As the crypto world continues to dissect the potential future of digital assets in the U.S., Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz is once again taking aim at long-standing criticisms of XRP — particularly from the Bitcoin maximalist camp. In his latest remarks, Schwartz doubled down on the decentralization of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), stating emphatically: “XRP has no issuer.”
This simple, bold claim strikes at the heart of a longstanding point of contention: Is XRP truly decentralized? Schwartz seems to think so — and he’s not backing down.
XRP Ledger vs. Bitcoin: A Different Kind of Decentralization
In recent days, as speculation swirls around former President Donald Trump’s alleged interest in building a national crypto reserve, comparisons between Bitcoin and altcoins like XRP have resurfaced with new intensity. The idea that the U.S. government might consider diversifying its crypto holdings has reopened debates around the structure, control, and decentralization of top blockchain networks.
Enter David Schwartz, who used the opportunity to set the record straight — at least from Ripple’s perspective.
Schwartz made it clear that XRP stands apart from many other cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, in one key way: it has no issuer. “All XRP was created when the ledger went live,” he explained, adding that no one entity, not even Ripple, controls the supply. That’s in contrast to many blockchain models where new coins are minted through mining or staking rewards.
Ripple ≠ XRPL
Perhaps anticipating the usual skepticism about Ripple’s influence over XRP, Schwartz addressed the elephant in the room: the company’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse. While Ripple the company continues to develop products and partnerships that involve the XRP token, Schwartz emphasized that Garlinghouse’s position has no bearing on how decentralized the XRP Ledger actually is.
“The XRPL operates independently of Ripple,” Schwartz asserted, noting that validators across the globe contribute to the consensus process — not Ripple’s internal boardroom.
This nuance is often overlooked by critics who assume that because Ripple holds a large share of XRP and its executives are high-profile, the network must be centralized. Schwartz strongly rejects that logic, pointing out that decentralization is not about personalities or corporate leadership — it’s about how decisions are made and how the network functions at the protocol level.
UFC’s Conor McGregor Weighs In
In a surprising twist, the decentralization debate found an unexpected audience: none other than UFC superstar Conor McGregor. The fighter-turned-celebrity investor recently tweeted about his curiosity regarding blockchain networks like XRPL and Cardano, especially as discussions around national crypto reserves grow louder.
McGregor’s interest — whether marketing-driven or sincere — reflects a broader trend: the decentralization question is no longer just a topic for developers and crypto purists. It’s catching the attention of athletes, entertainers, and perhaps even political leaders.
The Bigger Picture
Schwartz’s remarks come at a time when the distinction between coins and their founding companies is under renewed scrutiny. As the U.S. inches closer to crypto regulation — and possibly, national adoption — understanding which assets are truly decentralized could carry legal and financial consequences.
Bitcoin maximalists have long claimed that BTC’s design as a permissionless, leaderless network gives it a unique position. But XRP supporters argue that the XRPL’s structure, with its consensus algorithm and pre-distributed token supply, offers a different but equally valid form of decentralization — one that’s perhaps better suited for enterprise-grade scalability and real-world use cases.
As this debate unfolds, the voices in it are only getting louder — and more diverse. Whether it’s a CTO defending his project’s architecture or a UFC champion exploring the world of crypto, decentralization is no longer just a technical buzzword. It’s becoming a battleground of ideas, power, and public perception.
