Prominent investor and entrepreneur Gary Cardone has launched a blistering critique against XRP, accusing the cryptocurrency of compromising its principles by aligning with centralized authorities in its pursuit of relevance.
Cardone’s remarks come amid persistent speculation that the European Central Bank (ECB) may be considering the XRP Ledger as part of its infrastructure for the upcoming digital euro. While the ECB has not officially confirmed any partnership with Ripple or its technology, the rumors continue to circulate across crypto forums and news platforms.
Harsh words from Cardone
In a pointed social media post, Cardone alleged that XRP is willing to “do whatever it takes to survive,” even if that means collaborating with “oppressive people.” He specifically criticized ECB President Christine Lagarde, dubbing her “Ms. Cringe” and accusing her of attempting to turn Europe into a “prison continent.”
Cardone escalated his rhetoric by comparing XRP’s potential financial influence to a pandemic, calling it “COVID-19 Part Two in finance.” He warned that supporting the digital asset equates to endorsing “European warmongers,” positioning XRP not as a symbol of progress, but as a threat to personal and financial freedoms.
Cardone’s comments sparked immediate backlash from the XRP community. Influencer Robert Doyle, known as Crypto Sensei, responded by emphasizing the absence of any official ECB confirmation involving Ripple. “There is no official confirmation,” he stated, reiterating that the ECB is still in the exploratory phase regarding central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and has not finalized any technology partners.
Ripple, meanwhile, has engaged in various pilot programs with central banks, including projects in Palau and Georgia. Critics argue that such moves represent a departure from crypto’s foundational ideals of decentralization and resistance to state surveillance. On the other hand, supporters claim institutional engagement is essential for broad adoption. “If we want crypto to scale, we need to work with institutions, not fight them,” one user noted.
Broadening the debate
Cardone’s statements also drew fire from other high-profile figures in the crypto space. As it stands, the European Central Bank has stated that the digital euro project could proceed if approved by the European Parliament. However, no definitive platform or technology partner has been chosen at this stage.
