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A United States trademark registration for XRP as a payment method has resurfaced in the crypto community, triggering excitement and confusion.
The document, issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in December 2013, carries Registration Number 4,458,993. While the certificate is authentic, we have confirmed that it does not actually mean what some community voices claim it does.
The XRP Patent: What We Know
Notably, OpenCoin, Inc., which has since rebranded to Ripple Labs, filed the trademark on May 17, 2013. The filing fell under International Class 36, which covers financial services. Specifically, the registration states that XRP provides secure payment options for an online community through both traditional and digital currencies on a global computer network.
In addition, the UC Davis Law Review has also referenced the registration, adding another layer of confirmation. Further, the USPTO’s own TSDR system lists the registration as active, with regular updates and renewals in line with Ripple’s continued ownership.
Community Excitement Largely Misplaced
However, it appears some influencers in the XRP community have taken the rediscovery of the document to a different level.
For instance, community figure Amelia suggested that the U.S. itself patented XRP and officially recognized it as a payment method back in 2013. Her comment led some holders to see the filing as proof that XRP already enjoys government backing. Influencer JackTheRippler also made similar commentaries.
Nonetheless, the reality is different. For context, Ripple filed the trademark itself in 2013 as part of its early efforts to establish XRP in the financial scene. Last year, Ripple filed a similar trademark request for its proprietary stablecoin RLUSD.
The registration does not mean the U.S. government granted XRP any special status as a payment method, nor does it signal regulatory approval. It simply gave Ripple the exclusive right to use the XRP name in financial services.
The re-emergence of the certificate is still important because it shows how early Ripple moved to legally protect XRP in the intellectual property framework. Notably, this isn’t the only U.S. patent filed by Ripple. Data confirms the firm boasts 39 patents in the U.S., and the government has granted 18. Moreover, over 62% of these patents are active.