product-market fit, existing user bases, and robust technology. This reduces speculative risk and points to a more sustainable growth trajectory. Scalability and Sustainability: Late-stage projects often have developed scalable solutions and clearer paths to long-term sustainability, making them more appealing for larger capital injections. Increased Due Diligence: As the market matures, investors are conducting more rigorous due diligence, demanding stronger governance, clearer roadmaps, and experienced teams. This maturation is further evidenced by elevated levels of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and Merger and Acquisition (M&A) activity within the crypto sector. We’re seeing successful crypto companies either going public or being acquired by larger traditional or crypto-native firms, a hallmark of any maturing industry. This consolidation and public listing activity not only provides liquidity for early investors but also offers new avenues for public market participants to gain exposure to digital assets, cementing crypto’s place in the broader financial landscape. The Impact of Institutional Crypto Investment on Digital Asset Growth The surge in institutional crypto investment is not just about capital; it’s about legitimacy, infrastructure, and accelerated adoption. When major financial players enter the space, they bring with them not only vast sums of money but also expertise, established networks, and a demand for more sophisticated financial products and services. Consider the ripple effects of this institutional embrace on digital asset growth : Enhanced Market Liquidity: Larger capital pools mean more robust trading volumes and narrower bid-ask spreads, making the market more efficient and attractive for all participants. Development of Robust Infrastructure: Institutions demand secure, compliant, and scalable solutions for custody, trading, and asset management. This demand drives the development of enterprise-grade infrastructure, benefiting the entire ecosystem. Increased Mainstream Acceptance: As reputable institutions invest, it chips away at the perception of crypto as a niche or risky asset class, encouraging broader public and corporate adoption. Innovation in Regulated Products: The push from institutions often leads to the creation of regulated crypto products like ETFs, mutual funds, and structured products, making digital assets accessible to a wider range of investors who prefer traditional investment vehicles. However, this increased institutionalization also presents challenges. Concerns about centralization of power, potential for market manipulation by large players, and the need for robust consumer protection frameworks become even more critical as the industry integrates with traditional finance. Governments, in their support, are often focused on these regulatory aspects, aiming to foster innovation while mitigating systemic risks. Beyond the Numbers: The Future of Blockchain Funding The $10 billion funding milestone in Q2 2025 is more than just a fleeting moment; it’s a strong indicator of the future trajectory for blockchain funding and the broader digital economy. This capital infusion is set to accelerate development across various high-potential sectors within the crypto space. Which areas are poised to benefit most from this renewed investor confidence? Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Continued innovation in lending, borrowing, and decentralized exchanges, with a focus on regulatory compliance and user-friendly interfaces. Web3 Infrastructure: Projects building scalable, secure, and interoperable foundational layers for the next generation of the internet. Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization: Bringing traditional assets like real estate, art, and commodities onto the blockchain, unlocking new liquidity and investment opportunities. Enterprise Blockchain Solutions: Companies leveraging blockchain for supply chain management, identity verification, and data security in traditional industries. For investors, this shift means a greater emphasis on fundamental analysis, understanding project utility, and assessing long-term viability rather than purely speculative plays. For innovators and project developers, it underscores the importance of building robust, compliant, and genuinely useful applications that solve real-world problems. The future of blockchain funding will likely favor those who can demonstrate not just technological prowess, but also strong governance, clear business models, and a commitment to regulatory adherence. A New Era for Digital Assets The record-breaking $10 billion in crypto market funding during Q2 2025 is an undeniable testament to the maturation and growing acceptance of the digital asset ecosystem. It signifies a powerful shift, driven by increasing institutional crypto investment and a clearer regulatory outlook. As crypto investment trends pivot towards more established projects, and as blockchain funding continues to fuel innovation, we are witnessing an exciting acceleration in digital asset growth . This is not just a temporary surge; it’s a foundational step towards integrating cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology firmly into the global financial infrastructure. The road ahead will undoubtedly have its challenges, but with such significant capital and institutional backing, the crypto market is poised for an unprecedented era of expansion and innovation. Get ready for a future where digital assets play an even more central role in our financial lives. To learn more about the latest crypto market trends, explore our article on key developments shaping digital asset institutional adoption. This post Crypto Market Funding Surges: An Unprecedented Boom for Digital Assets first appeared on BitcoinWorld and is written by Editorial Team
