Ripple CTO Issues Crucial Instagram Warning for XRP Holders: Here’s Why

Ripple CTO David Schwartz has issued a fresh warning to the XRP and wider crypto community on X, cautioning against impersonation scams on social media.

The alert came after an X user claimed Schwartz had a verified Instagram account, prompting a response from the Ripple CTO. Schwartz clarified, “I do not post to Instagram. Any profile you see there that claims to be me is a scam.”

I do not post to instagram. Any profile you see there that claims to be me is a scam.

— David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 24, 2025

This warning joins a growing list of scam alerts in the crypto space, where impersonator accounts often lure unsuspecting users with fake giveaways, phishing links or fraudulent investment schemes.

Schwartz’s statement highlights Ripple’s ongoing commitment to user safety and transparency, especially as XRP remains one of the most actively traded and widely followed cryptocurrencies.

Ripple issues warning

Ripple recently issued a warning along similar lines, stating it had observed an uptick in XRP scams on YouTube, with scammers stealing accounts and then updating the page to impersonate Ripple’s official account. It issues a crucial reminder to the crypto community: Ripple and its executives will never request to be sent XRP.

Cryptocurrency giveaway scams often exploit high-profile social media accounts to deceive followers into giving funds to the crypto scammer via a digital wallet at the target’s expense. Crypto scams can take many forms, including exit scams, crypto giveaway promises, fake job offers, phishing scam tactics such as blackmail via emails or text messages, rug pull scams targeting investors and even online dating scams.

In an insights post, Ripple disclosed the authentic social media handles of Ripple’s corporate accounts and some of its executives, including Ripple CTO David Schwartz, to safeguard the crypto community from scams.

The Ripple CTO’s X account was the only one listed, indicating his social media presence to be only on X (previously Twitter).

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