Key Takeaways
- Alex Jones claimed XRP had been “chosen” by major institutions while warning about potential government control.
- In a follow-up clip, he said he was not predicting XRP’s performance and was not an expert on the asset.
- An X user and a Community Note challenged his comments about asset seizures and the XRP Ledger.
Alex Jones has sought to clarify his comments about XRP after warning that governments could attempt to seize crypto and other private assets during a financial crisis.
After discussing XRP on a Saturday livestream, he drew significant pushback and support on X, including criticism of his understanding of crypto.
Alex Jones Claims XRP Has Been ‘Chosen’
During a special Saturday broadcast on X, Jones claimed central banks, governments, and major corporations had already selected XRP as a preferred means of exchanging crypto.
He argued that XRP would sit “right at the center of the new central bank digital currency systems.”
In his telling, that supposed institutional backing made it an obvious potential winner.
“And XRP has been chosen by the majority of globalist banks and institutions and governments to be the main mode of exchange,” he said.
“So, it’s not hard to pick it as the winner.”
Jones portrayed that alleged backing as both an opportunity for investors and a potential threat to their control over their holdings.
“Will governments later come in and try to seize control of it?”
He linked that warning to allegations about bank bail-ins and a unified ledger containing people’s homes, cars and bank accounts.
Jones Clarifies
In a follow-up clip, Jones said he wanted to address confusion over the segment.
“I’m not predicting what XRP is going to do. I’m not involved in that market. I’m not an expert on it,” he said.
The controversial conspiracy theorist said the broadcast was prompted by a viral video discussing whether authorities could seize XRP.
His broader concern, he explained, was how governments might respond to a financial crisis.
Jones repeated his allegation that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had signaled plans to seize private assets.
He also distanced his warning from any suggestion of imminent action against XRP holders.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen next week or even next month. I’m not even talking about XRP. I’m talking about in general any asset you’ve got,” he said.
Holders Accuse Alex Jones of Chasing Engagement
A large group of X users spoke out against Jones’ videos, with some questioning his knowledge of the technology and accusing him of using XRP supporters to attract attention.
“This guy has no effing clue what he is talking about,” one X user user wrote.
The user also challenged his motivation for discussing the crypto.
“He is using the XRP community for engagement for views.”
Another rejected his theory altogether.
“You have to do just basic research in the protocol for XRP. It is technically impossible to steal it from some that has there own keys,” one X user said.
Correcting ‘Unified Ledger’ Claims
The connection Jones drew between financial infrastructure proposals and asset confiscation was eventually corrected by X’s community notes feature.
“Regulators’ discussions of ‘unified’ or ‘central’ ledgers describe plans for tokenized deposits and assets to improve financial efficiency, not to seize XRP or personal property such as houses,” the note said.
The Bank for International Settlements’ published blueprint describes bringing central bank money, tokenized deposits, and other tokenized assets onto programmable platforms to improve transaction and settlement processes.
It does not announce a program to confiscate privately held XRP or homes.
The XRP Ledger’s documentation states that its freeze feature applies to issued tokens but not to native XRP.
It also explains that custodial exchanges can restrict customers’ accounts and withdrawals.
However, self-custody does not create legal immunity from seizure.
In the 2021 Colonial Pipeline case, the US Justice Department said it seized Bitcoin under a court-authorized warrant after identifying funds at an address for which the FBI possessed the private key.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, financial advice. We do not make any warranties regarding the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of this information. All investments involve risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. We recommend consulting a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
