Resurfaced 2013 emails show Jeffrey Epstein being briefed on Google’s plans to use Ripple’s blockchain technology to expand digital payments in Africa.
Important points
- A 2013 email shows Jeffrey Epstein being briefed on Google’s plans to expand digital payments in Africa.
- Part of that effort includes Google’s investment in Ripple.
- Cryptocurrency commentators say email deceived Ripple, $XRP As a Google-certified alternative to traditional banking systems.
- Despite the initial investment, Google $XRP ledger.
Epstein’s email focuses on Google’s initial investment in Ripple
The redacted sender told Epstein that Google was investing in OpenCoin, later renamed Ripple, as part of an effort to expand digital payments in Africa, according to the document.
The email pointed to Kenya as a key adoption market, citing the country’s rapid growth in mobile telephony and the widespread use of Safaricom’s M-PESA as a strong foundation for digital finance.
It also notes Google’s broader strategy to achieve this vision, including Google Wallet payment and email links and Google Ventures’ investment in OpenCoin.
Interestingly, the email described OpenCoin as a company behind blockchain technology similar to Bitcoin. The document provides insight into how leading technology companies were considering partnering with Ripple to transform cross-border and mobile payments. This happened several years before cryptocurrencies gained global regulatory attention.

Epstein’s emails draw attention to Google’s investment in Ripple
ripple and $XRP As a Google-certified alternative to traditional banking systems
Commenting on this development, popular cryptocurrency commentator Jungle said that the email $XRP As a structured alternative to the traditional banking system, approved by Google.
He said that while Bitcoin was widely seen as “anarchic play money” in 2013, influential players were already investing in Ripple and $XRP Ledger (XRPL) as a scalable solution for global payments.
As a result, he argued that: $XRPIts utility-first role was established early on, with major institutions exploring its potential long before broader crypto markets took hold.
His comments are consistent with the views of the broader community, which consistently emphasizes that: $XRProle in global payments. token and $XRP Ledger has already built credibility in the financial sector with Ripple’s partnerships with major institutions including Japan-based SBI Group.
There is no evidence that Google has adopted Ripple technology
However, despite Google’s early investment in Ripple, $XRP A ledger for global payments. Instead, Google started developing its own blockchain for financial services last year. The blockchain, known as Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), includes “$XRP killer. “
Nevertheless, the two systems are fundamentally different. Although GCUL is designed as a private permissioned blockchain, $XRP The ledger remains public and decentralized. Additionally, Google’s planned ledger does not include native tokens.

