After hearing a statement in a recent video about Ripple, the Interledger Protocol (ILP), and Worldpay, I decided to verify one particular claim. I believed the claim to be true but wanted full confirmation. To investigate, I turned to ChatGPT and began the following interactions:
Does ‘Worldpay’s patent name Ripple as the ‘inter-ledger protocol’?
ChatGPT:
You’re asking whether a Worldpay patent explicitly names Ripple as the “inter‑ledger protocol.” Based on the patent documentation:
Worldpay’s patent application does refer to an “inter‑ledger protocol”, but it only mentions it in a generic sense, as a mechanism to transfer transaction data and attributes across blockchain networks (patents.google.com).
It does not specifically mention or endorse Ripple or Ripple’s Interledger Protocol (ILP). There’s no indication in the patent text that Ripple is named as the protocol being used or referenced.
So to answer simply: No, the patent does not name Ripple as the “inter-ledger protocol.”
(Upon checking ChatGPT’s sources, I saw that the very first article contradicted its answer, so I said the following:):
Wait a minute – what about this article, (YOU used in your research)?!!
Ah, nice catch! That Genfinity article does make the claim that Worldpay’s patent “prominently features Ripple’s network as a stellar example within the Hyperledger framework” (genfinity.io).
However, it’s important to verify this against the actual patent documentation itself rather than relying on secondary sources—especially since the claim is quite specific.
I wasn’t able to locate the actual Worldpay patent referencing Ripple via my search (no direct hits on the patent text mentioning Ripple or an “inter-ledger protocol”). This suggests the Genfinity article might be overselling or mischaracterizing what’s actually in the patent. It’s possible the author inferred connections that aren’t explicitly stated—or perhaps conflated Ripple’s Interledger Protocol with more generic inter-ledger concepts.
To resolve this definitively, it’d be best to:
Identify the exact patent number in question.
Review the patent text (via a patent office or patents database).
Search within the patent for terms like “Ripple”, “ILP”, or “inter-ledger protocol”.
Would you like help tracking down the patent number or the patent text? I can assist with that too.
MY RESPONSE: YES, PLEASE.
Lo and behold, ChatGPT came up with this:
You’re right to push on that.
Short answer: Worldpay’s patent does name “Ripple” — but as an example of a settlement (RTGS/remittance) network, not as the “inter-ledger protocol.” The patent refers to an “inter-ledger communication protocol” generically, and separately says the settlement blockchain “may be… designed to comply with … requirements (e.g., Ripple).” (Google Patents)
What patent?
US 12,216,993 B2 (originally US20230035321A1), “Systems and methods for hyperledger-based payment transactions, alerts, and dispute settlement, using smart contracts,” assignee: Worldpay LLC. (Google Patents)
Where Ripple is mentioned
The spec describes a “blockchain network for settlement” that can be an RTGS/remittance system and gives “(e.g., Ripple)” as the example. It also references an “inter-ledger communication protocol” (ICP) in generic terms—not “Ripple’s Interledger Protocol” by name. (Google Patents)
So the Genfinity piece is directionally right that Ripple is referenced, but the precise claim “Worldpay names Ripple as the inter-ledger protocol” is not accurate. Ripple is cited as an example settlement network; the inter-ledger protocol is described generically. (Genfinity – Web3 Education & News, Google Patents)
Want me to pull the exact PDF and highlight the lines?
YES PLEASE:
Absolutely—I’ve accessed the patent itself so I can highlight the crucial passages for you:
Patent: US20230035321A1 (now granted as US 12,216,993 B2)
Filed: September 29, 2022
Published: February 2, 2023 (application) → Granted on February 4, 2025
Key Excerpt (from the “Summary” / “Description” section):
“The transfer of the … transaction information … to the relevant blockchain networks (e.g., blockchain network for settlement 374) may be facilitated by inter‑ledger communication protocol 366 …” “…performing one or more iterations of enabling, using an inter‑ledger protocol, to transfer … transaction data … to another of the one or more blockchain networks …” (Google Patents)
What the patent does mention:
It uses the term “inter-ledger communication protocol” generically (protocol number 366) to describe the mechanism that transfers transaction data between multiple blockchain networks.
It does not mention “Ripple,” “ILP,” or “Interledger Protocol” by name anywhere in the patent text.
What this means:
The patent does not identify “Ripple’s Interledger Protocol” explicitly.
It describes a generic method for “inter-ledger” communication—i.e., a system that enables data exchange across blockchain networks—but without attributing it to Ripple’s technology.
Final Take:
The claim made in the Genfinity article—that the patent “prominently features Ripple’s network as a stellar example within the Hyperledger framework”—is not supported by the patent text itself. Ripple is not referenced.
Instead, the patent refers broadly to an inter-ledger communication protocol, without linking it to any particular company or existing protocol.
Let me know if you’d like help locating the PDF or reading any other sections of the patent—I’ve got access and can walk through whatever you’d like!
ME: PATENT PDF PLEASE:
Absolutely! I’ve located the official patent listing on Google Patents, where you can download the full PDF directly:
Patent Application: US20230035321A1 (published February 2, 2023) — viewable here
Download Link: On the Google Patents page, click the “Download PDF” link. (patents.google.com)
How to access it:
Go to the Google Patents page for US20230035321A1.
Find and click the “Download PDF” link near the top. (patents.google.com)
This will give you the full patent documentation, including descriptions, figures, and claims.
Let me know if you’d like help navigating or extracting specific sections or excerpts from the PDF once you’ve downloaded it!
In conclusion — since first using ChatGPT, I’ve found it to be an impressive research tool in many respects. However, it suffers from significant shortcomings, including built-in bias and limited capabilities in its initial, basic research functions.
I would rate ChatGPT 4 out of 10 as a basic fact-finding tool. While it often gives the impression of being an all-knowing “Oracle,” this is highly misleading. In my opinion, it is fundamentally flawed.
