Ripple Faces Backlash from XRP Developers

Ripple has sparked significant controversy among XRP Ledger (XRPL) developers by editing a podcast clip. This issue arose from Ripple's podcast series, "Exploring Ripple’s New Stablecoin Ripple USD ," featuring CTO David Schwartz and Ripple President Monica Long. The series focuses on the launch of their stablecoin and aspects of the XRP Ledger ecosystem.

The main controversy is due to a change in a statement by Monica Long. In the original podcast, Long discussed developer engagement on the XRP Ledger, mentioning, “We’ve put all of that effort in, and ultimately, it’s a bit chicken and egg to get developer momentum on the XRP Ledger, which we are seeing. There are already thousands of developers building projects, but to really see that flywheel pick up more momentum, you need to have high-quality assets. In particular, right now, we need onramps and offramps that are reliable and efficient, so that’s mostly been in the form of stablecoins.” However, in the version posted on YouTube, the phrase about “thousands of developers building projects” was removed.

Daniel “No” Keller, CTO of Eminence and an XRPL Ambassador, was one of the first to voice his concerns. Keller tweeted at Schwartz and Long, questioning the reason for uploading an altered version: “Hey David Schwartz and Monica Long! Why would you upload a podcast clip and then take it down to re-upload an altered version? What happened to the ‘thousands of developers’ bit? Ripple and @RippleX have failed the community. Why keep pretending everything is okay?”

Keller's comments echo a broader sentiment among developers, who feel undervalued by Ripple’s decisions. He stated, “Why keep pretending everything is okay? Neither your ‘stable’ nor the lame attempt to push ‘Defi on the XRPL’ will go anywhere […] It’s time to be honest. It’s the community that pushed you through hard times.”

Keller’s remarks reveal growing tension between Ripple and the XRPL developer community. He added, “We could fix the ecosystem in a blink of an eye. But I assume no one on YOUR END is interested in doing so. You could fix the ledger, but your choice has been not to do it. For whatever reason…” His statements have resonated with the XRPL community, where many feel disillusioned about Ripple’s commitment to transparency and community engagement.

Stephen Chip, co-founder of onthechain.io, criticized Ripple for its lack of support for its developer ecosystem, stating, “Many of us have been left in the dark when it comes to grant funding. At this point, we know more people who have been rejected for grants than those who have received them, myself included. While it’s great that you’ve started the Japan-Korea fund, it’s important to deliver on your original promise of grant support.”

On the other hand, community member and dUNL validator Vet (@Vet_X0) defended Ripple, suggesting the edit was to correct an overstatement: “Regarding the edited podcast, imo it shows that there are people at Ripple and RippleX who know the ecosystem very well and corrected it. That’s the only logical answer for me why one would edit it, else no one would have, only after people talked about it publicly.”

This situation shows a divide within the XRPL community, with some developers feeling frustrated by Ripple’s corporate decisions while others believe the edits were justified. The incident highlights the ongoing tension between Ripple and its developer community regarding transparency and engagement. As Ripple continues to promote its stablecoin, maintaining a strong relationship with its developers will be crucial for future success. This controversy underscores the importance of clear communication and support between Ripple and the developers essential to the XRPL ecosystem.