Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse's attempt to whitewash anti-Bitcoin lobbying has been met with a mix of mockery and cold skepticism within the community behind the largest cryptocurrency.
As reported by U.Today, Garlinghouse recently rebranded the infamous "Skull of Satoshi" statue as a symbol of Bitcoin's resilience.
Matthew Sigel, head of digital asset research at investment behemoth VanEck, was among those who did not hold back their criticism. "Is that your apology for Ripple funding Greenpeace's anti-Bitcoin efforts? I'd prefer an apology to the ugly sculpture," he quipped.
The controversial installation, which is the creation of art activist Benjamin Von Wong and Greenpeace USA, shows a massive skull made of e-waste and recycled styrofoam.
Wong was inspired to take part in the project after studying the impact of climate change in Greenland.
Prior to this, Ripple's Chris Larsen joined forces with Greenpeace in order to lobby against the proof-of-work consensus algorithm.
Bitcoin advocates instantly dismissed the statue as low-quality propaganda, but some ended up embracing it in jest.
The gesture will certainly be insufficient for mending fences between the XRP and Bitcoin communities, which have been at loggerheads over the past few months after Ripple apparently lobbied against a BTC-only strategic reserve.
The statue was then gifted by Ripple to the Bitcoin community, and it will now be installed at the Nashville-based Bitcoin Museum.
Vladislav Sopov
U.Today Editorial Team