A recent 2014 email exchange has brought renewed attention to the early development stages of Ripple, confirming that this system predates Bitcoin. The discussion involves key participants and sheds light on Ripple's core concept as a digital currency.
Early Stages of Ripple's Creation
The email exchange confirms that the earliest version of Ripple was conceived in 2004 by Canadian developer Ryan Fugger. He envisioned RipplePay as a decentralized system for exchanging credit based on trust, predating blockchain as a concept.
Comparison of Ripple and Bitcoin
The emails counter the notion that Ripple was solely created to profit from Bitcoin's success. Ripple's development began long before Bitcoin’s whitepaper was published, confirming its independent conceptual genesis.
Ripple's Evolution and Distinction from XRP
The emails also delve into how Ripple evolved under Chris Larsen’s leadership. He saw potential in the project and adapted it for the financial market, emphasizing the importance of differentiating between the Ripple network and the currency XRP.
This email exchange offers valuable historical insights into Ripple, confirming its status as an independent financial innovation that existed long before Bitcoin.