Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) David Schwartz has announced he will step down at the end of this year after more than a decade with the company. Schwartz, who played a pivotal role in the creation of the XRP Ledger, expressed in a post on X that his decision is influenced by a desire to spend more time with family and rekindle interests that he had previously set aside. Despite leaving his executive role, Schwartz emphasized that he will remain active within the XRP community, stating, “You haven’t seen the last of me (now, or ever).”
In a strategic shift, Schwartz will transition to a position as CTO Emeritus, allowing him to stay engaged with Ripple while working on personal projects. He has already taken steps to maintain his connection to the company, including running his own XRPL node and experimenting with new use cases for XRP beyond Ripple’s core business.
Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, warmly welcomed Schwartz’s ongoing involvement on the company’s board of directors, highlighting his invaluable contributions and foresight within the crypto space. Garlinghouse praised Schwartz as a “true OG in crypto” whose vision and determination have shaped Ripple’s journey.
Schwartz’s departure comes on the heels of a significant legal resolution for Ripple. He has been an instrumental figure during Ripple’s long-standing legal battle with US regulators, particularly the SEC, which filed a lawsuit in 2020 alleging that the company raised over $1.3 billion through unregistered sales of XRP. This prolonged legal struggle had a profound impact on Ripple and the broader digital asset market, fueling discussions on regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies. Fortunately, the case reached a conclusion in August 2025, with a court-approved settlement being recognized as a landmark decision for the industry.
As Schwartz prepares to transition, Ripple appears to be strategizing for a new chapter. The company aims to capitalize on the clarity brought about by the recent legal resolution while still benefiting from Schwartz’s technological insights through his board position. Meanwhile, XRP’s market performance has seen a slight decline, trading down by 1.5% on Tuesday at $2.84, reflecting a total loss of 6.5% over the past week.
