The Unfortunate Hack on John Deaton’s Birthday
Prominent pro-XRP lawyer, John Deaton, fell victim to a severe phone hack on June 4, amidst a relentless cyberattack spread over several days. The attack occurred ironically as Deaton celebrated his birthday, receiving wishes from across the vast crypto community.
Hackers Promote Obscure LAW Token
The attackers used Deaton’s Twitter account to promote an obscure cryptocurrency called LAW token, an almost non-existent digital asset in terms of market capitalization. CryptoLaw, a Twitter account established by Deaton himself, swiftly responded, clarifying that the tweets were not authored by Deaton but by hackers.
Ripple vs SEC – The Background
Deaton, who is representing over 76,000 XRP tokenholders in the Ripple vs United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit, is widely respected within the cryptocurrency ecosystem for his tenacious stance against regulatory enforcement measures implemented by U.S. agencies. This influence rendered him a prime target for this mischievous cyber-attack.
The Crypto Market Stability at Risk
Such deceptive dissemination of false information and financial data pose significant risks to the crypto market. Traders often rely on guidance from influential figures, and actions of this nature jeopardize market stability and give regulators additional reasons to approach the industry with prudence and caution.
XRP Community Responds
Deaton alerted his followers to the situation through his daughter Jordan Deaton’s Twitter account, urging people to report the hack. He received an overwhelming response from the XRP community, with users like Osakar Arnarson sharing step-by-step procedures to report the hacked account. This incident highlights the importance of vigilance and solidarity within the crypto community, particularly in the face of malicious cyber threats.