Ripple Clarifies Decentralization in Cryptocurrencies
Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, addressed a common misunderstanding about decentralization. He explained that Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP all share one key feature: none have a CEO. This comment responded to the National Cryptocurrency Association’s (NCA) statement that Bitcoin’s lack of a CEO shows blockchain independence and neutrality.
Decentralization Applies to Multiple Networks
Alderoty emphasized that decentralization is not unique to Bitcoin. It is a core design of all open, permissionless networks. He said, “Yes, Bitcoin doesn’t have a CEO, but that’s not ideology. It’s the fundamental design of all open, permissionless tokens.”
He noted that Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano also operate without central control. Anyone can participate, validate transactions, or build on these networks freely. Alderoty warned that policymakers risk poor regulation if they view Bitcoin as the only truly decentralized system. Ignoring other decentralized projects could hinder innovation in crypto.
The NCA also highlighted that decentralization defines many tokens. They pointed out that over 55 million Americans use cryptocurrencies for financial access and inclusion. The group said, “The crypto story is bigger than any single token.”
XRP’s Independence from Ripple
Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, confirmed that XRP is decentralized and independent from Ripple. The XRP Ledger is an open-source, permissionless, and decentralized blockchain. According to the XRP Ledger blog, Ripple is a technology company, while the XRP Ledger is maintained by an independent network of validators.
