Schwartz Links XRP Ledger Success to Stronger XRP Demand
Ripple CTO David Schwartz said broad adoption of the XRP Ledger would probably increase demand for XRP. He noted that XRP is the ledger’s native asset, carries no issuer counterparty risk, and is needed for fees and account reserves. Schwartz also argued that XRP would remain relevant even if Bitcoin became the dominant global consensus asset.
David Schwartz, Ripple’s chief technology officer and an original XRP Ledger architect, argued on X that strong financial-sector use of the ledger would likely lift XRP’s demand and valuation. He said a successful XRPL paired with weak XRP demand seems improbable.
Schwartz pointed to XRP’s role as the ledger’s only native asset, which means no issuer counterparty risk. He also cited transaction fees and account reserves as sources of utility. Even if Bitcoin became the main global consensus asset, he said XRP could still matter by helping move among wrapped or bridged Bitcoin tokens on a successful XRPL.
If XRPL adoption grows, XRP holders and businesses using the network could see changes in token demand and transaction costs. Financial institutions exploring blockchain settlement may weigh XRP’s fee and reserve roles, while retail investors may face greater volatility around CTO commentary. The broader public could be affected indirectly if lower-cost cross-border payments emerge, though such outcomes remain uncertain and depend on actual adoption rather than predictions.