XRP News Today: Ripple CTO Clarifies XRP Ledger Decentralization Myths

Ripple Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz recently addressed persistent misconceptions about the XRP Ledger (XRPL), emphasizing that Ripple does not control the network. In a recent interview, Schwartz stated that the XRPL operates as a public, decentralized blockchain where every node enforces the same rules, leaving no room for any single entity—including Ripple—to censor or alter transactions [1]. “By far, the biggest misconception is that Ripple somehow controls the ledger,” he said, reiterating that Ripple runs just one validator on the network, which does not grant it authority over the entire system [1].

Schwartz highlighted that the XRP Ledger’s consensus process ensures transparency and accountability. He explained that any attempt to block a valid transaction would be immediately visible to the network and the public. “There’s nobody who’s ever had a transaction stopped by Ripple,” he said, reinforcing the decentralized nature of the XRPL [1]. This clarity aligns with Ripple’s efforts to clarify the role of the Unique Node List (UNL), currently composed of about 33 validators. The UNL is designed to prevent malicious actors from overwhelming the network with false identities that could disrupt consensus [1].

In the XRPL, security and scarcity are maintained through a system of trusted validators rather than through mining power or staked assets. Validators are unable to create or destroy XRP beyond the original rules of the network. Any changes to the ledger require the adoption of new code and coordination among validators to activate it. Schwartz added that users have the flexibility to switch validators if a controversial change is not supported by existing ones [1]. This decentralized governance model was exemplified in 2024, when Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Start Alderoty, announced that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) planned to run a node on the XRP Ledger, illustrating the network’s openness [1].

Schwartz also addressed concerns about lost ledger data from XRP’s early history, confirming that some transactions were lost due to a software bug. He noted that this occurred when XRP had no market value and only a small fraction of the total supply had been distributed. On the topic of network security, he explained that the XRPL follows an “anti-robustness principle,” meaning the network halts when unexpected conditions arise, rather than continuing to process transactions under uncertainty. While this has led to rare outages—such as a one-hour halt earlier this year—Schwartz argued that the safest approach is to involve human verification in such situations [1].

Through these clarifications, Schwartz reinforced the transparency and decentralization of the XRP Ledger, countering persistent myths about Ripple’s control over the network. His statements underscore the growing importance of the XRPL as a public, permissionless blockchain with no single point of failure. The ongoing dialogue between Ripple and the broader crypto community continues to shape perceptions around XRP and its underlying technology [1].

Sources:

[1] Ripple CTO Debunks Major XRP Myths (https://timestabloid.com/ripple-cto-debunks-major-xrp-myths/)

[2] Ripple CTO Explains Why 35,000 XRP Was Once Considered Worthless (https://coinpedia.org/news/ripple-cto-explains-why-35000-xrp-was-once-considered-worthless/)