Musk Rarely Responds to XRP! 2022 Old Article Reignites Speculation on X Payments Integration

The host of the "Good Morning Crypto" podcast, Abs Nassif, recently re-shared interactive screenshots from October 2022, revealing that Elon Musk had directly responded to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse's criticism of the SEC, indicating that the billionaire understands and follows XRP. At that time, Garlinghouse publicly criticized the SEC's handling of the Hinman documents, to which Musk briefly replied, "Impossible!" With the X Payments system set to launch soon, the XRP community is urging Musk to consider integrating XRP's fast, low-cost global transfer capabilities, and this resurfacing of old content has sparked a new wave of speculation about integration.

Elon Musk's Historic Interaction with XRP: Key Moments of 2022

(Source: X)

The image shared by Nasif is Musk's response to Garlinghouse's post in October 2022. At that time, Garlinghouse publicly criticized the actions of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in its long-term legal dispute with Ripple. This seemingly simple interaction actually contains multiple layers of important messages.

· Background of the Hinman Document Controversy

Ripple's Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty announced that after months of litigation and multiple court orders, the company has finally obtained the so-called Hinman documents. These SEC internal communications relate to a speech given by former SEC official William Hinman in 2018, which played a key role in shaping how the SEC views cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum.

Hinman stated in a 2018 speech that Ethereum should not be considered a security, a position that created a relatively clear regulatory environment for Ethereum's development. However, Ripple and XRP did not receive the same treatment, leading to years of legal litigation. The Hinman documents are believed to potentially contain internal SEC discussions on how to differentiate between various cryptocurrencies, which is crucial for Ripple's defense.

· What does Musk's "impossible!" mean?

Musk's comments are a response to Garlinghouse's criticism of the transparency of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which aligns with Musk's own history of questioning the regulatory body's stance on emerging technologies. This brief response contains several important implications:

First, this means that Musk indirectly acknowledges that he is following XRP and the lawsuit between Ripple and the SEC. He understands the relevant background and key figures, knows the importance of the Hinman documents, and is familiar with Garlinghouse. This is not a random comment, but rather a response based on a certain understanding of the situation.

Secondly, Musk's tone expressed skepticism or dissatisfaction with the SEC's handling. The term "Impossible!" suggests that he finds some of the SEC's actions unbelievable or unreasonable. This is consistent with Musk's past criticism of regulatory bodies, as he has questioned the SEC's decisions in Tesla and other cases multiple times.

Third, this interaction shows that Musk's interest in cryptocurrency is not limited to Dogecoin. While his relationship with Dogecoin is the most well-known, his response to XRP-related topics indicates that he is following the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Core Advantages of XRP: Why It Might Attract Musk

Elon Musk's brief response to Garlinghouse's post is one of the few examples of him directly engaging with key figures in the XRP debate. This remark indicates that interest in digital assets in the crypto space has extended beyond Dogecoin and similar meme coins.

· Fast and low-cost global transfers

What are the core advantages of XRP? Fast, low-cost global transfers, a feature that may perfectly align with Musk's new platform. XRP transactions are typically completed within 3-5 seconds, with fees of only a few cents, contrasting sharply with traditional banking systems' cross-border remittances that can take days and charge dozens of dollars.

For a system like X Payments, which aims to create a new financial platform, speed and cost efficiency are core competitive advantages. If Musk truly wants X Payments to handle instant payments globally, the technical characteristics of XRP are indeed worth considering. In contrast, Bitcoin has slower transaction speeds, and Ethereum's gas fees can reach several tens of dollars during peak times, making them less suitable for everyday small payment scenarios.

· Application of Real World Asset Tokenization

XRP has already played an important role in global real-world asset (RWA) tokenization projects and other payment systems. Ripple has established partnerships with multiple financial institutions and central banks, with mature use cases in the cross-border payment field. This practical experience is something that many other cryptocurrencies lack.

If Musk wants X Payments to be not just a consumer payment tool, but also capable of handling more complex financial transactions, the mature ecosystem of XRP and its institutional-level reliability may be important considerations.

X Payments Integration Speculation: The XRP Community's Eager Anticipation

The recent re-following of the exchange comes at a time when some members of the XRP community are calling for Musk to consider integrating XRP into the X Payments system, and even into Tesla's payment options.

· Strategic Positioning of X Payments

Elon Musk's X Payments system aims to transform X (formerly Twitter) into a fully functional financial platform, similar to China's WeChat Pay or Alipay. This vision includes peer-to-peer transfers, merchant payments, and even possible investment and lending features.

In this grand plan, the choice of underlying technology or the support of certain cryptocurrencies will have a profound impact on the performance and cost structure of the entire ecosystem. The XRP community believes that, considering the technological advantages of XRP and its existing network of financial institutions, it should be one of the options for X Payments.

