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Ripple Former CTO David Schwartz Reveals The Crypto Asset That Gave Him The Most Money

Former Ripple CTO, David Schwartz, revealed that XRP has generated more personal wealth for him than other cryptocurrencies, even though he has gradually reduced his digital asset holdings over time.

Schwartz helped design the XRP Ledger before stepping down from his role as chief technology officer earlier this year. He shared this admission on X in response to fans' questions about which token has been most profitable for him.

XRP Outperforms Bitcoin and Ethereum for Schwartz

On X, Schwartz disclosed that he once owned 26 million XRP. He also held around 1,000 Bitcoin
BTCUSD
and 40,000 Ethereum
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. He has drastically cut each of these holdings over the years.

His initial XRP holdings as Ripple's co-founder proved to provide a greater lifetime profit than his Bitcoin or Ethereum investments. XRP once reached an all-time high of $3.65 in July 2025. Currently, this token is trading around $1.46 and ranks fourth by market value.

This sustained price increase has netted Schwartz millions of dollars. The size of his initial stake remains significant despite gradually selling off portions over the years.

Sold Ethereum at $1.05 and Bitcoin Too Early

Schwartz admitted that he sold all his Ethereum at around $1.05 per token. He openly regrets that decision to this day.

Since then, ETH has traded thousands of dollars above that price. The same pattern occurred with his Bitcoin position. Schwartz reduced his BTC holdings from about 1,000 coins to less than one. That reduction happened long before Bitcoin broke into six-figure prices.

This pattern reflects the same instinct influencing his investment habits. Schwartz previously described himself as risk-averse, preferring to secure profits early rather than waiting for larger potential gains in the future.

Self-Awareness Paradox About Risk

Schwartz recognizes a paradox in his thinking. Every large bet on cryptocurrencies has yielded results far exceeding his expectations.

Still, he finds it difficult to truly take emotional risks. When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Schwartz said he would suggest taking bigger risks in the crypto world. However, he admits that his younger self might not have listened to that advice either.

His current portfolio shows a cautious stance. Schwartz says nearly all his remaining asset exposure is in XRP and Ripple equity. The company itself has an estimated personal valuation of $40 billion.

This transparency offers a rare glimpse into the mindset of one of the key architects of the asset in its early days. Whether long-term holders will choose to reduce their holdings like Schwartz while waiting for the next XRP price rally remains an open question.