In a surprising turn of events, Ripple’s chief technology officer, David Schwartz, recently made a candid admission that has captivated both fans of rock music and the crypto community alike. Schwartz confessed to fabricating a fan Q&A session featuring none other than Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, raising eyebrows and sparking discussions about authenticity in fan engagement.
“I cheated,” Schwartz revealed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) last Thursday, detailing an experience from his days at WebMaster, a company where he moderated a live interaction between fans and one of rock’s most iconic frontmen. Schwartz’s revelation came to light just days after the announcement of Osbourne’s passing at the age of 76, during which time many tributes poured in and, interestingly, meme coins linked to the legendary singer skyrocketed in value.
So, what exactly happened during this infamous Q&A? Schwartz recounted being given the duty of managing what was touted as an authentic live question-and-answer session. Fans, however, had one clear preference—they were there for Ozzy, not the entire band. “I specifically asked the moderators to give me questions that weren’t for Ozzy. There just weren’t any,” Schwartz noted. Frustrated by this reality, he turned to a stash of pre-prepared questions to ensure that all members of Black Sabbath received their moment in the spotlight. Schwartz gave each band member a staged question in rotation, combining their responses with tidbits from their management, all under the guise of a genuine interaction.
Reflecting on the experience, Schwartz expressed his disillusionment. “At the time, I felt really bad about the whole thing. It wasn’t the authentic interaction with celebrities that I wanted it to be and that I tried to make it,” he said, as he acknowledged that only a couple of fan questions made it through to the band amidst the scripted chaos.
I typed up Ozzy’s answer as closely as I could, probably getting it way off due to the poor connection quality. I censored the C-words. …— David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 24, 2025
As if that weren’t enough to raise eyebrows, Schwartz shared that moderating Ozzy’s answers involved a significant level of censorship due to the singer’s notorious love for profanity. Schwartz recounted, “Ozzy’s answer featured the C-word a lot. The bad C-word. The one that Americans really don’t like to say.” Due to the poor connection quality, Schwartz confessed that he likely misunderstood some of Ozzy’s responses, making the moment even more chaotic and laced with irony.
The fallout from this admission coincided with a remarkable phenomenon in the world of cryptocurrencies as meme coins inspired by the iconic rock star surged in value. The Mad Man (OZZY), a token named after Ozzy, witnessed an astonishing increase of over 16,800%, trading at approximately $0.003851 and boasting a market cap of around $3.85 million shortly after the news of his death.
In a separate yet equally impactful development, the crypto sphere is buzzing over Ripple’s recent legal maneuvers. In the wake of a prolonged lawsuit with the SEC, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced that the company would withdraw its cross-appeal. This announcement signals a softening stance between Ripple and the regulator, as both parties look to ease their ongoing contention over the classification of XRP.
Last month, a US district court ruled against a joint request from Ripple and the SEC to reduce a hefty $125 million civil penalty, further complicating the ongoing saga. In an optimistic turn of events, XRP’s market activity saw a remarkable spike, with notional open interest for its futures contracts hitting an all-time high of $8.8 billion, according to CoinGlass. This surge showcases the growing interest and potential volatility within the XRP market in the aftermath of recent legal developments.
The intertwining of Schwartz’s confession, his vivid recollections of an improvised celebrity engagement, and the thriving crypto market amidst these changes certainly puts into perspective the dual realms of music and cryptocurrency, where nostalgia and innovation continue to collide. As the crypto community keeps a watchful eye on market developments, let’s reflect: Could this unexpected intersection of rock history and digital finance spark a new era in engagement and authenticity?
As always, keeping abreast of such trends is crucial for crypto enthusiasts and fans alike. What do you think of Schwartz’s experience? Share your thoughts below!