The vulnerability in the XRP Ledger was identified through automated static code analysis by Cantina AI’s autonomous security tool, Apex — highlighting the growing role of AI in cybersecurity.

Cantina and Spearbit CEO Hari Mulackal claimed that if exploited at scale, the flaw could have resulted in the largest hack by dollar value in history, potentially putting nearly $80 billion in XRP market value at risk.

The incident comes as AI-powered security scanners gain traction across the tech industry. Just days later, Anthropic unveiled Claude Code Security, an AI-driven vulnerability scanner designed to operate like a skilled human researcher — a move that reportedly rattled shares of public cybersecurity firms.

The swift disclosure and patch by the XRP Ledger Foundation may have averted both financial damage and broader ecosystem instability, reinforcing how AI is becoming a frontline defense in blockchain security.