XRP News Today: Ripple CTO Challenges Custodia CEO on XRP and XRPL Criticisms

Ripple CTO David Schwartz has engaged in a public debate with Custodia Bank CEO Caitlin Long over criticisms of XRP and the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The exchange began when Long, in a recent podcast appearance, expressed skepticism about XRP’s potential as a bridge currency, arguing that its network design and Ripple’s early funding strategy have left lingering doubts among major financial institutions. She also noted that Ripple’s launch of RLUSD — a stablecoin issued through Ripple’s regulated entities — signals a shift away from relying solely on the XRPL for cross-border transactions. Long further speculated that if the U.S. Treasury were to tokenize government debt on a blockchain, Ethereum would likely be the preferred platform due to its more established adoption and technological maturity [1].

Long’s comments quickly drew responses from XRP advocates. A well-known XRP supporter, identified as "Vet," took to social media to refute Long’s claims, emphasizing that XRP was never launched as an initial coin offering (ICO). He explained that all 100 billion XRP tokens were created at genesis with no initial market value, and that the XRPL operates on a decentralized infrastructure maintained by over a thousand nodes and more than 100 independent validators. Vet also highlighted the contrast between XRP and Ethereum, noting that Ethereum’s initial launch did involve an ICO [1].

The debate intensified when Ripple CTO David Schwartz publicly responded, acknowledging that Vet had already addressed many of Long’s criticisms. However, Schwartz suggested that a direct, open discussion between Long and Ripple leadership could help clarify misunderstandings and provide a more fact-based perspective on Ripple’s technology, the purpose of RLUSD, and the role of the XRPL in the broader blockchain ecosystem. He explicitly invited Long to participate in such a dialogue. Whether Long will accept remains unclear, but the exchange has already generated significant attention, particularly for the willingness of Ripple’s leadership to engage in public discourse on contentious issues [1].

The exchange underscores broader industry debates over the balance between centralized and decentralized approaches to blockchain development. It also reflects Ripple’s evolving strategy, which includes the use of regulated stablecoins like RLUSD while continuing to innovate and expand the capabilities of the XRPL. As projects face increasing scrutiny regarding real-world applications and governance models, the conversation highlights the competitive dynamics shaping the crypto landscape [1].

Source: [1] Ripple CTO Confronts Custodia Bank CEO Over XRP Criticism (https://coindoo.com/ripple-cto-confronts-custodia-bank-ceo-over-xrp-criticism/)