A public exchange of words erupted in the cryptocurrency community after VanEck’s Matthew Sigel criticized XRP’s blockchain technology and value proposition. Ripple CTO David Schwartz swiftly responded, highlighting the potential of the XRP network beyond speculation, while a vocal XRP army defended their project’s impact on financial solutions. Sigel’s tweet questioning XRP’s value was met with pushback from experts in the field who emphasized the real-world applications of the blockchain, including faster and more cost-effective cross-border payments. 10 days after VanEck launched its XRP-centric ETF, Sigel’s comments sparked a heated debate, showcasing the ongoing tension between traditional finance views on cryptocurrencies and their potential for financial innovation. The Ripple community rallied behind David Schwartz, defending the project’s real-world applications and attacking Sigel’s apparent ignorance of their value proposition.