Ex-Ripple CTO’s Secret 26M XRP Hoard Uncovered—Co-Founder’s Bitcoin Moves Spark Controversy!
Imagine casually mentioning that you once held 26 million XRP—worth a cool $36.6 million—then calling that “not a lot.” That’s exactly what David Schwartz, Ripple’s former CTO and the legendary JoelKatz, revealed this week, leaving many blinking in disbelief. XRP’s price, hovering around $1.40 with short-term mixed signals, mirrors the kind of unpredictability that has kept crypto enthusiasts on their toes for years. But here’s the kicker: when someone whose “not a lot” still means over a million XRP drops such a bombshell, it makes you wonder—what does “normal” even mean in the crypto world? Beyond numbers, this surprising disclosure sparks a deeper conversation about risk tolerance, insider conviction, and whether early Ripple insiders’ moves hint at the long-term destiny for XRP—especially as market momentum feels like it’s hanging by a thread. Curious to see how this shakes out for XRP’s potential to break past $1.50 or if it’s headed for a retest of lows? The unfolding saga is definitely one to watch. LEARN MORE.
David Schwartz, formerly Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer and widely known online as JoelKatz, disclosed this week that he once held 26 million XRP, a sum worth roughly $36.6M at current market prices. XRP was trading near $1.40 at the time of writing, up approximately +0.4% over the prior 24 hours, with technicals on shorter timeframes sending mixed signals.
Responding to a question on X about the scale of his personal XRP position, Schwartz offered an unexpected benchmark. “My idea of not a lot is still more than a million,” he wrote. “I once had 26 million XRP.”
Schwartz Reveals Over 1M $XRP Holdings, Says #Ripple and XRP Remain Only Crypto Exposure.
Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz revealed he once held 26 million XRP.
Although he described his current holdings as “not a lot,” he clarified they still exceed one million XRP.
He also… pic.twitter.com/nu3OKd9gjQ
— TheCryptoBasic (@thecryptobasic) May 5, 2026
The comment arrived in the context of a broader conversation about risk tolerance among Ripple’s founding figures. Schwartz also touched on co-founder Arthur Britto, saying his vague recollection from years ago was that Britto had been selling Bitcoin to cover living expenses while retaining most or all of his XRP. “I vaguely remember him saying that he’s been selling Bitcoin to cover expenses and hadn’t sold any, or very little, XRP,” Schwartz wrote.
Ripple’s leadership and acquisition posture have drawn sustained attention throughout 2025 as the company expands its footprint. The disclosure lands against a backdrop of fragmented but watchful momentum in the XRP market, and the broader question of what insider behavior at founding-era holdings actually signals about long-term conviction.
Can XRP Price Reclaim $1.50 This Week After Insider Holdings Disclosure?
XRP’s price action has been choppy. The token was benchmarked near $1.40 in recent sessions, with a 24-hour range of $1.39–$1.42, representing a roughly +3% upside from current levels. Support appears to be consolidating around the $1.38 floor, while resistance clusters near $1.43–$1.45.
Technical signals are not uniform. The Fear & Greed Index has finally exited fear territory and is now at neutral, hitting 50/100 for the first time in 2026.
Three scenarios appear plausible in the near term. The bull case sees XRP clear $1.45 on volume, with a path toward the $1.55 weekly target if institutional interest materializes around the Ripple regulatory narrative. The base case holds XRP in the $1.35–$1.44 band through the week, with consolidation preceding any catalyst-driven breakout.
The bear case, worth monitoring given recent volume patterns, involves a slip below $1.38 support, which could open a retest of lower levels flagged by some models near $1.30. Position sizing around that floor seems like the operative question for active traders right now.
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LiquidChain Targets Early-Mover Upside as Ripple Consolidates at Key Support
XRP’s consolidation near support reflects a pattern familiar to longer-cycle holders: assets with strong fundamentals and insider conviction often compress before moving. But at a $1.40 price point and with a market capitalization already in the tens of billions, the asymmetry that early XRP holders captured is structurally different from what new entrants face today. Supply dynamics continue to evolve, but the easy multiples belong to a different era.
That structural gap is precisely where early-stage infrastructure plays attract attention. LiquidChain ($LIQUID) is a Layer 3 infrastructure project positioning itself as a cross-chain liquidity layer, fusing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana liquidity into a single execution environment.
The stated architecture lets developers deploy once and access all three ecosystems, addressing a persistent friction point in multi-chain development. The presale is currently priced at $0.01456, with over $718,000 raised to date. Key features include a Unified Liquidity Layer, Single-Step Execution, and Verifiable Settlement.
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Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.
Daniel Frances is a technical writer and Web3 educator specializing in macroeconomics and DeFi mechanics. A crypto native since 2017, Daniel leverages his background in on-chain analytics to author evidence-based reports and deep-dive guides. He holds certifications from The Blockchain Council, and is dedicated to providing “information gain” that cuts through market hype to find real-world blockchain utility.
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