Former Ripple Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz has disclosed that he dramatically reduced his cryptocurrency holdings, selling most of the XRP, Bitcoin and Ethereum he once owned. The revelation is attracting attention because Schwartz helped create the XRP Ledger and remains one of the most recognizable technical figures associated with Ripple.
In a series of posts on X, Schwartz said he had reduced his XRP holdings from a peak of approximately 26 million tokens to around 3 million. His Bitcoin position fell from roughly 1,500 BTC to just one BTC, while his Ethereum holdings declined from approximately 40,000 ETH to six ETH.
The figures represent substantial reductions across all three assets. However, Schwartz did not present the sales as a reaction to concerns about XRP, Bitcoin or Ethereum. Instead, he repeatedly pointed to his personal discomfort with financial risk and his preference for securing gains rather than maintaining large cryptocurrency positions.
Why David Schwartz Sold Millions of XRP
Schwartz initially explained that he had not purchased XRP in a long time and had sold nearly all the digital assets he had ever held. He added that he still owns a considerable amount of Ripple stock, but even that exposure represents more risk than he would ideally like to carry.
His follow-up disclosure provided a clearer picture of the scale of his portfolio changes. Reducing XRP from 26 million to three million represents an approximately 88% decline from his previous peak holdings. His Bitcoin position has fallen by more than 99%, while his Ethereum holdings have decreased by approximately 99.99%.
Schwartz has previously explained that his selling strategy is partly based on an agreement with his wife to sell at every new all-time high. In a July 2026 post, he said he regretted some of those decisions because he wished he had been more comfortable taking risks. Nevertheless, the agreement reflects a deliberate approach to protecting accumulated wealth rather than attempting to capture every possible market gain.
Related: XRP Holders Demand Answers From Ripple as David Schwartz Faces Tough Questions
He has also described a structured process for selling XRP. Schwartz previously said he uses a written sales plan agreed with an attorney at least 30 days before a sale. The arrangement is intended to prevent accusations that he traded based on information such as reports about potential XRP Ledger vulnerabilities.
His comments also challenge the assumption that prominent cryptocurrency developers necessarily maintain large positions in the assets associated with their work. Technical involvement, professional commitment and personal investment exposure are separate decisions, particularly for individuals whose wealth may already be closely connected to the industry.
Ripple Stock Remains His Main Crypto-Industry Exposure
One detail that deserves attention is Schwartz’s continued ownership of Ripple shares. While he has substantially reduced his direct cryptocurrency exposure, his equity position means he retains a financial connection to the company behind many of the XRP Ledger’s commercial initiatives.
Ripple stock and XRP are different investments. Owning shares represents an interest in the company, while holding XRP provides exposure to the digital asset and its market. Ripple’s business performance does not automatically translate into gains for XRP holders, just as changes in XRP’s market price do not necessarily determine the value of Ripple’s equity.
Related: XRP Ledger Prepares for New Lending Features as Education Initiative Offers $40,000 in Awards
For the XRP community, Schwartz’s disclosure may prompt questions about why someone so closely associated with the network holds considerably fewer tokens than before. However, his explanation is consistent with statements he has made previously about his risk tolerance and selling arrangements. There is no evidence in his comments that he is warning investors against XRP or predicting a collapse in its value.
His remaining three million XRP also show that he has not completely exited the asset. More importantly, Schwartz said that even his remaining Ripple stock exposure makes him uncomfortable, reinforcing that his decisions are driven by personal financial preferences.
Ultimately, the disclosure provides an unusually transparent account of how a prominent crypto industry figure has managed wealth accumulated during the industry’s growth. For investors, the figures are interesting, but they should not be treated as a trading signal. Schwartz’s approach reflects his own circumstances, not an investment recommendation for the broader XRP community.
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