Bitcoin News Today: XRP and Bitcoin Share Fixed Supply and Transparent Distribution Models as Debate Evolves

The debate over whether XRP and Bitcoin are fundamentally similar has reignited, fueled by comments from Bitcoin advocate Robert Breedlove, who emphasized that XRP is entirely pre-mined while Bitcoin is not [1]. This distinction, he argued, raises concerns about fairness and decentralization. However, members of the XRP community, particularly influential figure Vet, a well-known XRPL validator and co-founder of XRPCafe, have countered this view with a pragmatic stance.

Vet explained that once the final Bitcoin—number 21 million—is mined, the economic similarities between Bitcoin and XRP will become nearly indistinguishable. Both assets are finite and have predefined maximum supply limits—100 billion for XRP and 21 million for Bitcoin—ensuring scarcity [1]. Moreover, both have transparent distribution mechanisms: XRP uses an escrow schedule, while Bitcoin relies on a known mining timeline. According to Vet, the method of initial distribution—whether mined or pre-mined—is less relevant over time, especially as the focus shifts to the final state of both assets [1].

Legal analyst Bill Morgan further reinforced this point, noting that the mined versus pre-mined debate is largely ideological and has little bearing on the practical use or value of the assets [1]. He highlighted that the real significance lies in the constraints placed on each coin’s supply and the clarity of their distribution models. Both XRP and Bitcoin meet these criteria, making the ideological argument less compelling from a functional standpoint.

Vet also pointed out that pre-mining is essentially a faster version of what will eventually occur with Bitcoin—full distribution across a fixed supply—without the energy-intensive proof-of-work mechanism [1]. He argued that real-world demand is less concerned with the origin of the coins and more focused on their properties such as scarcity, utility, and transparency.

Currently, Bitcoin is valued at approximately $114,000 with nearly 19.9 million coins in circulation. XRP is trading close to $3, with over 59 billion tokens available in the open market. Both networks process significant volumes of transactions daily, further illustrating their growing importance in the financial landscape [1].

As the cryptocurrency space continues to evolve, discussions about ideological differences remain common. However, the emphasis appears to be shifting toward the shared characteristics of major digital assets. Whether mined or pre-mined, the defining traits of Bitcoin and XRP—fixed supply and clear distribution—make them increasingly difficult to distinguish in practical terms.

Source:

[1] XRP and Bitcoin Will Be Completely Identical, Lead Contributor Explains How (https://u.today/xrp-and-bitcoin-will-be-completely-identical-lead-contributor-explains-how)