figure 환경에서 \label만 유의미하게 하면 되는 거겠지요.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{environ}

\newcommand\mytest[1]{%
  \renewcommand\caption[2][\empty]{\refstepcounter{figure}}%
  \renewcommand\includegraphics[2][\empty]{}%
  #1%
}

\RenewEnviron{figure}{\mytest{\BODY}}

\begin{document}

\ref{fig:1}

\begin{figure}
\includegraphics[scale=0.5]{example-image-a}
\caption{test}\label{fig:1}
\end{figure}

\end{document}