Ripple’s XRP has experienced a notable surge, briefly touching the significant $3 mark, fueled by the announcement that Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz will be stepping back from his day-to-day responsibilities while remaining a member of Ripple’s board.
In a statement, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse praised Schwartz as a “visionary crypto pioneer,” acknowledging his monumental contributions to Ripple’s development, the XRP Ledger, and the broader blockchain ecosystem. Garlinghouse expressed gratitude that Schwartz will continue to provide guidance from his position on the board, humorously adding that Schwartz would now be “their boss from afar.”
Reflecting on his 40-year career, Schwartz mentioned his time consulting for the NSA, his early engagement with Bitcoin, co-founding the XRP Ledger, and his 13 years of service as Ripple’s CTO. Following his transition, he plans to return to some of his personal interests, including coding, tinkering, and exploring new use cases for XRP.
Despite the growing competition from initiatives like SWIFT’s blockchain and efforts from ConsenSys, the assurance of Schwartz’s ongoing role in the board signifies his sustained influence on the future development of the XRP Ledger.
Crypto trader CW has indicated that this change could signal the beginning of a significant rally for XRP. He cited strong momentum going into a period of anticipated positive developments, including potential ETF approvals expected by mid-October 2025. “Everything is perfect,” he remarked, hinting at an optimistic outlook for the cryptocurrency.
In related market developments, VivoPower International LLC announced the successful closure of its equity raise, selling shares at $6.05 and generating approximately $19 million. This move signals a robust market appetite for strategic equity maneuvers within the growing crypto ecosystem.


