Ripple CTO: XRP’s Future Misunderstood, Most Activity Happens Off-Ledger

Millions Are Tracking <a href="https://minority-mindset.com/xrp-usd/">XRP</a>’s Price Daily: <a href="https://usdaed.com/xrp-usd/">Ripple</a> CTO Says They Are Looking at the Wrong Thing

Talk about XRP is starting to focus more on what the technology can *do*, instead of just its price. Ripple’s CTO, David Schwartz (known online as JoelKatz), recently suggested that people may not fully understand what the future holds for XRP.

At XRP Australia 2026, David Schwartz explained what he sees as a common misunderstanding about XRP as the crypto market prepares for its next phase. He stated that many people believe XRP’s value is solely based on the technology of the XRP Ledger.

Misconception #1: XRP Is Only the XRP Ledger

Schwartz pointed out that looking solely at the XRP ledger doesn’t reveal the full story of how XRP operates within the financial world. He believes the majority of XRP transactions happen outside of the blockchain itself.

He pointed out that XRP isn’t limited to just the XRP Ledger, explaining that most XRP transactions actually happen outside of it.

According to David Schwartz, the current price of XRP is mainly influenced by typical market activities like trading on exchanges, providing liquidity, investment through ETFs, and general speculation. He noted that while these aren’t cutting-edge technologies, they do represent genuine economic activity for those using and investing in XRP.

He clarified the confusion by drawing a parallel between XRP and regular money. “If you only see XRP as the technology behind it, that’s like only seeing a dollar bill as a piece of paper,” he explained, emphasizing that the broader system supporting XRP is much more significant than the technology itself.

Misconception #2: No Real World Utility

Currently, most activity related to XRP happens outside of the XRP Ledger itself. However, David Schwartz anticipates that the future of XRP will see more financial applications built directly *on* the XRP Ledger.

He anticipates growth in areas like decentralized exchanges, tools for managing digital assets, markets for trading tokenized stocks, and new lending platforms.

According to Schwartz, we’ll soon see improvements in how easily digital assets can be traded, decentralized exchanges, and tools that address genuine financial needs. He believes increased activity on the blockchain has the potential to fundamentally change the financial system.

Misconception #3: XRP Is Only Focused on Institutions

Schwartz also points out that it’s a misunderstanding to think XRP is only meant for use by large institutions. He believes institutions are just the first step, and there are broader goals for its adoption.

He explained that getting institutions on board isn’t the ultimate aim, but rather a stepping stone to wider acceptance among everyday shoppers.

Schwartz drew a parallel to the beginning of the internet, noting that businesses and governments adopted it before it became popular with the general public.

He believes XRP ultimately aims to revolutionize the entire global financial system, going beyond just improvements for banks and other financial institutions.

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2026-03-12 08:14