Key takeaways
- David Schwartz reduces XRP holdings by approximately 88%
- Former Ripple CTO now holds just one Bitcoin
- Schwartz attributes years of selling to risk management
Ripple's former chief technology officer David Schwartz has revealed that he reduced his personal XRP holdings by approximately 88%, while cutting his Bitcoin position from around 1,500 BTC to just one.
In a November 10 statement on X, the XRP Ledger co-creator disclosed that his holdings had fallen from a peak of approximately 26 million XRP to 3 million XRP. His Ethereum position also declined dramatically, from around 40,000 ETH to just six.
David Schwartz Reveals 23 Million XRP Reduction
Schwartz's disclosure indicates that his personal XRP holdings have declined by approximately 23 million tokens, equivalent to 88.5% of his reported peak balance.
His Bitcoin exposure has fallen even more sharply, with approximately 1,499 BTC no longer included in his holdings.
Meanwhile, the reduction from 40,000 ETH to six represents a decline of nearly 99.99% in his reported Ethereum balance.
The figures expand on earlier disclosures about Schwartz's cryptocurrency portfolio, including his previously reported peak holdings of approximately 26 million XRP.
Schwartz also disclosed that he sold roughly 2.5 million XRP during 2025, generating approximately $1.7 million in capital gains taxes.
He said he uses advance written trading plans prepared with legal assistance, rather than making spontaneous decisions about when to sell.
The comments provide additional context to longstanding questions about XRP selling, although his personal transactions should not be confused with Ripple's corporate token sales.
Why Did Ripple's Former CTO Sell Most of His Crypto?
Schwartz explained that his selling strategy reflected a longstanding preference for reducing financial risk.
He previously described an agreement with his wife to sell portions of his cryptocurrency holdings whenever prices reached new all-time highs.
The approach meant taking profits during major market rallies rather than maintaining maximum exposure indefinitely.
Schwartz acknowledged that his cautious approach sometimes prevented him from capturing larger gains, but said he was comfortable with the outcome.
His explanation contrasts with earlier bullish comments about XRP's long-term potential.
Importantly, the disclosure does not establish when all 23 million XRP were sold, their execution prices or whether the transactions influenced market movements.
Schwartz Still Owns Ripple Stock Despite XRP Sales
Although Schwartz significantly reduced his cryptocurrency holdings, he confirmed that he continues to own Ripple equity.
That distinction matters because owning Ripple shares is fundamentally different from holding XRP tokens.
Ripple shareholders have an ownership interest in the private company, while XRP holders have exposure to the cryptocurrency itself without receiving corporate equity rights.
The difference became particularly relevant after Ripple's $750 million share buyback valued the company at approximately $50 billion.
Schwartz's decision to retain equity also aligns with earlier discussions about Ripple's potential IPO, where he highlighted the legal differences between company shares and blockchain tokens.
His reduced crypto exposure does not necessarily indicate diminished confidence in XRP's underlying technology.
Schwartz has repeatedly defended the XRP Ledger's architecture, including its decentralization and transaction finality.
