A theory presented by XRP proponent Edo Farina has ignited discussions in the crypto community. Farina claims that Ripple Labs may not just be a private fintech company but part of U.S. intelligence infrastructure.
A Trademark Trail from 1991
The foundation of Farina’s argument lies in trademark records. "Ripple Communications, Inc." was incorporated in Nevada on March 21, 1991—17 years before Bitcoin’s white paper. Public records show that Ripple Labs, Inc., the entity known today for developing XRP, currently holds the trademark originally belonging to Ripple Communications. That trademark was transferred through OpenCoin, Inc.—Ripple Labs’ former name before rebranding.
Early Digital Footprints and INSA Overlap
According to Farina, three key domains—RipplePay, RippleCom, and OpenCoin—were all launched in 2005, reportedly hosted under the same IP block. This was also the year the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) underwent reorganization. Farina suggests that this timeline convergence indicates the quiet development of a broader intelligence-linked fintech infrastructure. Supporting this idea is the involvement of Karen Nussle, listed as a principal at Ripple Communications.
What Happened to Ryan Fugger?
Farina also casts doubt on the official story surrounding Ryan Fugger, the original mind behind RipplePay. Fugger once claimed that the name “Ripple” was inspired by a Grateful Dead song. But if Ripple Communications predates his work by over a decade, and already held the trademark, Farina argues that Fugger’s explanation may have been a public narrative masking institutional involvement.
Edo Farina's theory raises intriguing questions within the crypto community and challenges the perceived independence of Ripple Labs in light of new historical data and connections to government structures.
