Airbnb CEO says X account was hacked, attacker posted AI-slop on tokenization

Summary

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky revealed that his X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked, during which an attacker posted a thread promoting tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). The unauthorized posts, which Chesky has since deleted, discussed how tokenization could potentially make it easier to divide, trade, and settle ownership of assets such as buildings, bonds, and funds. The thread also referenced Robinhood’s efforts to enter the tokenized asset market.

Notably, the hacked posts did not contain any links, token sales, wallet addresses, or investment solicitations, which made the incident less typical compared to most crypto-related account compromises. Chesky regained control of his account and responded with a message thanking the hacker for new crypto followers, while cautioning these followers that he would not meet their expectations as a crypto influencer.

Why it matters

The breach was reported to X, which acted to secure the compromised account. However, details about how the attacker accessed Chesky’s account and the identity of the perpetrator remain unclear. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges even for high-profile figures in tech, especially amid rising interest in tokenization and blockchain assets.