David Schwartz to Step Down as Ripple’s CTO

David Schwartz to step down as Ripple's CTO, remains on board.

David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, will step down from his position but will remain on the board of directors. He announced this in a post on platform X.

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

A Key Developer

Schwartz, who played a crucial role in the creation of the XRP Ledger, will retire at the end of 2025. Over his 13 years at the company, including the last seven as Chief Technology Officer and previously as Chief Cryptographer, he participated in several landmark events, including the launch of the RLUSD stablecoin.

“I look forward to spending more time with my children and grandchildren, and returning to hobbies I’ve set aside,” Schwartz wrote.

Continued Collaboration

Schwartz stated that he will continue to be involved with the company: he will join the board of directors and “occasionally drop by the office.”

“I am not leaving the XRP community. You will hear from me again,” he declared.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse called the developer “a true legend of the crypto industry” and noted that their weekly meetings will continue.

The smartest (and maybe the funniest) person I know. A true OG in crypto with the conviction and vision to see what others couldn’t — you are a legend. Thank you David for everything you’ve done for the industry, for Ripple and for the XRP Ledger. We are all forever grateful…… https://t.co/tt4uX4JlkV

— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) September 30, 2025

“I’m glad you’ll be around to share your deep understanding of cryptography, guiding us in project development,” Garlinghouse wrote.

Back in May 2024, Schwartz described Chris Larsen as a key figure in the company, highlighting his belief in Ripple’s vision.