XRP News Today: Ripple CTO Suggests Satoshi Nakamoto Held XRP, Sparks Debate

David Schwartz, the Chief Technology Officer of Ripple, has ignited a flurry of speculation within the cryptocurrency community by suggesting that Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, may have held a significant amount of XRP. This claim emerged from a 2023 court deposition, where Schwartz was questioned about the similarities between XRP and Bitcoin, as well as Ripple's control over the XRP ecosystem. In response, Schwartz stated, “So Toshi, the original Bitcoin creator, probably held an enormous amount of XRP at the time.” This remark has since become a focal point of intense discussion and debate.

Schwartz's comment has sparked a range of reactions within the community. Some enthusiasts have expressed optimism about the potential dominance of the Ripple token, while others remain skeptical. The speculation has also led to questions about Schwartz's own involvement in the cryptocurrency space, with some suggesting that he might be Nakamoto himself. However, Schwartz has officially denied these speculations, clarifying that he only got involved in Bitcoin around 2011, well after the Bitcoin whitepaper was released in 2008 and the network launched in 2009.

Despite the intrigue, the claim that Nakamoto held XRP is logically implausible. Nakamoto disappeared from the crypto scene between 2010 and 2011, with no signs of wallet activity or XRP involvement since. Additionally, XRP was launched in 2012, after Nakamoto's disappearance. The lack of on-chain data supporting this speculation further weakens the argument. Schwartz's use of the term "probably" indicates that his statement was speculative rather than factual, and in legal testimonies, such terms are not considered evidence but rather personal beliefs.

The community's response to Schwartz's statement has been divided. Some have joked about the possibility, while others have expressed intrigue and curiosity. For instance, X user Tiffany Hayden humorously asked, “How many XRP did Satoshi hold? Did you really say this and nobody noticed?” Schwartz responded with a simple, “What was the question?” prompting a wave of amusement and intrigue within the community.

Previously, a widely circulated post by John Squire claimed that XRP is the product which comes closest to Satoshi Nakamoto’s main idea. XRP fans argue that it solves many of Bitcoin’s current issues, like high fees, slow speeds, and centralization. Alex Cobb, a well-known community voice, also suggested that Satoshi Nakamoto may have had a hand in creating XRP. He quoted Satoshi’s famous last message from April 23, 2011, “I’ve moved on to other things,” hinting that XRP, which launched just a year later, could have been part of those “other things.”

While there’s no proof, Ripple CTO David Schwartz and others involved in XRP were also early Bitcoin contributors, which has sparked more curiosity around the theory. Additionally, 2009 emails show that Satoshi had praised the original Ripple project, calling it “unique” for spreading trust rather than centralizing it. However, his remarks referred to RipplePay, created in 2004, and not XRP. But many have mistakenly linked his praise to XRP. Some analysts have also pointed to the timing of Satoshi’s exit in 2011 and the start of XRP’s development soon after, further fueling the speculation.

In conclusion, while Schwartz's statement has generated significant interest and debate, it lacks credible evidence and is based on conjecture rather than fact. The timeline of events and the lack of on-chain data supporting the claim further undermine its validity. The cryptocurrency community continues to speculate about Nakamoto's identity and holdings, but without concrete evidence, these discussions remain purely theoretical.