**Ripple CTO David Schwartz Sets the Record Straight on XRP Token Creation and Supply Limits**
Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has taken a firm stand against claims suggesting that the XRP Ledger can generate new XRP tokens, reiterating the network’s established supply limit of 100 billion. In response to ongoing speculation, Schwartz clarified that the restructuring of the genesis ledger did not result in any hidden XRP. Since joining Ripple as a cryptographer on November 11, Schwartz has been a passionate advocate for the company, particularly in discussions surrounding the XRP Ledger.
In a lively exchange on the X platform within the crypto community, Schwartz firmly rejected assertions that the XRP Ledger has the capability to create additional XRP tokens. This clarification was prompted by rumors that the blockchain could potentially mint more tokens beyond the fixed supply of 100 billion. The conversation intensified when Pierre Rochard, a well-known Bitcoin maximalist, tweeted that Ripple could inflate the total supply by generating new XRP tokens. Despite previous debunking of this claim, it reignited discussions and skepticism among crypto enthusiasts.
Addressing Rochard’s comments, Schwartz emphasized that the XRP Ledger’s robust architecture does not allow for the minting of new XRP. He highlighted the network’s built-in 100 billion XRP cap, which serves as a safeguard against any attempts to expand the total supply, even by Ripple itself. Schwartz further explained that the XRP Ledger operates under strict node-enforced rules that prevent the creation of new XRP tokens. The network features a sophisticated verification system that ensures no transaction can generate additional tokens. In fact, the XRPL code contains no provisions for creating new XRP, and the rules enforced by nodes explicitly prohibit such actions.
Supporting Schwartz’s statements, XRPL dUNL validator Vet confirmed that the 100 billion XRP supply was established at the genesis of the XRP Ledger in 2012. He noted that the original developers intentionally removed any code that would allow for the creation of extra XRP. Additionally, Vet pointed out that the XRP Ledger includes an ‘invariant checker’ that continuously monitors for unauthorized attempts to increase the supply, making it impossible to bypass the fixed cap, even through exploits. He concluded that neither Ripple nor any other party, including validators or administrators, can override the established rules of the blockchain.
In response to the ongoing debate, Schwartz also addressed another concern raised by a community member, DarkHorse, who suggested that the restructuring of the genesis ledger to block 32,570 might imply the existence of unaccounted XRP beyond the documented 100 billion supply. Schwartz firmly refuted this speculation, reinforcing the integrity of the XRP Ledger’s supply structure.
