Epstein’s Crypto Tango: XRP Maxis vs. Bitcoiners in a Farce of Accusations

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A Tale of Misunderstandings and Misplaced Accusations

In the grand theater of human folly, where the actors are many and the plotlines convoluted, a new drama has unfolded, as absurd as it is predictable. The XRP faithful, with their unwavering devotion, have risen in indignation against the Bitcoin adherents, accusing them of spreading whispers that link Ripple to the infamous Jeffrey Epstein. Ah, the tangled web we weave when ambition and suspicion collide!

It all began with a missive from the year 2014, a mere trifle in the grand scheme of history, yet one that has ignited passions and fueled accusations. The names of Austin Hill, Joichi Ito, and Reid Hoffman were inscribed therein, alongside the specter of Epstein. Yet, as is often the case, the truth is far less sensational than the rumors would have us believe. Joichi Ito, with a candor rare in these times, acknowledged his past entanglements with Epstein through the MIT Media Lab, a confession that, while commendable, has done little to quell the storm.

David Schwartz, the sage of Ripple, has stepped forward to declare, with the gravity of a man who has seen much, that there is no evidence of any connection between Ripple, Stellar, or their cohorts and the disgraced financier. “A tempest in a teapot,” one might say, yet the XRP supporters remain unconvinced, their ire directed at the Bitcoin camp with a fervor that is both amusing and lamentable.

😱 Ripple & Stellar in 2014 email from Austin Hill to Jeffrey Epstein:

I’ve been asked by the other cofounders to reduce or take your allocation away. Ripple, and Jed’s new stellar are bad for the ecosystem we are building and it does our company damage to have investors who…

– 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸XRP (@BankXRP) January 31, 2026

The Phantom of Epstein

Jeffrey Epstein, a name that evokes both revulsion and fascination, was a man of wealth and influence, whose crimes have cast a long shadow over the lives he touched. His connections, vast and varied, have left many scrambling to distance themselves from his legacy. Yet, in this game of guilt by association, it is easy to forget that not all who walked in his orbit were complicit in his misdeeds.

Epstein’s reach extended into the halls of MIT, where Joichi Ito, a figure of some renown, found himself entangled. His apology, heartfelt and public, serves as a reminder of the complexities of human judgment and the ease with which even the most well-intentioned can be led astray.

The Spark of Rumor

The rumor, like a wildfire, was ignited by a single email, a document that, when scrutinized, reveals more about the rivalries of the crypto world than any alleged wrongdoing. Austin Hill, then at the helm of Blockstream, penned the fateful words, urging Epstein and Ito to reconsider their support for Ripple and Stellar. It was, as crypto influencer Leonidas astutely observed, a reflection of the early competition between Bitcoin and its rivals, a battle of ideologies and interests.

My two cents on the Ripple/Stellar Epstein file mention

The email mentions four people:
Austin Hill (author)
Jeffrey Epstein (recipient)
Joichi Ito (recipient)
Reid Hoffman (CC)

Austin Hill was the CEO and co-founder of Blockstream at the time, a company focused on Bitcoin.…

– Leonidas (@LeoHadjiloizou) January 31, 2026

The Voice of Reason

David Schwartz, with the calm demeanor of a man who has weathered many storms, took to the digital pulpit to set the record straight. “I know of no connections,” he declared, his words a beacon in the fog of misinformation. He spoke of indirect ties, of the vast network that Epstein had woven, and of the misunderstandings that had given birth to the rumors. It was, he insisted, a tale of early crypto rivalries, of investors and influence, and not of complicity in Epstein’s crimes.

I don’t know of any connections between Jeffrey Epstein and Ripple, XRP, or Stellar. I know of any evidence anyone at Ripple or Stellar ever met with Epstein or anyone closely connected to him. There are some indirect ties between Epstein and people connected to Bitcoin in…

– David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) January 31, 2026

In the end, the saga of Ripple, Stellar, and Epstein is but another chapter in the grand farce of human ambition and suspicion. Let us hope that, in time, reason will prevail, and the actors in this drama will find their way back to the path of clarity and mutual respect.

The Ito Conundrum

Joichi Ito, a man of many hats, found himself at the intersection of tech, crypto, and the Epstein scandal. His ties to Digital Garage, Blockstream, and the Stellar Foundation were well-documented, as was his involvement with the MIT Media Lab. His apology, a testament to his integrity, was a rare moment of accountability in a world often lacking in it. Yet, the damage was done, and the rumors persisted, a reminder of the enduring power of suspicion.

And so, the tale continues, a cautionary story of how quickly accusations can spread, and how difficult it is to untangle the truth from the web of misinformation. In the world of crypto, as in life, the line between rival and enemy is often blurred, and the consequences can be far-reaching.

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2026-01-31 19:32