Ripple is facing growing calls from within the crypto community to demand Epstein-related records tied to XRP and XLM from federal agencies.
The Push for Transparency Over Epstein File References
Crypto commentator Dr. Russell McGregor made the statement in a recent post on X. In his remarks, he urged Ripple to press the SEC, the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Congress to release all records related to any Jeffrey Epstein–linked influence on crypto policy that may have targeted the company, XRP, or even rival Stellar.
Additionally, McGregor called for scrutiny of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s historical ties to MIT and any potential role those connections may have played in shaping early digital asset regulatory discussions.
McGregor made these comments shortly after the release of an email exchange from July 31, 2014, between Austin Hill and Jeffrey Epstein. The email, tagged “Stellar isn’t so Stellar,” shows Hill referring to Stellar and Ripple as harmful to the ecosystem he and others were trying to build. Hill, who is known as the co-founder of Blockstream, a Bitcoin and blockchain infrastructure company, framed XRP and Stellar as negative for Bitcoin’s long-term growth.
According to the claims circulating online, Hill urged influential investors such as Jeffrey Epstein and venture capitalist Reid Hoffman, who was also copied on the email, to reconsider or withdraw support for Ripple and Stellar. Meanwhile, the resurfacing of the email has fueled renewed debate across crypto communities about early industry rivalries and their influence over capital allocation during crypto’s formative years.
This Could Be Tip Of The Iceberg: Ripple CTO
Ripple CTO David Schwartz, when commenting on the correspondence in a recent X post, speculated that more shocking revelations could follow, hinting that the situation could be just the “tip of the iceberg.” Schwartz also emphasized that rivalries of this nature ultimately hurt the broader digital asset sector, adding, “We really are all in this together.”
Interestingly, the leaked email controversy comes at a time when crypto is seeing signs of increased regulatory momentum in the United States. The Senate Agriculture Committee recently voted to advance its version of a crypto market structure bill, marking a step forward in the broader legislative process tied to the proposed Clarity Act, which aims to define digital asset regulatory frameworks.
Despite growing controversy and community calls for action, Ripple has yet to make an official announcement on whether it plans to submit a formal request to release Epstein-related records tied to XRP or XLM. However, critics warn that linking crypto investigations to high-profile historical criminal cases could increase political scrutiny rather than reduce it. This could potentially lead to stricter oversight or slower regulatory approvals for new crypto products and services across the industry.
Thus, for now, investors remain watchful, understanding that legal developments involving major institutions often have delayed but powerful effects on digital asset prices
Evans Kelvin
The CoinRemark Team
