TLDR
- David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer and key architect of the XRP Ledger, will leave his CTO position at the end of 2025 after more than 13 years with the company.
- Schwartz joined Ripple in 2011 as a cryptographer and was promoted to CTO in 2018, playing a central role in the development of XRP Ledger and Ripple’s technology infrastructure.
- Despite stepping down from daily operations, Schwartz will remain connected to Ripple by joining the company’s board of directors and taking on the honorary title of chief technology officer emeritus.
- Senior vice president of engineering Dennis Jarosch will take over leadership of Ripple’s technology team following Schwartz’s departure.
- XRP price rose approximately 1.4% to $2.87 following the announcement, while the token maintains its position as the fourth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization at around $172 billion.
David Schwartz is stepping down as chief technology officer of Ripple after spending over 13 years with the blockchain company. The announcement came through a post on X on September 30, 2025.
Schwartz was one of the primary architects behind the XRP Ledger, the blockchain technology that powers XRP. He first joined Ripple in 2011 working as a cryptographer before his promotion to CTO in 2018.
“I’m really looking forward to spending more time with the kids and grandkids and going back to the hobbies I set aside,” Schwartz wrote in his announcement. He made clear that while leaving his daily role, he plans to stay involved with the XRP community.
The transition will be complete by the end of 2025. Schwartz spent seven years as Ripple’s CTO and worked through several major company milestones.
During his time at Ripple, Schwartz was present for the company’s launch of a stablecoin in late 2024. He also helped guide the company through its legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
New Leadership Takes Over
Dennis Jarosch, currently serving as senior vice president of engineering at Ripple, will lead the technology team moving forward. A company spokesperson confirmed the leadership change in a statement.
Schwartz will take on the title of chief technology officer emeritus at Ripple. This honorary position allows him to maintain his connection to the company while stepping back from daily responsibilities.
He will also join Ripple’s board of directors. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse called Schwartz a “true OG in crypto” and said he would continue their weekly check-ins.
XRP Market Response
The XRP token price increased about 1.4% following Schwartz’s announcement, moving from $2.83 to $2.87. XRP reached an all-time high of more than $3.50 in July 2025.
XRP currently holds the position as the fourth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. The token’s market cap stands at approximately $172 billion.
The XRP community, often referred to as the “XRP Army,” represents a dedicated group of supporters. Blockchain analytics platform Nansen tracked the price movement in the hours after the announcement.
Ripple has grown into a major player in both US and international cryptocurrency markets. The company donated roughly $70 million to Fairshake, a crypto-focused political action committee, for the 2024 election and 2026 midterms.
Garlinghouse stated in a 60 Minutes interview that Fairshake might not exist without the SEC’s enforcement action against Ripple. The SEC case, which began in December 2020 under then-Chair Jay Clayton, concluded in March 2025 when the regulator dropped its appeal.
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