David Schwartz, former chief technology officer of Ripple, has disclosed that he has dramatically reduced his cryptocurrency portfolio over the years, selling nearly all of his substantial holdings in XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum.
Schwartz details sharp reduction in crypto assets
Posting on X, Schwartz revealed that he once held approximately 26 million XRP but now retains only about 3 million XRP. This marks a reduction of 23 million XRP, amounting to an 88% decrease from his largest reported balance. He described these sales as part of a long-term personal decision to minimize exposure to crypto market risks.
The same conservative approach has shaped Schwartz’s position in other major cryptocurrencies. According to his statements, he has decreased his Bitcoin holdings from 1,500 BTC to just 1 BTC and his Ethereum assets from roughly 40,000 ETH to just 6 ETH. Schwartz did not specify the exact timeline or proceeds from these sales, but he indicated that most tokens were received between 2020 and 2023.
David Schwartz wrote that he is “down from a high of around 26 million XRP to around 3 million XRP,” clarifying he has not purchased XRP in a long time and continues to prefer a strict risk management strategy.
Capital gains and structured selling
Schwartz indicated that the majority of his most recent XRP sales occurred in 2025, totaling around 2.5 million XRP for that year alone. These transaction volumes resulted in approximately $1.7 million owed in capital gains tax, underscoring the scale of his disposals.
To ensure transparency and compliance, Schwartz said he operates under a formal written sales plan, created with legal oversight at least 30 days ahead of any XRP transaction. He also explained that he and his wife chose to sell a portion of their holdings whenever new all-time highs were achieved, reinforcing their low tolerance for risk.
Schwartz emphasized his extremely low risk tolerance as the primary reason for paring down his crypto positions and clarified that he still retains significant Ripple stock despite the added risk.
Community reaction and ongoing frustrations
Schwartz’s decisions have resurfaced during a period of growing frustration within the XRP community regarding the token’s lack of price momentum. Some holders have speculated on social media about potential links between executive sales and market downturns, but Schwartz refuted the idea that his sales could meaningfully impact XRP’s performance or overall trajectory.
He continues to hold Ripple company stock, which he acknowledged creates its own set of financial risks that persist despite his broader retrenchment from cryptocurrencies.
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