Recent disclosures from the “Epstein Files” have reignited debate over early power struggles in the cryptocurrency industry, after a 2014 email revealed that figures tied to Bitcoin infrastructure viewed Ripple and similar projects as a threat to their strategic vision.
The correspondence has prompted some XRP traders to argue that the documents validate long-held claims that Ripple posed a serious competitive challenge to Bitcoin-aligned interests—an interpretation they claim is “bullish” for the token.
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Epstein Emails Show Pushback Against Ripple and Stellar
At the center of the renewed discussion is a July 31, 2014 email sent by Austin Hill, a co-founder and then chief executive of Bitcoin infrastructure firm Blockstream, to a small group that included Jeffrey Epstein, MIT Media Lab director Joi Ito and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.
In the message, Hill warned that investor exposure to both Bitcoin-focused ventures and competing blockchain projects, specifically Ripple and Stellar, created what he described as a strategic and reputational conflict.
The email in question from the “Epstein Files.” | Credit: U.S. Department of Justice
Ripple, already operating as a cross-border payments network at the time, and Stellar, a newly launched project founded by former Ripple co-founder Jed McCaleb, were portrayed as misaligned with what Hill referred to as “the ecosystem we are building.”
Hill argued that investors effectively backing “two horses in the same race” risked undermining confidence among Bitcoin-centric developers and stakeholders.
David Schwartz, Ripple’s former chief technology officer, said the 2014 email could represent only a small portion of broader opposition Ripple faced during the industry’s early years.
Suggesting the document could be “the tip of a giant iceberg,” Schwartz said the message suggested that hostility toward Ripple and similar projects may have been more widespread than the correspondence alone indicates.
This is an email from Austin Hill to Jeffrey Epstein explaining that Hill felt that support for Ripple or Stellar made someone an enemy/opponent. It seems quite likely that Hill and others expressed similar views to many other people.
“This is an email from Austin Hill to Jeffrey Epstein explaining that Hill felt that support for Ripple or Stellar made someone an enemy/opponent,” Schwartz wrote on X.
“It seems quite likely that Hill and others expressed similar views to many other people,” he added.
He added that the “sad part” was that “we really are all in this together and this kind of attitude hurts everyone in the space.”
Broader Backlash Within Elite Networks
At the time, Bitcoin-aligned firms such as Blockstream were focused on building infrastructure tightly coupled to the Bitcoin network, while Ripple and Stellar pursued alternative ledger designs aimed at payments and financial institutions.
Epstein was included as a recipient. However, the released material provides no evidence that he authored the email, shaped its arguments, or directed any action against Ripple.
The documents only show that he received copies of discussions about perceived conflicts of interest among investors in rival crypto projects.
Bullish For XRP?
On X, some XRP supporters have seized on the documents as proof that powerful early industry players viewed Ripple as a threat.
“All of this information today from the Epstein Files makes me extremely bullish on XRP,” wrote one user.
Adding: “They were real deal out to get Ripple. They understand the power this company holds.”
Another user framed the revelations more starkly, suggesting that Epstein’s exposure to the debate implied recognition of Ripple’s significance.
“This is seriously bullish for XRP. They knew all along that we were going to the top, and wanted to stop Ripple.”
Traders bullish on XRP argue that the documents reinforce a narrative in which Ripple was not a fringe project but a serious competitor to Bitcoin-centric infrastructure efforts, even in the industry’s earliest stages.
For these traders, the emails show proof of early resistance to non-Bitcoin blockchain models, a resistance they say will likely be bullish for XRP’s price in the future.
What the Epstein Ripple Emails Do—And Do Not—Show
The released correspondence does not demonstrate that Epstein personally viewed Ripple as a threat, nor does it show that he took any action related to the concerns raised.
The documents show he participated in high-level discussions with technology investors and executives navigating a rapidly evolving crypto landscape.
The emails add context to long standing rivalries within the sector but stop short of establishing intent or influence beyond information sharing.
As with other materials from the Epstein Files, the disclosures have fueled speculation well beyond what the documents explicitly support.
XRP Price Outlook
At the time of reporting, XRP was trading at around $1.64, down around 13% in the last seven days.
Despite renewed optimism among some traders, XRP’s near-term price structure remains under pressure, according to technical analysis from Victor Olanrewaju, an analyst at CCN, who said bearish momentum continues to dominate the chart.
“On the daily chart, XRP has continued to print lower highs and lower lows,” Olanrewaju said on Friday.
He added that upside attempts have repeatedly failed.
“Each rebound has been capped at progressively lower levels, keeping bullish momentum weak and short-lived,” he said.
Fibonacci retracement levels suggest XRP is testing a critical area of support.
“The asset continues to trend lower and now hovers near the zero Fib level at $1.71,” Olanrewaju said, describing the zone as one that “often acts as the final support in a corrective move.”
He warned that a breakdown below that level could accelerate losses.
“Failure to hold this level would expose XRP to a deeper downside, with limited historical support below,” he said.
Olanrewaju noted that XRP could shift its market structure if it reclaims key resistance.
“If XRP pushes above its immediate resistance at $2.19, the bearish structure would begin to weaken, potentially opening the door to a broader recovery,” he said. “A sustained move beyond this level would suggest that buyers are finally absorbing sell pressure.”
“In a situation like that,” he added, “XRP’s price might rise toward $3.”
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.
