A 2018 Ripple Email Revives Claims on Bitcoin’s Control by China

• Ripple’s Brad Garlinghouse reportedly confirmed claims that the company promoted the idea that “Bitcoin is controlled by China.”

Ripple is facing renewed controversy after an internal email suggests the company may have been behind the “China controls Bitcoin” narrative. A hidden individual urged the team to consider openly criticizing Bitcoin and Ethereum. Additionally, another 2018 email reveals that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse had previously made statements regarding this claim.

Ripple’s Allegations Against Bitcoin

At the 2018 Stifel Cross Sector Insight Conference in Boston, Garlinghouse stated that “Bitcoin is really controlled by China” and argued that four miners in China hold over 50% of Bitcoin’s supply. He expressed skepticism about the viability of a currency controlled by China, stating, “How many countries want to use a Chinese-controlled currency? It’s just not going to happen.” He also contrasted Bitcoin’s 45-minute transaction time with XRP’s four seconds.

These claims reappeared in Ripple’s response to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where they asserted that Bitcoin and Ethereum are vulnerable to Chinese dominance due to their governance structures.

In response, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin criticized Ripple’s stance, suggesting it reflected poorly on their agenda.

Garlinghouse Advocates for Industry Unity

Recently, Garlinghouse has shifted his message, emphasizing the need for unity within the cryptocurrency community instead of internal conflicts. He believes that collaboration is essential for progress in the industry, declaring, “This is not, and never will be, a zero-sum game.” Despite his calls for unity, Garlinghouse continues to face backlash from Bitcoin supporters, especially regarding XRP’s status in U.S. crypto regulations.