Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), David Schwartz, has stirred the ongoing debate between the XRP community and Stellar (XLM) with a cryptic tweet. In a post earlier today, Schwartz shared the phrase, “If you strike at the king, you’d better not miss,” a famous saying that implies anyone challenging a powerful entity must be sure of their success, or the consequences could be dire.
If you strike at the king, you'd better not miss.
— David "JoelKatz" Schwartz (@JoelKatz) February 9, 2025
Many in the cryptocurrency community believe Schwartz’s tweet is a direct response to a jab from Stellar. Over the weekend, Stellar’s official X account criticized Ripple’s legal expenses, stating, “Imagine spending more on lawyers than developers and calling it progress.” This comment seemed to target Ripple’s ongoing legal battles, which have contributed to rising costs and potential delays in XRP development.
imagine spending more on lawyers than developers and calling it progress
— Build on Stellar (@BuildOnStellar) February 8, 2025
In retaliation, members of the XRP community have not held back. Critical comments flooded in, with many pointing out Stellar’s own challenges. One XRP supporter quipped, “Imagine burning supply for no reason,” referencing Stellar’s failed attempt to increase XLM’s price by halving the coin supply. Others mocked Stellar’s development efforts, saying, “Imagine spending heavily on development, only to end up with an inferiority complex.”
However, the feud goes beyond simple banter. Some members have reignited the rivalry between Ripple and Stellar’s founders. Panos Mekras, co-founder of Anodos Finance, highlighted that Stellar was created by Jed McCaleb, who also co-founded Ripple. Mekras accused McCaleb of attempting to sabotage XRP and dismissed XLM as an inferior copy of Ripple’s technology.
I guess most people here don't know this, but Stellar was created by Jed McCaleb who was also one of the creators of XRPL & co-founder of Ripple. Jed played dirty and tried to crash XRP. This is one of the many reasons I will never support Stellar or hold XLM, other than also… https://t.co/X58OXC29Go pic.twitter.com/KNk3DbtX0R
— Panos 🔼{X}🇬🇷 (@panosmek) February 9, 2025
Despite the tension, some XRP community members are calling for peace. Moon Lambo, a well-known figure within the XRP community, suggested that both Ripple and Stellar have their merits and urged Stellar to remove the controversial tweet. Similarly, XRPHealthcare’s Edoardo Farina emphasized that both XRP and XLM can thrive without the need for unnecessary tribalism.
The clash between Ripple and Stellar continues to divide opinions, but it remains clear that both projects will have a lasting impact on the cryptocurrency landscape.
Also Read: Stellar (XLM) Faces Critical Support Levels as Price Consolidates – Can a 37% Recovery Happen?
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
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