Linda Jones, a wealth mentor and financial author, believes XRP has always been a part of the broader plan for years.

She disclosed this upon revisiting a video from 2019 featuring Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary under Donald Trump. Notably, Mnuchin’s remarks came up on July 15, 2019, during a surprise press conference.

Jones’ latest remarks, shared five years after Mnuchin’s comments, spotlight her belief that XRP has been part of a larger plan for years, and many have overlooked this.

“A Level Playing Field”

In the video, Mnuchin discussed the use of crypto for illegal activity amid the growing prominence of Facebook’s Libra project at the time. He highlighted crypto regulations and talked about fostering innovation while maintaining the stability of the financial system. 

Mnuchin noted that they encourage technological advancements in payment systems, provided these adhere to existing regulations. Importantly, he stressed the importance of creating a “level playing field,” treating all financial providers—whether traditional banks, fintech firms, or payment processors—equally. 

In her recent remarks, Jones connected Mnuchin’s statements with the long-standing advocacy by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, who has often championed a “level playing field” in financial innovation.

It cracks me up that people don’t think XRP has been part of the plan for years and they think Trump knows nothing about crypto. BG just told us he (Brad) was the one who used the term “level playing field”. So when you watch this 2020 video and Steven talks about distributed… https://t.co/cdLeAxGfwK

— Linda P. Jones (@LindaPJones) January 9, 2025

According to Jones, the phrase wasn’t coincidental. She suggested that the XRP Ledger, with its distributed ledger technology, has been central to achieving this goal for years. 

Trump’s Return and Renewed Interest in XRP

Jones’ comments come up following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election and Ripple executives’ recent meeting with him at Mar-a-Lago. These developments have fueled speculation about crypto-friendly regulations that could favor XRP. 

Recall that CNBC spotlighted XRP as the biggest winner from the November 2024 Trump-led rally. Jones found it amusing that many still believe Trump is unaware of crypto, especially with the spotlight on Ripple’s leadership and their advocacy for regulatory clarity.

For context, Ripple has long worked to align its operations with global financial regulations. Jones highlighted how Garlinghouse’s consistent messaging about equal treatment for all financial institutions aligns with the regulatory discussions from years ago. 

Steven Mnuchin’s 2019 Remarks  

Notably, in 2019, Mnuchin explained how regulations would support responsible innovation without favoring traditional financial institutions over newer players like MoneyGram, PayPal, and others. 

He assured reporters that regulations aimed to create fairness across the financial ecosystem. While acknowledging concerns about overregulation, Mnuchin denied painting all crypto projects with the same brush. 

Instead, he pointed out that work was already underway regarding crypto oversight long before Facebook’s Libra project brought it into the limelight.

Jones interpreted these remarks as further evidence that XRP and crypto had been part of the financial discussion for years. As Trump’s administration returns to power, speculation grows about how upcoming regulatory decisions could benefit crypto assets, including XRP.