Rippln's leadership recently claimed the company "never actually shut down" despite its collapse last year following a trademark infringement lawsuit from Ripple Labs and a failure to secure funding. This assertion appeared in an email sent to remaining partners after a period of prolonged silence.
The message from "Rippln HQ" stated the company continues to invest heavily and employees still report to work daily. This directly contradicts Jonathan Budd, a co-founder, who informed his downline last month that Rippln "lost its financing capability to keep going in the Fall of last year" and could not continue without funding. The email does not specify if new investment has been secured, nor does it clarify Budd's current involvement. The signatory, "Rippln HQ," leaves questions about the true leadership.
The email discusses at length the Ripple Labs lawsuit, which focused on trademark rights to the Rippln name. Attorneys reportedly ordered a communications blackout starting in December while settlement talks occurred. "We have finally come to an agreement with Ripple Labs," the email announced, promising details in the coming weeks.
Court filings confirm a settlement with a Standby Order of Dismissal. As part of this agreement, the Rippln name and branding appear permanently barred. The company can no longer operate under its original identity.
The email reveals Rippln is developing a rebranding strategy. The company claims it has held discussions with potential investors and partners over the past four months. Some, according to the message, are interested in acquiring Rippln outright for its technology. The email ends abruptly while describing the rebranding direction, but the message suggests Rippln aims to shed its identity and relaunch under a new name.
This strategy is a common tactic for multi-level marketing operations facing legal and financial distress. Companies often strip away compromised brands, rebrand, and then restart recruitment under fresh names and structures. Rippln had built an affiliate network before its collapse. Many of these individuals still await answers about lost commissions and unpaid balances.
An email asserting the company never truly died, combined with vague promises of rebranding and unidentified investors, appears more like damage control than a genuine recovery effort. The Rippln name carries a negative reputation. The company seems intent on rising from its difficulties with a different face, leaving a large network of affiliates with outstanding unpaid balances.