David Schwartz Becomes CTO Emeritus at Ripple

The start of 2026 marks a clear change in the career of David Schwartz, a well-known figure in the XRP community. An update to his profile on X shows a new title that reflects this planned move.

Schwartz now identifies as CTO Emeritus at Ripple, marking the end of his day-to-day executive role and the beginning of a new phase of involvement.

David Schwartz Steps Back From Daily CTO Role at Ripple

In October of the previous year, Schwartz announced his intention to step away from daily responsibilities as Ripple’s CTO at the end of 2025. 

He explained that the decision would enable him to spend more time with his family and focus on personal projects related to XRP.  The change officially took effect at the start of 2026, as shown in his updated bio. 

Schwartz has a special place in Ripple’s history and has always pledged his loyalty to the company. He is one of the original creators of the XRP Ledger (XRPL). 

Reportedly, he co-launched the network in June 2012 alongside Arthur Britto and Jed McCaleb. Schwartz’s move to CTO emeritus does not mean he is leaving. 

It simply shows he is stepping back from daily work to focus on long-term advice and personal projects. Despite the change in title, Schwartz has made it clear that he remains deeply involved in the XRP ecosystem. 

He continues to participate in the XRPL by running his own XRP node, which has been active for months. He publishes data from this node and researches new use cases for XRP beyond Ripple’s core business focus.

David Schwartz Takes on Advisory and Board Roles

Before fully stepping back from daily duties, Schwartz accepted an invitation from Ripple Chairman Chris Larsen to join the company’s board of directors. 

This move keeps him directly involved in shaping Ripple’s long-term direction. Later in the year, he also took on a role as an advisor to Evernorth, a company focused on XRP treasury operations.

His ongoing work reinforces his role as a key voice within the community and a contributor to the broader development of the ledger.

Ripple CTO Warns About Social Media Impersonators

Interest in Schwartz’s opinions remains strong, especially now that he sits on Ripple’s board. Many community members try to connect with him on social media.

In response to this growing attention, Schwartz has issued an important warning to community members. He said he almost never uses Instagram. Schwartz warned that accounts claiming to be him on that platform are very likely scammers.

The warning reminds the crypto community to stay cautious and carefully verify identities. This is especially important when dealing with well-known figures.

This warning is important because many crypto users have been tricked by fake accounts and online scams in recent years.