Ripple CLO Says Treating Bitcoin as the Only Decentralized Crypto Could Mislead Regulators

Yes. Is XRP decentralized? The XRP Ledger is an open-source, permissionless network maintained by an independent validator set, and XRP has no CEO — functioning like Bitcoin and Ethereum — meaning XRP operates independently from Ripple as a decentralized asset.

• XRP Ledger is open-source and permissionless

• Stuart Alderoty emphasized that no single token holds a monopoly on decentralization; Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP all lack a CEO.

• Industry groups report broad crypto adoption: the National Cryptocurrency Association notes over 55 million Americans now use digital assets.

Is XRP decentralized? COINOTAG explains how XRP, Bitcoin and Ethereum share permissionless design and what regulators must consider—read for expert quotes and data.

What is decentralization in crypto?

Is XRP decentralized? Decentralization in crypto means an open, permissionless network where no single entity controls who participates, who validates transactions, or who builds on the ledger. This design distributes authority across independent validators and developers and is the technical basis for networks such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and the XRP Ledger.

How did Ripple’s CLO explain decentralization compared to Bitcoin?

Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, clarified in a public statement that linking decentralization solely to Bitcoin is misleading. He noted that Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP share a critical attribute: none of these networks have a CEO. Alderoty said this characteristic is not ideological; it is “the fundamental design of all open, permissionless tokens.”

His comments responded to framing from the National Cryptocurrency Association, which highlighted decentralization across multiple tokens and cited broad user adoption. The NCA reports that more than 55 million Americans use digital assets for access and inclusion. Alderoty warned regulators that treating Bitcoin as the only truly decentralized system could risk regulatory decisions that constrain innovation across other decentralized projects.

When a network is open and permissionless, no one sits at the center deciding who can participate, validate transactions, or build on top of it.
The “no-CEO” talking point helps remind policymakers and the public that true open and public crypto networks aren’t centrally…

— Stuart Alderoty (@s_alderoty) October 15, 2025

XRP’s independence from Ripple — technical and governance facts

Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse and other Ripple representatives have repeatedly stated that XRP is a digital asset native to the XRP Ledger — an open-source, permissionless and decentralized ledger. According to official commentary on the XRP Ledger blog post (plain text source), Ripple operates as a separate technology company while the XRP Ledger is maintained by an independent network of validators.

Key technical and governance points:

• Validator diversity: The XRP Ledger runs on a distributed validator set operated by diverse participants, not a single corporate entity.
• Open-source development: The ledger’s codebase is publicly accessible for review, contribution, and independent forks.
• No executive control of the ledger: Unlike a corporate-controlled system, no single CEO or board issues network-wide validator mandates.

These attributes align with common definitions of decentralization used by technologists and many policymakers when assessing public blockchains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is XRP decentralized like Bitcoin and Ethereum?

Yes. XRP operates on the XRP Ledger, which is open-source and permissionless and uses an independent validator set. Like Bitcoin and Ethereum, XRP does not have a CEO and no single entity centrally controls ledger participation or validation.

How should regulators treat decentralization across different tokens?

Regulators should evaluate decentralization on objective technical and governance criteria — validator distribution, open-source development, and operational independence — rather than relying on a single-token narrative. This helps avoid policy outcomes that unintentionally restrict innovation.

Key Takeaways

• Decentralization is a technical trait: Networks are decentralized when control is distributed across many independent validators and contributors.
• Bitcoin is not the only decentralized network: Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP all lack a single executive leader and share permissionless design principles.
• Policy implications: Regulators should assess decentralization based on technical facts to avoid harmful, single-token regulatory frameworks.

Conclusion

Stuart Alderoty’s remarks underscore a central point for regulators and market participants: decentralization is not exclusive to Bitcoin. The XRP Ledger’s open-source, permissionless architecture and independent validator set show that XRP operates independently from Ripple. Policymakers should apply consistent, technical criteria across tokens to support secure innovation and fair consumer protection. Published by COINOTAG on October 16, 2025. Updated October 16, 2025.

The CLO Explained That Treating Bitcoin as the Only Decentralized Crypto Could Mislead Regulators

Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty has clarified a major misconception about decentralization in cryptocurrencies.

In a recent statement, he explained that Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP all share a common trait: none of them have a CEO. This was in response to a post from the National Cryptocurrency Association, which said Bitcoin’s lack of a CEO represents blockchain independence and neutrality.

“Yes, Bitcoin doesn’t have a CEO, but that’s not ideology. It’s the fundamental design of all open, permissionless tokens,” Alderoty wrote. Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano also operate the same way, with no one in control and everyone free to participate.

“When a network is open and permissionless, no one sits at the center deciding who can participate, validate transactions, or build on top of it,” Alderoty said. He said that policymakers have a risk of making poor regulatory decisions if they treat Bitcoin as the only truly decentralized system. According to him, ignoring other decentralized projects could limit progress and innovation across the crypto world.

The National Cryptocurrency Association had earlier shed light on this misconception, saying decentralization defines more than one token. The group added that millions of people use cryptocurrencies for access and inclusion. “The crypto story is bigger than any single token,” the NCA said, as it highlights that over 55 million Americans now use digital assets to improve their financial lives.

XRP’s Independence from Ripple

Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse also clarified that XRP is decentralized and operates independently from Ripple.

“XRP is a digital asset that’s native to the XRP Ledger—an open-source, permissionless, and decentralized blockchain technology,” according to the XRP Ledger blog post (plain text source). Ripple remains a technology company, while the XRP Ledger is maintained by an independent network of validators.

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