David Schwartz to Step Down as Ripple CTO After 13 Years

• David Schwartz to step down as Ripple CTO after 13 years, joins Board as CTO Emeritus.
• Schwartz pledges to remain active in XRP Ledger development and community engagement.
• Ripple leaders praise Schwartz for pioneering innovations and lasting industry impact.

David Schwartz, Ripple’s long-serving Chief Technology Officer, announced that he will step down from his position after more than 13 years with the company. His decision marks a major leadership transition at Ripple, although he confirmed that his involvement with the XRP Ledger and the wider community will continue.

In an announcement shared on X, David Schwartz explained that he will leave his day-to-day responsibilities as CTO by the end of the year. He described his years at Ripple as one of the most significant experiences of his career, second only to family. Schwartz emphasized that stepping down does not mean stepping away from the role. He stated that he plans to remain active in technical work, developer engagement, and broader community discussions surrounding Ripple and XRP.

Schwartz expressed gratitude to Ripple executives Brad Garlinghouse, Monica Long, and Chris Larsen, as well as Arthur Britto, who collaborated with him on the development of the XRP Ledger. He extended his thanks to the RippleX team, core ledger developers, and community contributors, noting that working with them has been an honor.

Contributions and Future Role of David Schwartz 

During his announcement, Schwartz reflected on his recent efforts within the XRP Ledger. He has operated his own node, published its output data, and researched applications for XRP beyond Ripple’s primary focus. He said he enjoys building, coding, and discussing use cases with developers, and he intends to continue these activities even after stepping down.

The timing of the announcement coincides with the introduction of major upgrades to the XRP Ledger, which will support greater adoption. External projects, including Flare Network, are developing ways to expand XRP’s DeFi capabilities, offering yield opportunities to token holders.

Looking ahead, Schwartz confirmed that he accepted an invitation from Chris Larsen to join Ripple’s Board of Directors. He will continue to contribute as “CTO Emeritus,” which will allow him to remain present in advisory and governance capacities while no longer managing daily operations.

Ripple Leadership Responds

Ripple’s executives responded to the announcement with strong acknowledgments of Schwartz’s impact. CEO Brad Garlinghouse described him as a “true OG in crypto” whose vision and conviction helped shape Ripple and the XRP Ledger. Garlinghouse emphasized that Schwartz’s contributions will remain central to Ripple’s history and ongoing progress.

Monica Long, Ripple’s President, credited Schwartz with innovations such as Proof of Association, the decentralized exchange, and smart escrow. She praised his creativity, integrity, and foresight, calling his role critical to building the community that supports Ripple today.