What happened?

The official X account of Watcher.Guru, a notable crypto news outlet, was hacked and used to spread false information about a deal between Ripple and SWIFT involving XRP. This unauthorized post was automatically reposted across the outlet’s multiple social media channels due to a content sharing bot. Watcher.Guru swiftly deleted the post and clarified that it was not made by their editorial team, while emphasizing their commitment to securing their accounts.

Who does this affect?

This incident primarily affects followers and investors in the crypto community who rely on Watcher.Guru for accurate news regarding digital currencies. It could potentially mislead those interested in Ripple and XRP into making uninformed decisions based on false information. Additionally, it impacts the credibility of the news outlet and highlights vulnerabilities even in accounts protected by two-factor authentication.

Why does this matter?

Inaccurate news, such as the fake Ripple-SWIFT deal, can cause significant market fluctuations in the crypto sector, affecting XRP’s price and market stability. The rising trend of hacking prominent crypto social media accounts poses a threat to the integrity and trustworthiness of information sources for digital currencies. Misleading posts can lead to pump-and-dump schemes, increasing market volatility and potentially resulting in substantial financial losses for investors.