David Schwartz Discloses Substantial Drop in Personal XRP Holdings
David Schwartz, the former Chief Technology Officer of Ripple, has provided fresh details regarding the scale of his cryptocurrency divestments over the years. Schwartz confirmed that his balance of XRP has shrunk dramatically from its historical peak, emphasizing that his sell-offs have been a matter of public record. “It’s not a secret. I think I’m down from a high of around 26 million $XRP to around 3 million $XRP,” David Schwartz divulged.
The reduction in his digital asset portfolio extends far beyond Ripple’s native token. Schwartz revealed that he has virtually wiped out his historical stakes in both Bitcoin and Ethereum. His Bitcoin balance has been cut from roughly 1,500 BTC down to a solitary 1 BTC. Schwartz went even further with his Ethereum reserves, offloading nearly his entire position by dropping from approximately 40,000 ETH to just 6 ETH. While the exact timing of the bulk of these transactions and the cumulative profits generated remain unspecified, the figures confirm that Schwartz has exited nearly all of his legacy holdings in the market’s two largest assets.
Trading Plans, Tax Bills, and Risk-Averse Selling Tactics
These latest portfolio disclosures follow earlier admissions concerning his ongoing divestment strategy. Schwartz previously confirmed selling around 2.5 million XRP in 2025 alone, noting that the vast majority of those particular tokens had been received during 2020 and 2023. Those transactions carried substantial financial obligations, with Schwartz disclosing that he incurred approximately $1.7 million in capital gains taxes as a result of the sales.
Addressing why he parted with such extensive crypto balances, the Ripple veteran pointed directly to his personal financial caution and an extremely low tolerance for market risk. In July, Schwartz shared that he and his wife established a long-term rule to systematically liquidate portions of their digital asset portfolios whenever the market surged to new all-time highs. Furthermore, he noted that his dispositions are tightly regulated: Schwartz utilizes a pre-arranged written sales plan, drafted alongside legal counsel at least 30 days prior to executing any transaction involving his XRP. He also confirmed that he has not purchased additional XRP for an extended period, though he continues to hold a significant stake in private Ripple equity—an investment that he noted still exposes him to greater financial risk than he would ideally prefer.
Why This Matters
Schwartz’s candid disclosures arrive amid visible agitation within the broader XRP community, where investors have expressed frustration over the cryptocurrency’s prolonged stretch of lackluster market performance. Earlier this month, community members publicly questioned whether large-scale sell-offs from prominent Ripple insiders like Schwartz were depressing market momentum. Addressing those concerns, the former Ripple CTO argued that his individual transactions likely had negligible influence on broader market trends. Nonetheless, the transparency surrounding how an early ecosystem architect de-risks his personal wealth offers critical insight into insider liquidity, tax liabilities, and risk-management protocols within the volatile digital asset sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much XRP does David Schwartz currently hold?
According to his own estimate, David Schwartz holds around 3 million XRP, down from an all-time peak of approximately 26 million XRP.
Did David Schwartz sell other cryptocurrencies besides XRP?
Yes. Schwartz has offloaded almost all of his major non-XRP crypto holdings, reducing his Bitcoin balance from around 1,500 BTC down to 1 BTC, and his Ethereum stash from about 40,000 ETH to just 6 ETH.
How does Schwartz execute his XRP sales?
To mitigate risk and remain disciplined, Schwartz implements a structured approach. He works with an attorney to establish a written sales schedule at least 30 days prior to selling tokens, and he previously adhered to a family strategy of taking profits whenever assets attained new record highs.
