Community Trust ScoreVerified
Ripple CTO David Schwartz, one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), recently revealed that he purchased his XRP holdings at an incredibly low price, solidifying his status as one of the earliest participants in the XRP community. While many expected Schwartz to have received XRP for free due to his pivotal role in developing the XRPL, he confirmed that he acquired his tokens like a regular market participant, buying them from secondary markets. In a recent discussion on social media, Schwartz disclosed that his entry price for XRP was just $0.006.
The conversation was fueled by a post from Stedas, a prominent XRP community figure, who commented that real XRP “OGs” were those who bought the token at around $0.50 or lower. This level, according to Stedas, was significant because XRP traded at that range for several years, from April 2022 through November 2025, offering multiple chances for committed investors to accumulate the token during tough market conditions. XRP only began its latest breakout in November 2025, during a market-wide rally reportedly driven by a surge in institutional interest and favorable political developments under the Trump administration. Following the rally, XRP surged past both the $0.50 and $1 psychological resistance levels, eventually stabilizing around $2.25 at the time of writing.
Responding to Stedas’ remark, Schwartz confirmed that he had bought his XRP at the even lower price of $0.006, significantly undercutting the $0.50 “OG” benchmark. This revelation took many by surprise, given that Schwartz had previously stated he did not receive any XRP from Ripple’s initial token allocation. Instead, he opted for Ripple equity during the early development stages of the company and the XRP Ledger. In hindsight, Schwartz admitted that XRP was far more liquid than Ripple shares, implying that a different choice may have given him easier access to capital in the years that followed.
Adding more detail to his XRP journey, Schwartz previously revealed in 2022 that he had the opportunity to take his salary in XRP but declined because he needed fiat money at the time. Still, he made the conscious decision to purchase XRP from the open market. This deliberate move to acquire the token showcases his personal conviction in the technology he helped create. At the peak of his holdings, Schwartz claimed to have owned 26 million XRP tokens. If he indeed purchased them all at $0.006 per token, his total investment would have amounted to $156,000.
Fast-forward to the present day, with XRP trading at approximately $2.25, those 26 million tokens would be worth an impressive $58.5 million. That would represent a staggering return of over $58 million on his initial investment. However, Schwartz has noted in past statements that he never sold large amounts of XRP, though he has not disclosed the exact quantity of tokens he currently holds. Given the massive appreciation in price and the financial risk involved in holding such a significant position, it’s reasonable to assume that he may have sold or diversified some portion of his holdings over time.
Looking ahead, the XRP community and analysts remain optimistic about further gains. Market experts, including the well-followed analyst EGRAG, have projected that XRP could eventually reach a price of $10, especially if current bullish trends continue and regulatory clarity improves. If such a target is hit, and assuming Schwartz still holds all 26 million XRP, the value of his holdings would surge to $260 million. Even if he held only a portion of his original stash, the profits would still be enormous.
Schwartz’s story underscores the value of long-term vision in the volatile world of cryptocurrencies. His early investment, born out of technical belief rather than speculation, could result in life-changing wealth. It also serves as a reminder of the risks and rewards inherent in being an early adopter of emerging technologies. As XRP continues to attract institutional attention and gain mainstream traction, the fortunes of early believers like Schwartz continue to fascinate the broader crypto community.
