- XRP trademark resurfaces, sparking confusion over supposed government recognition.
- Community misinterprets Ripple’s filing, mistaking trademark for U.S. patent.
- Document shows brand protection, not official approval of XRP payments.
A trademark registration for XRP has resurfaced in online discussions after crypto proponent Amelie (@_Crypto_Barbie) shared the document on X. The certificate, issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2013, is genuine but has been commonly misconstrued as an indication that the U.S. government recognizes XRP as a means of payment.
The document, filed by OpenCoin, now known as Ripple Labs, covers International Class 36 for financial services. It particularly mentions that XRP offers secure payment methods to online communities using both digital and traditional currencies. Ripple listed March 2013 as the first commercial use of XRP, indicating its early effort to establish the brand name.
According to independent records, the filing only protects the name “XRP” as a service mark. It does not categorize XRP as a government-backed payment system or provide any regulatory authorization. Nevertheless, some members of the community indicated that the document implied that the U.S. was supporting the token.
Also Read: Dogecoin and Chainlink Surge as Bitcoin Holds Steady Above $113,000
Confusion Around the Document
Amelie’s post sparked speculation, with many XRP community members interpreting the filing as confirmation that the United States had patented the digital asset. The image of the certificate, complete with the USPTO seal, fueled the belief that the government had formally recognized XRP as a payment method.
Reality, however, according to legal experts and as revealed by public records, is different. The certificate is a service mark registration and not a patent. In contrast to a patent, which secures inventions, a trademark secures names and symbols that relate to services or goods.
The difference indicates that it was exclusively a Ripple action to defend the XRP brand in the financial industry.
Why the Trademark Still Matters
Although the resurfaced document does not provide the sweeping validation some claimed, it still holds historical value. The filing demonstrates how Ripple articulated XRP’s role as a secure and versatile digital asset from the very beginning. Trademark registration prevented the misappropriation of its name, which guaranteed its rights to XRP in financial services and formed a preemptive basis of rights to the brand.
Since then, Ripple has widened its intellectual property base. Records indicate that the company has many American patents covering fintech innovations, most of which are still being used. This expansion of protections has supported Ripple in pursuing the digitalization of payments and settlement activities over the years.
Conclusion
The XRP trademark filing has once again captured attention, but much of the excitement stems from a misunderstanding. The document does not prove government ownership or endorsement of XRP. Instead, it highlights Ripple’s early move to secure legal rights over the XRP name and reflects its commitment to positioning the asset in global finance.
Also Read: Silicon Valley Giants Back Pi Network as Venture Firms Bet on Its Future
