- A social media post from Stellar referencing Ripple’s legal troubles led to backlash from the XRP community and its legal representatives.
- Ripple CTO David Schwartz responded to the situation, reinforcing community sentiment that Stellar’s remark was inappropriate.
- The long-standing rivalry between Ripple and Stellar resurfaced, sparking speculation about the intent behind the comment.
A recent post by the Build on Stellar account ignited a fresh debate that escalated present-day dissension between Stellar and Ripple. The post alluded to Ripple’s SEC dispute through an oblique reference to ongoing litigation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during which the XRP community strongly condemned the comment. The community reacted with immediate opposition after the post went live.
XRP Legal Representative Criticizes McCaleb
John Deaton spoke openly as the XRP holder representative in their SEC lawsuit class-action proceedings. Deaton condemned Stellar co-founder Jed McCaleb for his public criticism of the company which he helped create based on his view that this behavior was wrong. The legal representation of Ripple said that the company incurred $150 million in expenses fighting SEC allegations about unregistered securities sales.
Meanwhile, McCaleb, who left Ripple years ago to start Stellar, had made significant profits from XRP sales, even after the lawsuit was filed. According to Deaton, McCaleb earned approximately $2 billion from XRP sales while Ripple’s current leadership faced legal and financial burdens.
Ripple CTO Responds to Stellar’s Dig
David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, also addressed the situation. In a short yet pointed response, Schwartz remarked, “If you go after the king, you might as well not miss.” His statement resonated with the XRP community, signaling that Stellar’s comment had crossed a line.
The rivalry between Ripple and Stellar dates back to McCaleb’s departure from Ripple and the creation of Stellar. However, this latest clash appears more than just a competitive jab. Many within the XRP community speculated that the post was not a mere passing comment but a calculated move. Given the long history between the two projects, the timing and tone of the statement raised questions about intent.
XRP supporters viewed the post as an unnecessary provocation during a critical time for Ripple. Many industry observers noted that the comment added fuel to existing tensions rather than fostering constructive discourse. Some argued that the friction between the two blockchain projects was bound to resurface, especially with ongoing legal challenges in the industry.
