Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has significantly reduced his cryptocurrency holdings, including a substantial decrease in his XRP balance. This development has drawn attention from within the XRP community, as Schwartz’s investment choices are often followed by retail and institutional investors alike.
XRP, Bitcoin and Ethereum balances cut
Schwartz confirmed that his XRP wallet has fallen from roughly 26 million tokens to about 3 million. His exposure to other leading cryptocurrencies has also changed, with his Bitcoin holdings dropping from approximately 1,500 BTC to just one BTC, and his Ethereum supply decreasing from nearly 40,000 ETH to six ETH.
Schwartz attributed these moves to his limited willingness to take on financial risk, not to negative sentiment about XRP itself. Crypto analyst and content creator Zach Humphries responded to the development, noting that Schwartz’s decisions are influenced by personal circumstances rather than shifts in confidence regarding the cryptocurrency.
Humphries underscored that Schwartz has not accumulated new XRP in recent years, which has led some investors to reevaluate their outlook on the asset’s long-term potential.
Schwartz shared that he reduced his cryptocurrency exposure due to personal risk tolerance, maintaining that his decision does not reflect a prediction about XRP’s future performance.
Schwartz clarifies XRP Ledger’s intended use
In 2025, Schwartz addressed questions from the community about the design and intention behind the XRP Ledger. He made clear that, according to its core principles, “XRPL was not designed as a way to make XRP’s price go up.”
He emphasized that the protocol was developed as a solution for fast, affordable and dependable payments using a native token.
Zach Humphries referenced these remarks in his analysis, highlighting that many XRP investors hold expectations about price that may not align with the network’s original mission.
Mini dictionary: XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a decentralized blockchain built by Ripple that enables fast, low-cost international payments, providing a native cryptocurrency called XRP.
Investment priorities shift amid personal circumstances
Humphries reiterated that Schwartz’s substantial wealth may explain his preference for reducing exposure to digital assets, as risk tolerance often decreases with higher net worth and age. He stated that Schwartz’s investment activity now focuses more on Ripple as a company than accumulating large quantities of XRP tokens.
Humphries noted that, for most retail participants, directly holding XRP remains the most practical avenue for engaging with Ripple’s ecosystem. However, investors should recognize that executives’ financial strategies may differ from those of individual holders.
Outlook for XRP’s price trajectory
Despite the news, Humphries remains optimistic about XRP’s medium-term potential. He identified the current market area near $1 as a favorable accumulation zone and compared present conditions to the historical rally from $0.50, which produced roughly sixfold gains.
He projected that XRP still has room for substantial appreciation, estimating an 8x to 10x rise from current levels in the event of renewed institutional interest and market momentum.
Humphries clarified that he intends to realize profits if XRP reaches his anticipated targets and warned that all investment carries inherent risk.
Humphries maintains a positive outlook for XRP, viewing the recent price zone as an opportunity and expressing expectations for potentially significant gains if momentum continues.
| Asset | Previous Holdings | Current Holdings |
|---|---|---|
| XRP | 26 million | 3 million |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 1,500 | 1 |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 40,000 | 6 |
