Influencer Says He Was Offered $25K to Smear XRP — Refuses and Warns Community
Crypto influencer Pumpius published a private offer he says paid $25,000 in USDT to publicly denounce Ripple and claim he had sold all XRP. The approach arrived via encrypted messaging, included a scripted post with required talking points and mandatory tagging of Ripple, and proposed half payment upfront with the balance after publication. Pumpius refused and exposed the exchange to alert investors and other creators. The incident, first reported by CryptoBasic, fits a wider pattern of alleged coordinated anti‑XRP campaigns; peers including EasyA co‑founder Dom Kwok say others have received similar or larger offers. The later report expands context: it cites historical coordinated attacks (eg. on BSV and DeFi rumor-driven sell‑offs) and academic findings that influencer narratives can move token prices. The story highlights gaps in influencer disclosure and regulatory oversight (FTC/ASA rules vary by jurisdiction) and recommends investor protections: cross‑check sources, assess timing and motive of negative coverage, monitor on‑chain and community signals, and verify claims before trading. For traders, the key takeaways are to treat sudden viral anti‑XRP narratives with skepticism, watch social channels for coordinated messaging, and avoid knee‑jerk reactions that can amplify market manipulation.
Bearish
The news increases short‑term downside risk for XRP. Public disclosure that a $25K paid smear was offered — plus reports of similar or larger offers to other creators — raises the probability of coordinated negative social campaigns that can trigger rapid sentiment-driven sell‑offs. Historically, influencer narratives and viral allegations have produced short-term price swings; traders reacting to sudden, widely shared claims could amplify downward pressure. However, because the influencer refused and the offer was exposed, the story may also deter some manipulators and support reputational defense long term. That moderates long‑term impact: fundamental adoption and on‑chain metrics for XRP are unchanged, and regulatory or clarity around disclosure could reduce future manipulation. In sum, expect increased volatility and potential short‑term bearish moves for XRP driven by sentiment and social coordination risk, while long‑term effects are likely neutral if transparency and community countermeasures persist.