$XRP The cryptocurrency community remains abuzz with speculation surrounding XRP’s potential inclusion in U.S. reserves, fueled by recent allegations involving Ripple and former President Donald Trump. Ripple’s legal team swiftly responded to these claims, while a tweet from a news platform reporting on the matter was unexpectedly deleted, adding further intrigue to the situation.
The Alleged Incident
Reports initially surfaced claiming that Donald Trump, during a private meeting, expressed frustration with an unnamed cryptocurrency company. According to Axios, Trump allegedly remarked, “You made substantial profits last year, and you stand to gain even more because of me. But where were you when I needed your support? Maybe you were backing someone else.”
While the report refrained from naming Ripple explicitly, speculation pointed toward the company due to its recent engagements with the Trump administration. Unchained, a podcast and news platform, echoed these claims, suggesting Ripple may have been the unnamed party in question.
Ripple Executives’ Meeting with Trump
Last week, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Legal Counsel Stuart Alderoty reportedly met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Although the specifics of the conversation remain undisclosed, this timing has only added to the conjecture surrounding Ripple’s alleged involvement in Trump’s remarks.
Further complicating the narrative, past reports revealed that Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen had previously donated 10 million XRP to Kamala Harris’s campaign. This move, coupled with Ripple’s long-standing legal battles under the Biden administration, has sparked questions about the company’s political affiliations.
Ripple’s Response and the Deleted Tweet
Ripple’s legal affairs chief, Stuart Alderoty, publicly dismissed the allegations in a strongly-worded tweet, calling the claims “fabricated and baseless.” He added, “Let’s stop hiding behind anonymous sources and address the facts. This is nothing more than a third-rate attempt to spread misinformation.”
Interestingly, the Unchained platform, which initially shared the report, later removed its tweet. However, the related article remains accessible on its website, supplemented by statements from Ripple’s spokesperson Susan Hendrick.
Additional Insights
Ripple’s communications lead, Susan Hendrick, denied the allegations but revealed an intriguing detail. She noted that Garlinghouse had discussed the potential for leveraging Bitcoin distribution in the U.S. during his meeting with Trump, underscoring Ripple’s commitment to advancing the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Moreover, Unchained claimed to have obtained exclusive information suggesting that Ripple may have played a role in promoting a U.S.-based cryptocurrency reserve system, an idea Trump reportedly endorsed in an article published by the New York Post.
Conclusion
While the truth behind these allegations remains unclear, Ripple’s firm rebuttal reflects the company’s proactive stance in addressing misinformation. The incident underscores the complex interplay between politics and cryptocurrency, as Ripple navigates its path toward regulatory clarity and market expansion.
The XRP community continues to watch developments closely, as the potential inclusion of XRP in U.S. reserves could mark a transformative milestone for the crypto industry.
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