XRP News Today: Ripple's CTO Steps Down, Sparking Debate Over XRP's Trajectory

XRP's price declined 2.3% following the announcement that David Schwartz, Ripple's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) since 2018, would step down from his role by year-end, according to Bloomberg-style analysis of market data. The token traded at $2.85 at press time, reflecting a 1.54% drop over the past 24 hours, though broader market corrections-marked by a 0.64% decline in total crypto market capitalization-also contributed to the movement. Schwartz, a key architect of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), will transition to a CTO Emeritus role and join Ripple's board of directors, ensuring continued involvement in the company's strategic direction.

Schwartz's departure, after 13 years at Ripple, has elicited mixed reactions. While some community members expressed confidence in his legacy and optimism for XRP's future, others interpreted the move as a signal of institutional uncertainty. Prominent crypto commentator Crypto Bitlord suggested the timing of Schwartz's exit-amid growing competition from SWIFT's partnership with ConsenSys-could reflect strategic challenges at Ripple. Conversely, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse praised Schwartz as a "true OG in crypto," emphasizing his ongoing role in guiding the company's blockchain innovations.

From a technical perspective, XRP's price action has shown divergent signals. Despite the initial sell-off, the token briefly rose 1.4% post-announcement, consolidating in a descending wedge pattern-a formation often associated with potential bullish breakouts. Analysts noted that if XRP breaks above $3.50–$3.80 resistance levels, it could signal renewed institutional confidence. However, bearish risks persist if the token falls below mid-$2 support, threatening a deeper correction toward the 200-day EMA of $2.56. On-chain metrics, including a 55% decline in active XRP addresses to ~22,500, also highlight waning short-term engagement, raising concerns about liquidity and demand.

Fundamentally, Ripple's ecosystem faces both opportunities and challenges. The company's recent legal clarity-stemming from its partial victory against the SEC-has bolstered XRP's regulatory profile, while expanding adoption in cross-border payments and stablecoin corridors supports utility growth. Institutional partnerships and a growing XRP Ledger user base (now exceeding 6.2 million accounts) further underpin long-term adoption. However, competition from emerging blockchain solutions and macroeconomic volatility remain headwinds.

Market participants remain divided on XRP's trajectory. Short-term forecasts vary, with CoinCodex predicting a 14.32% gain to $3.37 by year-end, while others caution against over-optimism. Long-term projections are more bullish, with some analysts targeting $5 by 2025 and $9.79 by 2030, contingent on regulatory progress and institutional adoption.

Ripple's leadership emphasized continuity, noting Schwartz's transition would not disrupt the company's core mission. Dennis Jarosch, Ripple's SVP of Engineering, will assume greater technical responsibilities, while Schwartz's board role ensures his expertise remains embedded in strategic decisions. The company reiterated its focus on expanding XRP's utility in decentralized finance (DeFi), tokenized assets, and enterprise-grade solutions, positioning the ledger as a scalable infrastructure for global financial services.

[1] Ripple CTO David Schwartz to Step Down: What Does it Mean for XRP? (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ripple-cto-david-schwartz-step-065405791.html)

[2] Ripple's David Schwartz Announces Departure from CTO Role (https://coincentral.com/ripples-david-schwartz-announces-departure-from-cto-role-by-year-end/)

[3] Ripple CTO Resigns After 13 Years: Will XRP Go Down? (https://www.bitrue.com/blog/ripple-cto-resigns-xrp-price-outlook)

[4] Ripple CTO David Schwartz to Step Back, Remain on Board as CTO Emeritus (https://decrypt.co/342357/ripple-cto-david-schwartz-to-step-back-remain-on-board-as-cto-emeritus)

[5] XRP Daily New Addresses Plunge 80% In 2025 - NewsBTC (https://www.newsbtc.com/analysis/xrp/xrp-daily-new-addresses-plunge-80-in-2025-bearish-on-chain-metrics-raise-alarm/)

[6] XRPUSD Technical Analysis for XRP - Barchart.com (https://www.barchart.com/crypto/quotes/%5EXRPUSD/technical-analysis)

[7] XRP in September 2025: Key Price Scenarios to Watch (https://www.analyticsinsight.net/xrp/xrp-in-september-2025-key-price-scenarios-to-watch)