- The rivalry between Ripple’s XRP and Stellar’s XLM reignited after a tweet from Ripple CTO David Schwartz, perceived as a response to Stellar’s jab at Ripple’s legal expenses, leading to heated exchanges between both communities.
- While some continue to fuel the feud, others call for unity, emphasizing that both projects have potential for success in cross-border transactions.
The ongoing rivalry between Ripple’s XRP and Stellar’s XLM took center stage once again after a cryptic tweet from Ripple CTO David Schwartz. In what many perceived as a direct jab at Stellar, Schwartz tweeted, “If you strike at the king, you’d better not miss.” This phrase, often used to imply that challenging a dominant force without guaranteed success can lead to severe consequences, has sparked fresh debate within the crypto community.
The Spark That Ignited the Fire
The controversy began when the official Build on Stellar X account posted, “Imagine spending more on lawyers than developers and calling it progress.” This statement was widely interpreted as a dig at Ripple’s extensive legal battles, which have consumed significant resources. In response, XRP enthusiasts swiftly came to Ripple’s defense, launching a wave of criticism against Stellar and its past decisions.
XRP Community Strikes Back
Members of the XRP Army were quick to retaliate, highlighting Stellar’s own questionable moves. One of the most common criticisms referenced Stellar’s historic XLM burn, which saw the network destroy a significant portion of its supply in an attempt to boost prices—an effort that many believe failed. Comments such as, “Imagine burning supply for no reason…” and “Imagine forking the XRP Ledger and calling it progress” flooded social media, further fueling the conflict.
Panos Mekras, co-founder of Anodos Finance, also weighed in, reminding the community that Stellar was founded by Jed McCaleb, one of the original creators of the XRP Ledger. Mekras accused McCaleb of attempting to undermine XRP, referring to past incidents that some interpret as sabotage. His stance was clear: he would never support XLM due to its alleged origins of betrayal.
Calls for Peace Amidst the Chaos
Despite the heated exchanges, some voices in the crypto community are urging restraint. XRP advocate Moon Lambo, a long-time holder of both XRP and XLM, called for unity, stating that both assets have potential. Similarly, Edoardo Farina of XRPHealthcare emphasized that tribalism has no place in the crypto space, urging both sides to focus on success rather than rivalry.
A Feud Worth Having?
While competition can drive innovation, some argue that the ongoing feud between XRP and XLM is unnecessary. Both projects share similar goals of improving cross-border transactions, and infighting only detracts from their broader mission. Instead of trading insults, perhaps the focus should be on collaboration and progress.
With the crypto market constantly evolving, only time will tell whether this rivalry strengthens or weakens both assets. Until then, the battle between XRP and XLM continues—but will it lead to growth or just wasted energy?
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