Key Takeaways

  • Brian Chesky’s X account was hacked and used to publish an AI-generated thread to push crypto
  • The posts looked more believable than a typical crypto scam because they did not promote a token, wallet or investment link
  • Elon Musk’s site has restored Chesky’s access, but the method and source of the attack remain unknown

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky appeared to share his thoughts about crypto on X this week.

However, there was just one problem — he did not write the posts.

Chesky’s X account was allegedly compromised by hackers and used to publish a multi-post thread promoting the potential benefits of real-world asset tokenization.

The posts promoted “real-world asset tokenization,” a crypto term for converting traditional assets such as stocks, bonds and real estate into digital tokens that can be divided and traded more easily. The thread also referenced Robinhood’s recent push into tokenized assets.

Airbnb reportedly escalated the incident to X as a high-profile account compromise, and Elon Musk’s platform secured the account quickly and returned control to Chesky.

After regaining control of his social media account, Chesky shared a cheeky message to the hacker on July 16 via X.

“To the person who hacked my account earlier this week: thanks for all the new crypto followers. To my new crypto followers: I’m going to be a very disappointing follow,” Chesky wrote.

Fortune analyzed the thread using Pangram, an AI-detection tool, which identified the writing as fully AI-generated. The posts were later deleted.

Airbnb declined to publicly comment on the incident.

It remains unclear how the attacker gained access to Chesky’s account or whether the breach involved stolen credentials, social engineering or another method.

Related: Airbnb opens short-term rental listings data to fight United Kingdom housing fraud

Why the fake posts looked believable

The thread did not include many of the warning signs normally associated with a compromised social media account.

There was no token sale, wallet address, suspicious link or request for followers to send money. Instead, the posts read like a polished technology essay from a prominent founder discussing a fast-growing financial trend.

That made the attack more convincing than the typical crypto scam and reportedly led some readers and news outlets to initially believe the comments were genuine.

Chesky has more than 1.2 million followers on X and regularly uses the account to discuss product launches, company strategy and lessons learned while building Airbnb’s marketplace. A detailed post about a new technology trend did not immediately look out of place.

The breach also follows a separate dispute involving allegedly AI-generated photos on an Airbnb listing, adding to concerns about how synthetic content can spread across travel platforms and social media.

The incident arrives just weeks before Airbnb is scheduled to release its second-quarter earnings on August 6.

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