- •Hamilton claims XRP is more scalable and decentralized than Bitcoin.
- •RippleX proposes changes to simplify account management on XRP Ledger.
- •Hamilton highlights XRP’s efficiency over Bitcoin’s energy‑intensive mining system.
Matt Hamilton, former Director of Developer Relations at Ripple Labs, has recently made a bold statement in the ongoing debate between Bitcoin and XRP.
He argues that XRP, powered by the XRP Ledger (XRPL), is the future of crypto, presenting a viable alternative to Bitcoin in terms of scalability, decentralization, and sustainability.
Hamilton’s comments come amid discussions with Bitcoin maximalists who believe Bitcoin is the ultimate decentralized digital currency.
While Bitcoin supporters like Lightspark CEO David Marcus argue that Bitcoin’s immutability makes it irreplaceable, Hamilton countered by emphasizing that XRP addresses many of Bitcoin’s key limitations, particularly its scalability and high transaction fees.
According to Hamilton, Bitcoin’s reliance on mining could become unsustainable in the near future, especially after the next two halvings, leading to higher energy costs and reduced profitability for miners.
In contrast, Hamilton argues that XRP’s consensus mechanism allows it to scale more efficiently, reducing transaction fees and offering faster confirmation times without sacrificing decentralization.
He points out that XRP operates with a system similar to Bitcoin’s cryptographic security, yet provides the added benefit of greater scalability, making it a stronger contender for the future of digital money.
How does energy cost going down make a difference? Bitcoin just adjusts its difficulty level to maintain 10 minute average blocks. The cheaper or more plentiful energy is, the more Bitcoin uses.
What specifically do you think will reverse the current trend of Bitcoin mining…
— Matt Hamilton (@HammerToe) September 28, 2025
XRP’s Decentralized Future
Addressing concerns about XRP’s decentralization, Hamilton stressed that anyone can run an XRP node, ensuring that the network remains decentralized. He highlighted that, just like Bitcoin, XRP transactions are grouped into blocks, with each block containing the cryptographic hash of the previous one, making the network immutable.
This system, according to Hamilton, ensures the same level of security as Bitcoin while providing a faster and more scalable solution.
Hamilton’s position challenges the notion that Bitcoin is the only true decentralized cryptocurrency. By offering both decentralization and scalability, XRP positions itself as an ideal solution for the growing demand in the crypto market.
RippleX Proposes Enhancements to Simplify Account Management
RippleX, a subsidiary of Ripple, is also working on a series of proposals aimed at improving the functionality of the XRP Ledger. Recently, Mayukha Vadari, a software engineer at Ripple, shared details of an upcoming proposal designed to simplify account management on the XRP Ledger.
Vadari’s proposal suggests charging accounts only for the resources they actively use, instead of the current system, which imposes a full reserve fee. This change would make it easier for accounts to operate on the XRP Ledger, as users would only pay for the resources they consume.
This improvement could reduce friction for users and enhance the overall efficiency of the network, aligning with Ripple’s ongoing efforts to streamline its platform and make it more accessible.