Brian Chesky, CEO and co-founder of Airbnb, confirmed that his X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked this week. He shared the news via a post on July 17, 2026 - shortly after the account pushed out a lengthy thread discussing real-world asset tokenization on blockchain in detail. Rather than discussing the home rental business, the post laid out a remarkably convincing crypto argument.
What set this incident apart was how detailed and genuine the thread appeared, leading some readers and media outlets to briefly take it as the Airbnb chief’s authentic views on the future of digital assets. Only after the thread was deleted and Chesky spoke out did everyone realize he was not the author.
Responded with Humor, Not Panic
Rather than issuing a stiff, formal statement, Chesky opted for a humorous response. “To the person who hacked my account earlier this week: thanks for all the new crypto followers,” he wrote, adding a note for his new audience: “To my new crypto followers: I’m going to be a very disappointing follow.”
Behind the jokes, the response was serious. According to a Fortune report, Airbnb treated the event as a high-profile account breach and immediately coordinated with X to secure the account.
Why Major Accounts Are Prime Targets
Unlike most recent high-profile account hijackings, the Chesky incident was not tied to token sales, fake presales, or wallet-drainer links. The content was purely commentary on tokenization - without a single coin promotion. That was precisely what made it believable to so many people at first.
Yet the broader trend remains concerning. This week, SpaceX’s X account was also hijacked and linked to a token called SCATMAN, resulting in an estimated $135,000 in losses in one incident. Earlier in May, the verified account of Keith Gill - widely known as “Roaring Kitty” - was compromised to pump and dump a Solana-based token, dragging traders into losses of around $2.8 million.
The common thread is clear: accounts with massive followings grant instant credibility to crypto claims that may not be true. The takeaway for readers is simple yet often forgotten - when a prominent figure suddenly “wakes up” to a specific coin, pause and ask whether it is truly them speaking. This time, the only victim was reputation. Next time, it could be your wallet.
Reported by crypto.news.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
