Ripple CTO Addresses XRPL Glitch Amid Record 11000 Requests Per Second

Ripple CTO David Schwartz has shared insights into the XRP Ledger’s (XRPL) peer policing system, coinciding with a notable surge in hub activity. The network recently processed 11,000 requests per second from 173 connected peers, maintaining an average response time of 0.006 seconds over a 24-hour period. Despite this high volume, the system remained stable, with only a minor glitch reported at 12:58 a.m. on August 16. The disruption lasted approximately one minute and was attributed to a monitoring tool anomaly rather than a system-level failure [1].

In a public post, Schwartz provided technical details regarding the incident and invited developers to collaborate on a solution. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that any proposed fixes align with the existing system logic to maintain network stability and security. This transparency underscores Ripple’s ongoing commitment to refining its infrastructure through open collaboration [1].

The peer policing mechanism, a key security feature of the XRPL, was also discussed. Originally developed by Schwartz eight years ago, this system assigns "charges" and "credits" to network peers based on message activity. If a peer’s charges exceed its credits, it may be disconnected to prevent network overload. This approach helps protect the system from potential abuse while maintaining performance efficiency [1].

Schwartz highlighted the need to reassess the charge-credit balance in light of evolving hardware and network capabilities. He is considering introducing latency-based credit adjustments to reward peers with faster connections, as these are less susceptible to manipulation and can improve overall network integrity. This potential update reflects the network’s adaptation to modern conditions while preserving its core security principles [1].

The incident has also prompted discussions around the "abuse flagging" mechanism, which categorizes certain disconnections as potentially malicious. Schwartz clarified that many of these flags may be false positives, likely due to limitations in the current XRPL code. This insight has raised questions about the accuracy of the policing system and its effectiveness in identifying legitimate threats [1].

Despite the technical developments, there has been no significant price movement in XRP following the incident, suggesting the market views the issue as a routine maintenance concern rather than a systemic risk. The XRPL’s ability to handle high transaction volumes with low latency remains a key factor in its adoption for enterprise and financial applications. Ripple’s proactive approach to system refinement reinforces the ledger’s position as a reliable platform for mission-critical operations [1].

Source: [1] Ripple CTO Calls for Support in Fixing “Minor” Glitch on the XRPL (https://coinedition.com/ripple-cto-calls-for-support-in-fixing-minor-glitch-on-the-xrpl/)