The news hit the XRP community like a ton of bricks. David Schwartz, the man practically synonymous with the XRP Ledger, officially stepped away from his day-to-day role as Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer. It wasn't a sudden firing or a dramatic walk-out. Honestly, it was a lot more human than that.
After 13 years of building one of the most polarizing and powerful networks in crypto, Schwartz basically decided it was time to be a person again.
The end of an era
If you've followed Ripple for more than five minutes, you know David Schwartz. He’s "JoelKatz." He’s the guy who explains complex consensus algorithms while wearing a t-shirt that looks like it's from 2004. He isn't just an executive; he’s one of the original architects who coded the thing.
When he announced his resignation in late 2025, it felt like the tech world shifted a bit. This wasn't just a corporate vacancy. It was the departure of the primary guardian of the ledger’s technical soul. He’s moving into a "CTO Emeritus" role and joining the Ripple Board of Directors.
Is he "gone-gone"? No. But the days of him steering every engineering meeting are over.
Why did he actually leave?
People love a good conspiracy. Whenever a big crypto figure steps down, the rumors start flying. Was it the SEC? Was it internal beef with Brad Garlinghouse? Was he secretly moving to a competitor?
The truth is much more mundane.
Schwartz has been at this for over a decade. In his own words, he wanted to spend time with his grandkids. He wanted to get back to the hobbies he’d ignored for years while fighting legal battles and fixing bugs. It’s easy to forget that these guys aren't just lines of code. They get tired. They want to go for a hike without checking a validator's health.
He didn't leave because Ripple is failing. In fact, he’s staying on the board. That’s usually a sign of a "good" exit. If you hate a company, you don't take a seat at the table where you have to keep helping them succeed.
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The ripple effect (pun intended)
So, what happens to XRP now?
The market's reaction was surprisingly chill. Usually, when a founder or CTO leaves, the price of the native token tanks. XRP held its ground. Part of that is because Schwartz isn't fully disappearing. He’s still running his own node. He’s still active on X (formerly Twitter).
But the real weight falls on Dennis Jarosch.
Jarosch, the former Senior Vice President of Engineering, is the guy stepping up to fill those massive shoes. It's a heavy lift. Following a legend is never easy, especially one as beloved and technically gifted as David. The transition seems to have been planned for months, which is why we didn't see a massive panic sell.
What most people get wrong about this move
The biggest misconception is that this resignation means Ripple is shifting away from its core technology. Some critics claimed that Schwartz leaving was a sign that the XRP Ledger had reached a dead end.
That’s kinda ridiculous.
The XRPL is more active than ever. We're seeing huge upgrades like the RLUSD stablecoin integration and decentralized finance (DeFi) amendments. Schwartz himself is still researching experimental use cases for XRP. He’s just doing it without the burden of managing a global engineering team of hundreds of people.
He’s basically gone back to being a "hands-on" developer and a strategic advisor.
What this means for the future
If you're holding XRP, don't freak out. Leadership changes are a sign of a maturing company, not a dying one. Microsoft survived without Bill Gates. Apple survived without Steve Jobs. Ripple has to prove it can thrive without David Schwartz at the helm of the dev team.
The move to CTO Emeritus allows Schwartz to be the "wise old man" of Ripple. He provides the vision; Jarosch provides the execution.
It’s actually a healthy setup.
Actionable insights for XRP holders
- Watch the Board: Pay attention to the strategic shifts now that Schwartz has a vote on the Board of Directors. His influence will move from "how do we code this" to "where is this company going in 5 years."
- Monitor Dennis Jarosch: Keep an eye on the technical roadmap coming from the engineering team. If the pace of upgrades slows down, then we might have a problem. So far, it’s looking steady.
- Follow the Node: Schwartz is still running his own XRP node. If he ever shuts that down, that would be the time to worry. As long as he's participating in consensus, he’s still in the game.
- Ignore the Noise: Don't get caught up in the "he's quitting because Ripple lost" narrative. The data doesn't support it. He’s just a guy who wants to play with his grandkids and code for fun again.
The transition is officially complete as of early 2026. The "Emeritus" title is in the bio, the board seat is warm, and the ledger keeps ticking every few seconds, just like it always has.
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Check the official Ripple newsroom or David Schwartz’s verified social media profiles for the most direct updates on his upcoming projects and board activities.