Ripple’s Global Twist: EMI License, Epstein Ties, and a Whale’s Secret

Ripple burst into the headlines like a fizzy firework, widening its footprint all over the globe, while the Epstein papers crooned with a chorus of controversy.

Meanwhile, the latest market tumble has given XRP a wriggle and a wobble, sending its price down to a multi-month low.

Expansion in Europe

Earlier this year, Ripple gobbled up preliminary Electronic Money Institution approval from the CSSF in Luxembourg. Not long after, the firm announced that it had secured full ratification from the regulator. Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s UK & Europe maestro, spoke with a glint in her eye:

“Securing our full EMI license in the EU is a transformative milestone that reinforces Ripple’s presence at the heart of European finance. Europe has always been a strategic priority for us, and this authorization allows us to scale our mission of providing robust, compliant blockchain infrastructure to clients across the EU. We are now better positioned than ever to help European businesses transition into a more efficient, digital-first financial era.”

Prior to that, Ripple Markets UK Ltd (the firm’s UK arm) registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, proving its compliance with anti-money-laundering rules and counter-terrorist financing regulations.

The Epstein Connection

A few days ago, the US Department of Justice released a monstrous mountain of pages, videos, and images tied to the late Epstein. Ripple popped up in the current, stirring a whirl of curiosity and controversy.

One of the released emails comes from Austin Hill (co-founder of Blockstream) addressed to Epstein and Joichi Ito (former director of MIT Media Lab). In that message, Hill asks them to call him to discuss Ripple and Stellar, describing both projects as “bad for the ecosystem we are building.”

Dr Russel McGregor, a mysterious X-user, advised Ripple’s team to demand that the SEC, DOJ, and Congress release all records related to any Epstein-linked influence on early crypto policy.

David Schwartz (one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger) offered his two cents, saying he wouldn’t be surprised if “this is just the tip of a giant iceberg.”

XRP Price Outlook

Ripple’s cross-border token recently slid to a 14-month low near $1.50, riding along with the broader market’s grumbles. Today it trades around $1.64 (per CoinGecko), a 14% drop over the past week.

Despite the murk and gloom, several analysts still see a glimmer of hope for XRP in the short term. X user EGRAG CRYPTO suggested that the pullback might be followed by “a liquidity grab.” Path A could bring a relief bounce, a second sweep, and then expansion, while Path B would launch an astronomical price rise-an outcome that currently resembles a dragon in a teacup.

Meanwhile, an anonymous large investor on Hyperliquid opened a multi-million dollar position with 20x leverage on XRP. Some say whales have inside information and trade with certainty; others call it bravado. Either way, such moves could coax in curious smaller players and sprinkle fresh capital into the ecosystem, potentially nudging XRP higher.

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2026-02-02 21:13