XRP Ledger 'Ghost Chain' Label Sparks Debate Over Blockchain Network Usage
Ripple's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) David Schwartz has responded to criticism that the XRP Ledger is being used for high-volume, low-value transactions, labeling it a 'ghost chain.'
The controversy began on September 10, when user ScamDetective5 posted statistics showing that nearly 93% of all XRP Ledger transactions in August were generated by just 793 accounts. These accounts were labeled as bots and spammers.
Schwartz acknowledged the figures but disputed the conclusion drawn from them, arguing that cheap, high-volume usage is a feature of an open network rather than a defect.
The debate raises questions about how to measure usage on blockchain networks and who gets to define what constitutes legitimate activity. The XRP Ledger's built-in decentralized exchange (DEX) allows for multiple transactions per trading intent, which could contribute to the high transaction count.