David Schwartz, aka JoelKatz and formerly Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, disclosed in a social media exchange this week that he once held 26 million XRP, significantly more than what he currently holds.
Responding to a question on X about the size of his personal XRP position, Schwartz offered an unexpected point of reference. “My idea of not a lot is still more than a million,” he wrote. “I once had 26 million XRP.”
The comment came in the context of a broader exchange about risk tolerance and crypto exposure among Ripple’s founding figures.
When asked whether Ripple co-founder Arthur Britto shares a similar approach to risk and asset exposure, Schwartz said the two had never directly discussed the topic. He added that his vague recollection from years ago was that Britto had been selling Bitcoin to cover personal expenses while holding onto most or all of his XRP.
“I vaguely remember him saying that he’s been selling Bitcoin to cover expenses and hadn’t sold any, or very little, XRP,” Schwartz wrote. “But that was many years ago and I have no idea what he’s done since then.”
Schwartz was careful to note the limits of his knowledge, stressing that the recollection was both vague and dated, and that Britto’s current holdings and strategy are unknown to him.
The exchange drew attention within the XRP community, given the rarity of public disclosures from Ripple’s founding figures about their personal crypto positions. Schwartz’s acknowledgement that he once held 26 million XRP, a sum worth tens of millions of dollars at current prices, added context to how his personal holdings have changed over the years since the network launched.
Neither Schwartz nor Ripple made any further comment on the matter at the time of publication.
CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.
XRP is holding near $1.13 on the weekly chart, a level that has been acting…
Pi42 Co-founder and CEO Avinash Shekhar shared an exclusive assessment with Coinpedia on the state…
Bitcoin is holding above its 200-week moving average for another week, a level that has…
Agentic AI is hungry, and apparently, traditional infrastructure is starting to feel the strain. That…
TAO price exploded more than 21% during Friday's trading session after a sudden development in…
Internet Computer has spent the better part of the past two years trading inside a…
