Decade-Old Email Uncovers Bitcoin's Hidden Rivalry with Ripple

A decade-old correspondence is reigniting conversations about the perceived competitive threat that projects like Ripple may have posed to Bitcoin, as new revelations emerge from Epstein's files. An email dated July 31, 2014, reportedly reveals Austin Hill, who was identified as the CEO of Blockstream at the time, communicating with the late Jeffrey Epstein and other notable figures regarding the cryptocurrency landscape.

This correspondence raises questions about the motivations of Bitcoin advocates, suggesting that some sought to undermine emerging competitors such as Ripple rather than coexist in the evolving digital currency space. The implications of this email highlight a potential undercurrent of sabotage and rivalry that may have shaped the narratives around Bitcoin's development over the past decade.