· The Possibility of Tesla Payment Integration

Tesla currently accepts Dogecoin as payment for some products, which proves that Musk is willing to integrate cryptocurrency payments into his company. If XRP is integrated into Tesla's payment system, it would be a significant adoption milestone.

Imagine if Tesla customers around the world could use XRP to purchase vehicles or accessories; this would create a significant amount of real usage demand. Moreover, for international customers, using XRP for payments may be quicker and cheaper than traditional bank transfers.

Current Reality: Dogecoin remains the top choice

As of now, Musk has not revealed any plans related to integrating XRP, while Dogecoin remains the cryptocurrency most closely associated with him. Musk has repeatedly endorsed Dogecoin on social media, calling it the "people's cryptocurrency," and has accepted Dogecoin payments at Tesla stores.

This preference for Dogecoin partly stems from community culture and meme value, rather than purely technical considerations. Musk seems to appreciate the lighthearted and fun image of Dogecoin, which aligns with his personal social media style. In contrast, XRP is more often seen as an enterprise-level solution, lacking the grassroots and entertainment value of Dogecoin.

· Common Demand for Regulatory Transparency

Nevertheless, the re-emergence of this brief interaction has sparked continued interest in how his company will ultimately achieve the integration of digital assets. Incorporating Musk's X Payments will be an important milestone for XRP, as it will significantly enhance its reach and adoption.

· Musk's Common Position with the Crypto Community

Elon Musk's remarks are completely in line with the crypto community's constant calls for "the SEC needs transparency and clarity!" The biggest complaint against the SEC right now is that "the rules are vague and lack transparency." The lawsuit between Ripple and the SEC is a typical example of this issue, as the company has spent years and huge legal costs just to clarify whether XRP should be classified as a security.

Musk's approach can be seen as handing the microphone over to the community, and this transparency issue must be addressed! His high-profile statement provides vocal support for the crypto industry in combating unreasonable regulation. When influential figures like Musk publicly criticize regulatory opacity, it could have a real impact on promoting regulatory reform.

The Benchmark Significance of the Ripple Lawsuit

The lawsuit between Ripple and the SEC has become a benchmark case for the entire cryptocurrency industry. If Ripple ultimately wins (it has already achieved partial victories, with the court ruling that XRP does not constitute a security in certain circumstances), this will provide important legal precedents for other cryptocurrency projects.

Musk's follow and public support for this case may reflect his concerns about the overall regulatory environment in the industry. If the SEC can take such aggressive enforcement actions against Ripple, then other crypto projects, including those that may be related to Musk, may also face similar risks.

· Market Reaction and Community Sentiment

The recent resurgence of this old article has sparked heated discussions in the XRP community. Social media is filled with speculation about Musk potentially integrating XRP, with some even believing this is a signal of what is to come.

· The Balance of Rationality and Frenzy

However, investors need to distinguish between reasonable business logic and excessive speculative hype. Musk's response to Garlinghouse indicates that he understands XRP, and its speed and efficiency make it a superior choice compared to other assets. But "understanding" does not equal "adoption," and there is still a long way to go between the two.

From a business perspective, Musk will consider multiple factors when choosing which cryptocurrencies to integrate: technical performance, regulatory clarity, community support, brand image, cost-effectiveness, etc. XRP has advantages in technical performance and regulatory clarity (especially after progress in litigation), but it may not be as appealing to Musk as Dogecoin in terms of brand image and community culture.

· Uncertainty of Price Impact

Such news often triggers short-term price fluctuations, but the long-term impact depends on whether there is substantial integration action. If Musk really announces X Payments or Tesla will support XRP, the market reaction will be immense. However, if it's just the community's wishful thinking, the price may drop after a brief rise.

Investors should follow actual progress, not speculation and rumors. Is there an official statement? Are there signs of technical integration? These are the reliable signals.

Advice for Investors: Rationally View the Musk Effect

It must be said that this connection is by no means absurd. If XRP truly gains favor in Musk's system, how many times would its adoption rate and influence increase? However, investment decisions should not be based solely on celebrity effects or speculation.

Follow official updates: Keep a close eye on official announcements from Musk, X Payments, and Tesla, rather than speculation on social media.

Evaluate Technical Advantages: The fast and low-cost transfers of XRP are indeed practical advantages, but it is necessary to see if they align with the overall structure and business model of X Payments.

Monitoring Regulatory Progress: The final outcome of the Ripple vs. SEC lawsuit will impact the regulatory status of XRP, which is crucial for the integration decisions of large companies.

Diversify Investment Risks: Do not overly concentrate investments due to celebrity effects; maintain a reasonable asset allocation.

Long-term perspective: Even if the integration really happens, its effects will take time to fully manifest, so maintain patience and rational judgment.