Why the XRP Community Turned Against a Self-Proclaimed Genius Who Blocked Ripple CTO

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The XRP community has always been highly active and protective of its ecosystem. That became clear again after a recent controversy involving a self-proclaimed “world’s highest IQ holder” and a crypto token launch that claimed to support XRP.

What began as bold claims and attention-grabbing posts quickly turned into skepticism, backlash, and public warnings from long-time XRP supporters. At the center of the issue was YoungHoon Kim, who claimed to have an IQ of 276 and used that claim while promoting a new crypto token linked to the XRP Ledger.

The Claim That Raised Red Flags

The controversy escalated after Ripple Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz publicly questioned Kim’s credentials. Schwartz stated that the so-called certifications came from organizations that appeared to be created by Kim himself and designed to sound similar to legitimate record bodies.

Schwartz also made a clear point that an IQ score of 276 is not scientifically possible. Shortly after this exchange, Schwartz was blocked by Kim, a move that immediately drew attention across the XRP community.

For many XRP holders, blocking one of the most respected technical leaders in the ecosystem raised serious concerns.

Token Promotion Using the XRP Name

Around the same time, Kim announced the launch of a token, claiming it was created to support XRP and bring real utility to the XRP Ledger. He described a two-chain structure where one token would focus on community growth on Solana, while another XRPL-linked token would supposedly power DAO-related activity.

His messaging repeatedly used phrases like “supporting XRP” and “real utility on the XRP Ledger,” which many community members felt was misleading. Critics argued that XRP itself does not need unofficial tokens promoted under questionable claims to prove its value.

As scrutiny increased, many XRP supporters began warning others to stay safe. Some community members openly accused Kim of using the XRP brand and its loyal following to build hype around a personal token project.

Apology and Unblocking

After days of growing criticism, Kim later posted a public apology. He confirmed that he had unblocked David Schwartz and apologized both to Schwartz and to the XRP community.

In his statement, he admitted fault, offered no excuses, and said he would be more careful and respectful going forward.

While some community members welcomed the apology, others remained skeptical, noting that damage to trust in crypto often happens quickly and is difficult to reverse.