Ripple CTO David Schwartz sold his XRP holdings at $0.10 per token and Ethereum at roughly $1, he revealed this week. The early sales, driven by a strong aversion to risk, are now a source of regret for Schwartz, who says he didn't have enough faith in crypto.
Why Schwartz sold early
Schwartz's decisions were rooted in a deep-seated fear of losing money. He told the story of selling XRP at a price that now seems laughably low — $0.10. Ethereum went for around $1. At the time, those prices felt like wins. In hindsight, they were exits before the real run-up.
Regret and hindsight
Schwartz doesn't hide his regret. He said he simply didn't believe enough in crypto's potential. That lack of faith cost him. The sales happened years ago, but the lesson sticks: even insiders can misjudge the market.
For Schwartz, the episode is a reminder that risk aversion, while prudent, can also mean leaving huge gains on the table. He's not the only early crypto adopter with a similar story, but his role at Ripple makes the confession particularly striking.
