“Bitcoin is China Controlled” PR Push Leaked

• Internal emails reveal that Ripple pushed the “Bitcoin is Controlled by China” narrative.
• The emails indicate a coordinated PR strategy from 2018 orchestrated by Ripple Labs.
• Ripple has long accused regulators and rivals of unfair treatment but the documents suggest otherwise.

Internal emails from Ripple Labs have been disclosed and submitted as evidence in the current SEC lawsuit against the company. 

These emails suggest that Ripple actively promoted the idea that “Bitcoin is controlled by China.”

Leaked Emails Show Ripple Execs Pushed Anti-Bitcoin & Ethereum Narrative

The emails, which date back to 2018, point to a coordinated PR effort. This effort aimed to portray Bitcoin and Ethereum in a negative light. At the same time, it aimed to position Ripple’s XRP token as a superior alternative. 

Coordinated Messaging Strategy: “China + Bitcoin” Narrative

The internal communication includes a section titled “China + Bitcoin.” In this section, Ripple executives talk about how the narrative that Bitcoin is controlled by China fits with previous statements made by Ripple’s leadership. The email specifically says:

This feels similar to what Brad and [redacted] already say publicly about Bitcoin being run by China.”

CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s Public Claims Aligned with PR Strategy

Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, has often made public claims regarding Bitcoin’s mining centralization. 

Related: Anthony Scaramucci Drops Hint SEC Has Dropped Ripple Case; Fuels XRP Price

He frequently cited the dominance of Chinese mining pools. However, these emails indicate that this rhetoric was not simply an observation. Instead, it was a calculated part of Ripple’s PR strategy.

Escalating the Attack: Explicitly Targeting Bitcoin & Ethereum

One of the most telling parts of the emails is a discussion about whether to escalate the narrative. This escalation would involve explicitly calling out both Bitcoin and Ethereum. An email from a Ripple executive asks:

“How is the bitcoin/China story different than the one we are already working on with [redacted]? Are we willing to put someone on the record now to specifically call out Bitcoin and Ethereum?”

Related: Ripple CEO Lauds White House Crypto Summit, Calls for Industry Unity

XRP Positioned as Superior Alternative During 2018 Market Battle

This question suggests that Ripple was not just pointing out mining centralization as a neutral fact. More importantly, it was actively strategizing how to leverage it to XRP’s advantage. 

The email exchange strongly hints at an effort to influence public perception. This influence was intended to be achieved by associating Bitcoin and Ethereum with negative geopolitical implications.

2018: Ripple’s XRP vs. Bitcoin Narrative War

Significantly, during the period these emails were sent (2018), Ripple was deeply engaged in an intense battle. It was trying to position XRP as a legitimate and efficient alternative to Bitcoin. 

Ripple aimed to present XRP as a superior digital asset to Bitcoin. To achieve this, it publicly criticized Bitcoin’s decentralization.