Ripple has donated the controversial “Skull of Satoshi” sculpture to the Bitcoin community in a symbolic move to foster cross-chain unity.
The donation was made during the Bitcoin Conference on May 28, marking an unexpected collaboration moment between two long-standing crypto industry rivals.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse described the move as a symbolic gesture to promote dialogue and solidarity across the broader blockchain space. He emphasized that the sculpture now stands as a monument to Bitcoin’s resilience and the crypto industry’s collective promise.
He added:
“I hope this gesture continues to remind folks that we (BTC, XRP, and other crypto communities) have more in common than we think.”
This development comes when tensions between the Bitcoin and XRP communities have often flared, particularly over regulatory approaches and energy debates.
Skull of Satoshi
Canadian artist Benjamin Von Wong created the “Skull of Satoshi” in 2023 as part of Greenpeace USA’s “Change the Code” campaign.
The campaign encouraged Bitcoin developers to transition from the energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW) model to the more sustainable proof-of-stake (PoS) system that Ethereum adopted in 2022.
The sculpture aimed to provoke thought around the environmental impact of Bitcoin’s proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism. It features shadowy coder figures beneath a skull composed of e-waste, all set against industrial backdrops symbolizing energy use.
However, the campaign was met with stiff opposition from the Bitcoin community, who pointed out that the movement was designed to vilify the top crypto.
Criticism intensified when it emerged that Ripple Co-founder Chris Larsen had donated $5 million to support the campaign. Some argued this confirmed Ripple’s involvement in efforts to discredit Bitcoin.
Yet, Von Wong maintains that the artwork was never intended to attack Bitcoin. Instead, it was meant to inspire the industry to embrace cleaner, renewable energy without compromising the core values of Bitcoin—security, decentralization, and censorship resistance.
Community reaction
Ripple’s donation has divided opinion within the crypto community, with its supporters viewing it as a sincere effort to build bridges between the two blockchain networks.
However, Bitcoin advocates argue that Ripple’s gesture was hollow, especially given its prior alignment with anti-BTC narratives.
VanEck’s head of digital asset research, Matthew Sigel, voiced his disdain for the piece, saying Ripple should have apologized for its previous support of anti-Bitcoin campaigns.
Other community members echoed this sentiment, with Bitcoin supporter Pierre Rochard remarking that Ripple’s attacks on Bitcoin only strengthened it. He stated:
“Brad, your attacks on bitcoin have only made it stronger. Bitcoin is anti-fragile.”
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