Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple, a San Francisco-based blockchain company, has openly A stated that the controversial "Change the Code" campaign to modify Bitcoin's energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism has not received funding from Ripple.
Backed by the environmental association Greenpeace, the early 2023 campaign aimed to encourage Bitcoin to adopt more energy-efficient technologies, notably proof-of-stake (PoS). Bitcoin's defenders, who see this as a threat to the cryptocurrency's security and decentralization, have strongly criticized the initiative.
A personal initiative, not a corporate action by Ripple
Chris Larsen stressed in a recent essay that his personal support should not be confused with Ripple's commercial position. He confirmed that, although he had personally sponsored the campaign, Ripple had not participated in any way.
"My goal was to find a way to make Bitcoin a direct air capture gas pedal," Larsen said. "That's okay; the campaign didn't go as planned." It should be noted, however, that Ripple did not fund this campaign.
Drawing on statistics from Cambridge University, Larsen also highlighted positive trends regarding the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining, including the use of hydro, wind and nuclear power sources. He also mentioned that some Bitcoin miners are currently harnessing their surplus energy, such as flaring gas that would otherwise be wasted.
Ripple's symbolic gesture sparks debate
Although Larsen's explanation To clarify matters, Ripple's donation of the "Satoshi Skull" sculpture has rekindled rumours about the company's position. Previously used as an environmental critique of Bitcoin, the monument was recently donated to the Bitcoin community by Ripple at the Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas.
Underscoring the need for unity within the cryptocurrency sector and the resilience of Bitcoin, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse called the gesture an "olive branch". He added that the gesture was intended to remind everyone that "the different communities in the sector have more in common than they have differences".
Dissenting voices in the crypto community
Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets at VanEck, questioned the gift as a token gesture. Dryly asking on social networks, "Is this your apology?", he demanded an official apology for sponsoring Greenpeace's anti-bitcoin initiatives.
Some Bitcoin supporters are still dubious as the campaign website is still online, and RippleThis symbolic action doesn't change the impression that Ripple has criticized Bitcoin's environmental impact. Reacting to detractors who called XRP centralized, Ripple CTO David Schwartz also defended its decentralization.
Wider debate on Bitcoin's energy consumption
The "Change the Code" campaign has fuelled an ongoing debate among cryptocurrency enthusiasts about Bitcoin's energy consumption. Supporters of the Bitcoin PoW system argue that network decentralization and security depend on it.
Critics, particularly environmentalists, argue that high energy prices will eventually become unsustainable. Larsen's explanation aims to dissociate his personal environmental commitment from Ripple's commercial activities. Yet the debate over Bitcoin's sustainability and energy consumption remains a major concern for the crypto community.$BTC $XRP