The post XRP Outperforms Bitcoin by 277%—Is $10 the Next Stop? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Bitcoin may still be the king of crypto, but XRP is stealing the show this year. While Bitcoin smashed past $123,000, XRP quietly broke its record, climbing to $3.66 for the first time in years. Here’s what’s more interesting, XRP has outperformed Bitcoin by a massive 277% in the past year, and it did so without ETF approvals or big institutional boosts. Meanwhile, Experts believe this rally could be far from over, hinting at even bigger gains ahead. XRP Outpaces Bitcoin by 277% In the last 12 months, XRP has climbed 277% against Bitcoin, while Bitcoin rose about 88%. The XRP/BTC ratio jumped from 0.00000902 to 0.0000303, showing clear relative strength. What makes this impressive is the lack of support tools XRP doesn’t have: No U.S.-approved spot XRP ETF yet. No major corporate treasury wave. No native DeFi yield is baked into the network. Still, buyers showed up. As of now, XRP is trading around $3.44 , reflecting a gain of 4.5% seen in the last 24 hours, not far from the fresh $3.66 all‑time high. One year ago, XRP was about $0.44, that’s a 9x gain. Institutional Money Flowing In Institutional interest in XRP is heating up fast. ProShares is set to launch its Ultra XRP ETF on NYSE Arca, giving investors leveraged exposure. On the top of it, big names like Franklin Templeton, Bitwise, and Teucrium are also lining up with active ETF filings. Apart from all, recently reported record-breaking daily volumes for XRP and Micro XRP futures, over $235 million in a single day, a sign that professional traders are piling in. Ripple Expands Global Reach Ripple isn’t slowing down, it continues building real‑world use. It recently partnered with Ctrl Alt to bring institutional-grade custody to Dubai’s real estate market, enabling tokenized property titles on the XRP Ledger. However, its Ethereum-compatible sidechain is also booming, hosting 1,300+ smart contracts since June. XRP Eyeing Double-Digit Gain, Analysts Think So Crypto analyst Kyle Chassé says XRP’s strength isn’t a fluke. He sees $3.80 as the next near‑term level to watch, followed by $4.80 if momentum holds. RIPPLE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE EVERYTHING $XRP has outperformed Bitcoin by triple digits…without a US ETF, treasury adoption, or native DeFi yield. That’s about to change. With a national banking charter and Fed master account in play, Ripple could become a full-fledged… pic.twitter.com/5iTFprYr9C — Kyle Chassé / DD (@kyle_chasse) July 17, 2025 Other market watchers say that if ETF approvals advance and whales keep accumulating, double‑digit price targets could enter the conversation later in the cycle.
Another deepfake video impersonating Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is making the rounds on social media, falsely promoting an XRP giveaway. Ripple’s chief technology officer has told the community that the video is an “obvious scam.” The deepfake video was shared on Friday via the official X account of Honey Bee, a platform that deals in tokenized real-world assets. In the video, an AI-rendered version of Garlinghouse claimed Ripple was launching a “Ripple Rewards program” with a 100 million XRP airdrop to thank supporters for the company’s legal win over the US Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ). Fake message says ‘we did this together’ In the clip, Garlinghouse stated, “ Four years ago, we entered a battle we didn’t choose. But we fought and we won against the SEC. This is a victory for justice, innovation, and the future of crypto… Now it’s our turn to say thank you. I’m launching the Ripple Rewards program, 100 million XRP airdrop pool created for you. Follow the instructions at financexrp.net. Thank you, XRP family. We did this together .” 📢 HUUUGEE NEWS FOR CRYPTO HOLDERS !!🔉 SOUND ON 🔉 #XRP pic.twitter.com/ZZB7cRzIDu — Honey Bee (@HoneybeeBTC) July 18, 2025 Schwartz almost immediately debunked the video and called it “an AI-generated fake,” asking users not to fall for the fraud attempt. He also shared a YouTube Short, where the real Garlinghouse educates viewers on the dangers of deepfake scams. The video reiterated that “Ripple will never ask you to send XRP.” Obvious scam is obvious. — David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 18, 2025 Scammers have been trying to steal tokens from investors since Ripple began its court battle with the SEC back in December 2020. They have been syncing with the company’s “legal victories” to stage deceptive campaigns. Each time Ripple won a court case against the SEC , several fake XRP airdrops or reward programs flooded social media, targeting unsuspecting investors. “A lot of scammers are taking advantage of the recent good news to try to cheat and steal. There are no airdrops, giveaways, or special offers associated with this ruling,” he said on X. In August 2024, Judge Torres ordered the company to pay a $125 million fine, a fraction of the $2 billion originally sought by the SEC. After that court ruling, scammers created fake giveaway schemes, forcing Ripple to warn its community again. “ And once again with Wednesday’s historic victory, we’ve seen an uptick in scams. Please beware of scam ‘Ripple’ accounts, fake executive accounts or others promoting ‘XRP Giveaways’ or ‘XRP Airdrops.’ Ripple and its executives will NEVER ask you to send funds anywhere ,” the firm’s statement read. Fraudulent activity on XRPL On June 4, Panos Mekras, the co-founder of XRPL-based decentralized finance platform Anodos Finance, said on X that the network was experiencing an influx of low-effort scam projects. Mekras mentioned that projects that rush to launch tokens and hold presales without a working product or verifiable use case are more likely to be scams. “ Sceptical of any project launching a token and doing presales, especially if they don’t have a working product or anything to prove ,” he wrote. Ripple CTO David Schwartz supported his sentiments, asserting that open blockchain ecosystems are “vulnerable to bad actors”. “ Mathematically, this almost has to be true of almost any open ecosystem. It’s just so much easier to create a scam than something real, ” he remarked.. Despite the deepfake controversy, XRP is trading at $3.43, up 4.8% in the past 24 hours. Market analytics show the token in the middle of a dense cluster of bid walls between $3.50 and $3.5746. If prices dip, these walls could slow or even reverse potential sell-offs. Cryptopolitan Academy: Tired of market swings? Learn how DeFi can help you build steady passive income. Register Now