Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky regains X account after apparent hack and AI-generated crypto posts

Airbnb cofounder and CEO Brian Chesky regained control of his X account after an apparent hack led to unauthorized posts promoting tokenization, a crypto market theme that the attacker packaged in what Chesky later called “AI-slop.” After recovering the account, Chesky told new followers drawn in during the breach that he would be a “disappointing follow,” signaling he had no intention of embracing the digital-asset narrative circulated in his name. The incident stood out because the compromised account did not push a token sale, wallet address or investment link, making it less recognizable than a typical crypto-related takeover. Instead, the attacker used AI-generated text that mimicked bullish Web3 commentary, showing how synthetic content can be used to exploit the credibility of a high-profile executive account even without an explicit solicitation. The episode underscores a broader risk for prominent X users and public companies: account breaches can be used not only for direct scams, but also to manufacture apparent endorsement for fast-moving crypto themes such as tokenization.