David Schwartz, the former chief technology officer of Ripple, said this week that XRP generated more personal wealth for him than any other cryptocurrency — including Bitcoin and Ethereum. Speaking publicly about his portfolio, Schwartz disclosed he once held 26 million XRP, roughly 1,000 Bitcoin, and 40,000 Ethereum. He sold his Ether at around $1.05 per token and later regretted it. He also reduced his Bitcoin stack from about 1,000 coins to fewer than one before the price hit six figures.
How Schwartz played his hand
Schwartz helped design the XRP Ledger and retired as Ripple's CTO earlier this year. His crypto holdings were heavily weighted toward XRP from the beginning. The 26 million XRP he held would be worth roughly $38 million at current prices near $1.46 — though the token hit an all-time high of $3.65 in July 2025. By contrast, his 1,000 Bitcoin, if held, would be worth tens of millions. He sold most of it before the run-up.
A risk-averse crypto millionaire
Schwartz describes himself as risk-averse, preferring to lock in gains rather than wait for bigger moves. That instinct drove his decision to cash out Ethereum and Bitcoin early. "I regret selling Ethereum at $1.05," he said, according to the disclosure. His approach stands in sharp contrast to the "hodl" ethos common in crypto circles. He'd rather take a sure thing than gamble on a moonshot.
What Schwartz holds today
Today, Schwartz's remaining crypto exposure is almost entirely in XRP and Ripple equity. Ripple carries an estimated private valuation of $40 billion. He said XRP has been the single biggest wealth generator for him personally, and he's comfortable staying concentrated in one asset. The disclosure offers a rare window into the portfolio of a major protocol architect — and a reminder that even early believers don't always ride every wave.
Schwartz stepped down as Ripple CTO earlier in 2025. He remains a key figure in the XRP ecosystem, though his day-to-day role has shifted.
