Ripple CTO Emeritus Schwartz Explains XRP Ledger Design in Poem
In brief
- Schwartz delivered a crypto-themed poem defending his role at Ripple and the XRP Ledger.
- XRP Ledger launched June 2012 as an improved alternative to Bitcoin's design.
- Schwartz co-founded the ledger in 2011 with Jed McCaleb and Arthur Britto.
The Unexpected Response
Schwartz's poetic rebuttal came in the form of a crypto-themed verse that doubled as a technical explainer. Rather than a direct argument, he chose to demonstrate his expertise through clever wordplay and rhyme, addressing the user's skepticism while illuminating the XRP Ledger's purpose and design philosophy.
The poem itself became a masterclass—covering payment rails, stablecoins, custody mechanisms, and the ledger's core innovations. It's the kind of response that only someone deeply embedded in the technology could craft with both precision and personality.
The Ledger's Origins
In 2011, Schwartz, alongside Jed McCaleb and Arthur Britto, set out to develop the XRP Ledger. The XRP Ledger first launched in June 2012, positioned as an improvement on Bitcoin's design—faster, more efficient, and tailored for financial institutions.
That same year, the trio was joined by Chris Larsen, and the group started the company NewCoin, which was shortly renamed OpenCoin and is now Ripple.
Career Arc
Schwartz originally joined Ripple as its Chief Cryptographer before becoming its Chief Technology Officer in 2018. He held the CTO title for years, driving technical strategy and architecture. In late 2025, Schwartz stepped down from the CTO role and transitioned to becoming the CTO emeritus, allowing him to focus on research and mentorship rather than day-to-day operations.
The poem wasn't just a clever deflection—it was a statement. After more than a decade building and defending the XRP Ledger, Schwartz demonstrated that his understanding of the technology, and his ability to communicate it, remains as sharp as ever.
"I am the very model of a CTO emeritus, creator of a ledger that's remarkably impervious"
— David Schwartz, Ripple CTO emeritus
