Speculation Suggests Google is Running an XRP Ledger (XRPL) Node: Here are Facts

Speculation is rife within the XRP community, as some community figures suggest that multinational technology giant Google might have begun running an XRP Ledger (XRPL) node.

Edward Farina, Head of Social Adoption at XRP Healthcare, first made these claims in a recent post on X. Farina shared a screenshot detailing a list of computers running XRPL nodes, the version of XRPL they are on, and their IP address.

Notably, an IP lookup indicates that the IP address of one of the systems on the list is hosted by Google, revealing Google LLC as the Internet Service Provider (ISP) and noting that the associated organization is Google. 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM💣

Following Microsoft steps, more recently GOOGLE is currently running #XRPL nodes. pic.twitter.com/xtel3clO8g

— EDO FARINA 🅧 XRP (@edward_farina) November 2, 2023

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Upon stumbling on this discovery, Farina swiftly asserted that Google had joined Microsoft to run XRPL nodes. It bears mentioning that Microsoft already runs an XRPL validating node through its Azure BaaS (Blockchain as a service) product. The recent discovery has triggered speculation of Google’s involvement.

Other prominent individuals in the XRP community echoed the speculation from Farina. Specifically, community figures Amelie and WallStreetBulls hinted at the development, noting that a partnership between Ripple and Google could mark a pivotal point for the crypto scene.

🚀💥 BOOOOOM Breaking News! 💥🚀 Rumors are swirling that Google is stepping into the #XRPL nodes arena, hot on the heels of Microsoft’s partnership with Ripple! 🤝 Is this the dawn of a new era for #XRP in the tech giant realm? 🌐💫 Google 🤝 Ripple could be a game-changer for… https://t.co/SfZBV7XZTi

— WallStreetBulls (@w_thejazz) November 2, 2023

Possible Explanations

However, it is important to note that when the IP address of a computer running an XRP Ledger node shows Google LLC as the ISP and a location pertaining to Google, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Google itself is running the node. There are a few possible explanations for this.

First, the user may be using a hosting service or cloud provider from Google. Many hosting providers, including Google Cloud, offer services where users can run virtual machines and applications. This can result in an association of the IP address with the hosting provider, in this case, Google LLC.

The individual could be using a proxy or a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that routes their traffic through Google servers. This can make it appear as if the IP address belongs to Google. It’s a common practice for privacy and security reasons.

The user may be operating the XRP Ledger node from a data center that leases IP addresses from Google LLC or is in a facility related to Google’s infrastructure. Data centers often have IP address ranges associated with their hosting provider.

Moreover, if Google was operating an XRPL node, an announcement on the development would have come up, similar to how the Microsoft case saw public disclosure. However, it’s important to note that in the crypto scene, not all activities get these disclosures. So, while it seems unlikely, at this point, nothing is certain.