Bitcoin News Today: XRPL's Bitcoin-Like Hashing Challenges Digital Gold's Dominance

A former Ripple executive has reignited the debate over the technical similarities between the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Bitcoin's blockchain, asserting that the two networks share core cryptographic mechanisms despite divergent architectures. Matt Hamilton, a former Director of Developer Relations at Ripple, emphasized in a recent public discussion that the XRPL employs the same block hashing and key ciphers as Bitcoin, a claim he argues challenges the narrative that Bitcoin is a uniquely irreplaceable asset. This assertion has sparked renewed scrutiny of XRPL's design and its position in the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Hamilton's arguments center on the structural parallels between the two blockchains. He highlighted that transactions on the XRPL are grouped into blocks, each containing the hash of the preceding block, creating an immutable ledger akin to Bitcoin's proof-of-work structure. "The XRP Ledger is a real blockchain, and it uses the same block hash and key ciphers as Bitcoin," Hamilton stated, directly countering critics who label XRPL as a non-traditional blockchain. The debate, which unfolded on social media platforms, also involved David Marcus, CEO of Lightspark, who defended Bitcoin's uniqueness as a "neutral digital money."

The technical discussion extended to sustainability and decentralization. Hamilton questioned Bitcoin's long-term viability, citing concerns over mining centralization driven by economies of scale and protocol incentives. He argued that XRPL's open-node model offers a more accessible alternative, allowing anyone to run a node without the energy-intensive requirements of Bitcoin mining. Conversely, Marcus countered that Bitcoin's network resilience is bolstered by rising prices, declining energy costs, and expanding Layer 2 adoption, which incentivize new miners to join the network.

Market performance and institutional adoption further fueled the debate. XRP, the native token of the XRPL, has demonstrated resilience despite a prolonged bear market and a high-profile legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As of September 2025, XRP trades at $2.89, a near 49,000% increase from its 2013 launch price of $0.00589. Analysts attribute this growth to XRPL's integration into institutional finance, including partnerships like Ripple's collaboration with Ondo Finance to tokenize U.S. Treasuries. The network also reported $1 billion in monthly stablecoin volume and is advancing projects such as a native lending protocol and zero-knowledge proofs to enhance privacy and compliance.

Hamilton's claims align with broader efforts to reframe XRPL as a competitive alternative to Bitcoin. He noted that XRP's performance has outpaced Bitcoin in his personal portfolio, suggesting that the asset could offer superior returns if more investors adopt it. This perspective challenges the dominance of Bitcoin as the primary store of value, particularly as XRPL integrates features like programmable smart contracts and tokenization. Ripple's roadmap emphasizes expanding XRPL's role in institutional DeFi, with upcoming tools like Credentials and Deep Freeze already enhancing its utility for cross-border payments and asset management.

The debate underscores a broader tension in the crypto space between legacy protocols like Bitcoin and newer, more scalable solutions. While Bitcoin advocates emphasize its first-mover advantage and decentralized mining model, XRPL proponents highlight its efficiency and adaptability to institutional use cases. As the XRP Ledger continues to evolve, its technical similarities to Bitcoin may redefine how the market evaluates blockchain architectures, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for digital assets.

Source: [1] XRP Ledger Uses Same Block Hash as Bitcoin, Says Former Ripple Exec (https://coinpedia.org/news/xrp-ledger-uses-bitcoin-style-block-hashing-says-former-ripple-exec/) [2] XRP Ledger's Bitcoin-Style Block Hashing Revealed by Former (https://www.btcc.com/en-US/square/coincentral/1037419)