David Schwartz, former chief technology officer of Ripple and one of the original XRP Ledger architects, responded to claims that he is partially responsible for the poor performance of the XRP token. In a recent interaction on the X social media platform, Schwartz addressed user challenges regarding his potential influence on the cryptocurrency’s price movements.
A user on X wrote, “Don’t run from this. You can honestly say you don’t have anything to do with it? It’s not unfounded anger.” Schwartz acknowledged that he cannot entirely deny having an impact on the price of XRP but clarified that his influence is minimal. “Can I honestly say that I have nothing to do with the price of XRP? I guess probably not nothing. But very little,” Schwartz stated.
Price Context and Community Sentiment
Schwartz’s response comes amid growing frustration within the XRP community over the token’s sustained price decline. According to data from CoinMarketCap, XRP has experienced roughly a 50% drop in value over the past year. While the token saw several temporary price spikes during this period, the overall trend remained downward.
This decline is not unique to XRP. Stellar (XLM), another prominent cryptocurrency designed to facilitate payments, has exhibited a very similar price trend over the same time frame. The parallel performance suggests broader market factors may be influencing these assets, though Schwartz focused his comments on his personal role in the XRP ecosystem.
Blocking Policy and Ongoing Role
The exchange regarding price influence followed a longer post in which Schwartz expressed concern over the increase in hostile replies he receives on X. He noted that some users follow him into unrelated discussions to label him a fraud or criticize his work on XRP. In response, Schwartz decided to block users who make irrelevant crypto-related posts that disrupt his conversations with others.
Schwartz emphasized that this blocking policy applies to both critics and fans of XRP. Users who post positive comments about XRP in unsuitable contexts may also be blocked. He clarified that he has no issue with honest criticism or accusations that are supported by good arguments. His primary annoyance stems from users who hijack unrelated discussions to vent frustration. Schwartz offered to unblock users who commit to refraining from such behavior in the future.
Schwartz stepped away from his day-to-day duties at Ripple at the end of 2025 after working at the firm for over a decade. He has not fully left the company. Earlier this month, Schwartz clarified that he remains on Ripple’s board of directors and holds the honorary title of CTO Emeritus. He continues to meet with his former team twice a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is David Schwartz’s current role at Ripple?
David Schwartz stepped away from day-to-day duties at the end of 2025 but remains on Ripple’s board of directors. He holds the honorary title of CTO Emeritus and meets with his former team twice a month.
How much has XRP declined in value over the past year?
XRP has seen roughly a 50% decline in value over the past year, according to CoinMarketCap data, despite several temporary price spikes during the period.
