TLDR
- The XRP Ledger Foundation appointed David Schwartz as an honorary board member.
- Schwartz was one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger in 2011.
- The XRPL Foundation supports code repositories, validators and developer initiatives.
- Schwartz said he reduced most direct crypto holdings, apart from Ripple stock.
- Schwartz said he now holds over 1M XRP, less than 1 BTC and less than 2 ETH.
The XRP Ledger Foundation has appointed Ripple technology chief David Schwartz as an honorary board member, adding one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger to the non-profit organization’s leadership structure.
The foundation announced the appointment in a post on X, saying Schwartz brings technical knowledge and long-term perspective to its work supporting the XRP Ledger ecosystem. The role is honorary, but the appointment places Schwartz closer to the independent body responsible for supporting XRPL development, validator coordination and ecosystem growth.
Schwartz is one of the earliest developers of the XRP Ledger. In 2011, he worked with Arthur Britto and Jed McCaleb on the original codebase that later became known as XRPL. The network was designed as a faster and more energy-efficient blockchain for payments and asset transfers.
We’re honored to welcome David Schwartz @JoelKatz as an Honorary Board Member of the XRP Ledger Foundation.
As one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger, David brings deep technical insight and a long-term perspective that will help strengthen the Foundation’s technical… pic.twitter.com/494o75hgLm
— XRP Ledger Foundation (@XRPLF) May 11, 2026
The appointment comes as XRPL continues expanding into decentralized finance, tokenized assets, automated market makers and broader institutional use cases. The foundation said Schwartz’s experience will support its technical stewardship as the ledger moves into new areas of development.
David Schwartz Returns to XRPL Governance Role
The XRP Ledger Foundation operates separately from Ripple. Its work includes supporting core code repositories, developer initiatives and validator-related infrastructure. The foundation also maintains a publisher Unique Node List, which helps participants identify trusted validators on the network.
By naming Schwartz as an honorary board member, the foundation is adding a figure closely associated with the ledger’s original design. His background includes applied cryptography, distributed systems and payment-focused blockchain architecture.
Schwartz has remained one of the most visible technical voices in the XRP community. He has frequently explained XRPL mechanics, network upgrades, consensus design and token utility in public discussions.
His appointment may carry symbolic value for XRP holders and developers because it connects the current foundation with the ledger’s early technical history. It also comes during a period when XRPL is competing with other chains for institutional settlement, real-world asset tokenization and decentralized finance activity.
The foundation did not describe the role as an executive position. As an honorary board member, Schwartz is expected to provide guidance rather than take direct operational control of the organization.
XRP Ledger Expands Technical Roadmap
XRPL has added several new features in recent years as developers seek to widen its use beyond payments. Automated market makers have been one area of focus, allowing liquidity pools and decentralized exchange activity to operate directly on the ledger.
Developers are also working on smart contract-related features and interoperability tools. These efforts are meant to support more complex financial applications while maintaining XRPL’s focus on speed and low-cost settlement.
The foundation’s technical role remains important because network upgrades require coordination among developers, validators and ecosystem participants. Governance decisions can affect security, transaction processing and the types of applications that can be built on the ledger.
Schwartz’s involvement may help the foundation evaluate future upgrades through the lens of XRPL’s original architecture. His presence may also support continuity as the network adopts newer features linked to DeFi and institutional finance.
The appointment follows wider institutional attention on XRP and XRPL. Ripple has continued expanding into custody, stablecoins, tokenized assets and prime brokerage services. The company also recently secured a $200 million financing facility for Ripple Prime and participated in a tokenized treasury settlement pilot with Mastercard, Ondo Finance and JPMorgan’s Kinexys.
What Does Ripple CTO Hold?
Schwartz’s appointment also follows renewed attention on comments he made about his personal crypto holdings. He said he has reduced most of his direct cryptocurrency exposure, apart from Ripple stock, because he prefers a lower-risk asset allocation.
He previously disclosed that he sold most of the 26 million XRP he once held and now holds more than 1 million XRP. He also said he reduced Bitcoin holdings from about 1,000 BTC to less than 1 BTC and Ether holdings from about 4,000 ETH to less than 2 ETH.
Schwartz said crypto remains a rare opportunity that can create unusual wealth, but he does not want most of his portfolio concentrated in volatile assets. He said peace of mind and financial stability matter more to him than maximizing possible returns.
His comments were not presented as criticism of crypto. Instead, they reflected a personal risk-management approach from a long-time industry insider. Moreover, he has often said that he does not consider himself a “diamond hand” investor, a term often used for people who hold assets through extreme volatility.
