TLDR
- The U.S. Department of Justice released 3.5 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
- One of the emails mentioned a secret Bitcoin project tied to Jed McCaleb.
- XRP supporters believe this email shows Ripple was being monitored in its early days.
- Crypto analyst Leonidas Hadjiloizou said the timeline fits Stellar more than Ripple.
- McCaleb co-founded Ripple in 2012 and launched Stellar after leaving Ripple in 2013.
The release of Epstein-related documents by the U.S. Department of Justice has raised questions about early surveillance of Ripple and XRP, as parts of the crypto community examine whether convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein had eyes on Ripple during its early development, linking specific individuals and messages to the timeline of Ripple and Stellar’s formation.
Epstein Monitored Ripple and XRP From Early Days
Recently released Epstein documents include an email dated July 1, 2014, that mentions Jed McCaleb’s “secret Bitcoin project.” The message was reportedly sent to Epstein by an unnamed individual believed to be monitoring blockchain developments. Some XRP supporters claim this proves surveillance of Ripple from its early stages.
Epstein had informants watching Ripple and XRP from the very beginning.
In this document someone is telling Epstein that Jed McCaleb was working on a “secret Bitcoin project” before he left Mt Gox to launch Ripple and the XRPL. pic.twitter.com/sbUb0aRXhQ
— Jungle Inc Crypto News (@jungleincxrp) January 31, 2026
Jed McCaleb co-founded Ripple in 2012 and helped launch XRP during the same year. He left Ripple in 2013 and later founded Stellar in 2014. The email’s date has sparked debate about which project was actually under watch.
Popular XRP commentator Jungle claimed the email confirms surveillance of Ripple and XRP. This interpretation quickly spread through social platforms among XRP advocates. The assumption is that Epstein had informants tracking Ripple since its launch.
This is not about Ripple. Ripple (OpenCoin) was founded in 2012. Jed left Ripple in 2013 and founded Stellar in July 2014. Thus, the "secret Bitcoin project" they are talking about in this e-mail is Stellar.
— Leonidas (@LeoHadjiloizou) February 1, 2026
However, crypto analyst Leonidas Hadjiloizou presented a different reading of the timeline. He stated that McCaleb’s “secret project” in 2014 was most likely Stellar, not Ripple. His argument is based on the fact that Ripple and XRP were already launched before the email date.
Leonidas said, “The timing fits Stellar more closely since McCaleb had left Ripple in 2013.” Many agree with this analysis. It adds further context to how observers might misread blockchain histories.
Emails Reveal Criticism of Ripple and Stellar
A separate document contains an email from Blockstream co-founder Austin Hill. He urged Epstein and Joichi Ito to pull funding from Ripple and Stellar. Hill called both companies harmful to the crypto ecosystem.
In the message, Hill suggested a call to plan how to “deal” with the projects. He warned that investors backing Ripple and Stellar damage the industry. The email reflects internal disputes among early blockchain leaders.
Ripple’s former CTO David Schwartz responded publicly to the claims. He said Hill’s stance shows clear bias against XRP and XLM supporters. Schwartz argued this mindset weakens unity in the broader crypto space.
The sad part is, we really are all in this together and this kind of attitude hurts everyone in the space.
— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) January 31, 2026
Hill’s criticism has fueled online debate over the legitimacy of early blockchain projects. However, no evidence confirms that Epstein acted on his advice. The contents remain subject to interpretation.
The DOJ released around 3.5 million pages related to Epstein’s activities. These included names, emails, and surveillance records. Several parts involve known figures in tech and crypto.
The files have triggered renewed scrutiny of past partnerships and financial support. Epstein’s known interest in tech ventures adds complexity to the findings. Ripple and Stellar now face questions rooted in these documents.
XRP supporters continue to dissect the emails for hidden context or intent. Some believe it shows targeted opposition to their preferred project. Others caution against jumping to conclusions without more proof.
At the time of writing, no direct link confirms that Epstein funded or hindered either Ripple or Stellar. The documents only imply observation and possible opinion-sharing. No legal action has been reported from the individuals mentioned.
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