Ripple CTO Opens up XRP Ledger’s Roadmap For 2026

By 2026, XRP Ledger (XRPL) is planning to roll out some top innovative projects. Ripple CTO David Schwartz recently took to X to provide feedback on his XRPL hub. Noteworthy, this hub has been running for a few months after its initial plan was revealed in August. 

Ripple CTO Rolls Out XRPL Hub 

Ripple CTO Schwartz had earlier spun up his XRP Ledger node, putting out its output data and researching other use cases for XRP. His XRPL hub is designed to serve as a production service, focused on maximum uptime and reliability. The output data is directed towards understanding the XRPL network behavior and performance.

In the few months of its operation, Schwartz noted that the hub has stood solidly, with investigations launched into various anomalies presented. It was discovered that none of them was associated with any reduction in performance for peers. 

Why Ripple CTO Set up the XRP Ledger Hub

He needed to provide this feedback as it further points to the key reasons why the hub was set up initially. 

The first reason Schwartz gave was that he had not been running any XRPL infrastructure for a couple of years.  He thought to himself that it would be cool to start again. Next, he claimed that there were some instances of increased latency between some validators.

As a solution to this, he thought of a good megahub that could meaningfully reduce network latency. It could also cut down on network diameter and increase reliability. 

Lastly, XRPL had some localized issues that impacted its expected performance. Ripple CTO immediately began to think of a hub where he could test his theories for what might be causing these issues.

Next Move For David Schwartz 

Going forward, Schwartz will be stepping back from his day-to-day responsibilities at Ripple. 

He announced this new development in September after more than 13 years at the blockchain firm. 

“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my kids and grandkids, and going back to hobbies I set aside. But don’t worry—I’m not leaving the XRP community. You haven’t seen the last of me,” he added.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse acknowledged Schwartz as a “true OG in crypto,” noting his lasting impact on both the company and the wider digital asset space. Schwartz will not sit as “CTO Emeritus,” joining Ripple’s Board of Directors to continue supporting the company’s mission and long-term vision.