Schwartz’s Long Career
In a post on X, Schwartz reflected on his professional journey, describing it as “a wild ride,” from consulting for the NSA to witnessing Bitcoin’s earliest phase before co‑founding the XRP Ledger alongside Arthur Britto, Jed McCaleb, and Chris Larsen. He recalled his more than 13 years at Ripple as one of the greatest experiences of his life, ranking only behind time with his family.
Schwartz explained that his decision was motivated by a desire to spend more time with his children and grandchildren and return to hobbies he had set aside. However, he emphasized that he will remain closely connected to the XRP community, stating, “You haven’t seen the last of me.”
As happens in one’s life, I’ve been taking stock of my last 40 years. It’s been a wild ride. I’ve gone from consulting for the NSA to watching the early stages of Bitcoin. Then, I met Arthur, Jed, and Chris and worked on coding the XRP Ledger. Now, I’ve spent more than 13 years…
— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) September 30, 2025
Schwartz’s New Role at Ripple
While stepping back from daily operations, Schwartz accepted an invitation from Chris Larsen to join Ripple’s Board of Directors as CTO Emeritus. He praised his colleagues, including Ripple’s SVP of Engineering Dennis Jarosch, saying he has “total confidence in the next generation of leaders and builders.”
Schwartz also mentioned recent side projects he has pursued outside his executive role, such as running his own XRPL node and exploring new use cases for XRP beyond Ripple’s primary focus. He expressed enthusiasm about engaging in more hands‑on technical work and conversations with developers in the ecosystem.
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Strong Reactions from the XRP Community
The news prompted an outpouring of gratitude and support from XRP enthusiasts, developers, and content creators. Many community members expressed deep appreciation for Schwartz’s contributions, with some describing the announcement as the end of an era while wishing him well in his next chapter.
Some community members thanked him for his years of dedication, and others shared images and memories of interactions they had with Schwartz and what his contributions to XRP and the ecosystem meant to them.
Looking Ahead
The XRP community’s response showed the high regard in which Schwartz is held after more than a decade of leadership at Ripple. His shift to CTO Emeritus and a seat on Ripple’s Board positions him to continue contributing to the company’s mission while having more time for personal pursuits and independent projects.
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