The XRP Ledger Foundation has appointed David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz as an honorary board member, recognizing his role as one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger. Schwartz, who left Ripple earlier this year after working non-stop since 2011, cited personal reasons for the departure — not strategic differences. XRP was trading at $1.46 at the time of reporting.
Schwartz's new role
Schwartz is widely known as the face of the XRP Ledger's technical design. His move to the foundation's board keeps him involved with the protocol's development, even as he steps away from Ripple's corporate structure. Schwartz has been gradually reducing his cryptocurrency holdings since 2013, driven by a psychological aversion to risk, but he still holds some XRP.
New leadership lineup
The foundation also announced a broader leadership shakeup. Brett Mollin steps in as Executive Director. Denis Angell, who moved over from XRPL Labs, takes the role of CTO to oversee engineering and technical standards. Rene Huijsen, with experience at Ripple and the Bank for International Settlements, will handle operations. Hussein 'Vet' Zangana rounds out the team as community lead.
Foundation's mission
The foundation says it wants to collaborate with XRP ecosystem stakeholders through open, transparent processes. That's a clear signal it sees itself as a neutral steward, separate from Ripple's corporate interests. With Schwartz on board in an honorary capacity, the foundation gains technical credibility without the conflicts that might come from a full-time Ripple tie.
The foundation's next concrete step: it plans to publish a formal technical roadmap by the end of the quarter. Whether that roadmap stays aligned with Ripple's priorities — or diverges — is the open question.
