Ripple is completely different though as I don't think you can mine it. I read its a scam as well
Ripple is different as they didn't want to do bitcoin style mining that is basically just a huge waste of power. But they do run a giveaway through BOINC/World Community Grid. So you can exchange compute power for XRP. See:
https://www.computingforgood.org/Ripple XRP is also a centralized, closed source code with open source atributes, like Apples OSX. It is not a decentralized payment system if it is owned and controlled by CEOs.