Ripple CTO David Schwartz steps back to focus on personal projects, with Dennis Jarosch taking over technical operations at Ripple.
David Schwartz, the long-time CTO of Ripple, has announced he will step back from daily operations after more than a decade with the company.
Transitioning to the role of “CTO emeritus,” Schwartz will focus on personal projects and spending more time with family, though he will remain active within the XRP community.
As Ripple continues its expansion, this leadership change marks a new chapter for both the company and its flagship XRP Ledger, with Dennis Jarosch stepping in to lead technical operations moving forward.
Schwartz’s Legacy and Transition to a New Role
David Schwartz has been with Ripple since 2011, when he helped design the XRP Ledger. His technical expertise and leadership have been key to the company’s success, particularly in the face of regulatory challenges.
Schwartz’s work has earned him recognition as one of the most influential figures in the blockchain space.
As happens in one’s life, I’ve been taking stock of my last 40 years. It’s been a wild ride. I’ve gone from consulting for the NSA to watching the early stages of Bitcoin. Then, I met Arthur, Jed, and Chris and worked on coding the XRP Ledger. Now, I’ve spent more than 13 years…
— David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) September 30, 2025
As CTO, Schwartz played a major role in guiding Ripple’s technology and its vision for the future. However, he now feels the need to focus on other projects and personal endeavors.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Schwartz shared his excitement for returning to coding and exploring innovative ways to use XRP beyond Ripple’s payment solutions. This shift will allow him to engage more deeply with the XRP ecosystem on a personal level.
Ripple’s Leadership Transition and Future Plans
Dennis Jarosch, Ripple’s senior vice president of engineering, will now take over technical operations.
Jarosch has been with Ripple for several years and is well-positioned to lead the company’s technical efforts. As Ripple continues to push the XRP Ledger’s use cases beyond payments, Jarosch’s leadership will be essential for driving this expansion.
One of the major areas of focus for Ripple is the RLUSD stablecoin project, which is expected to play a central role in the tokenized treasury markets. This is part of Ripple’s broader strategy to explore new applications for the XRP Ledger.
Under Jarosch’s leadership, Ripple aims to increase adoption and build new partnerships within the crypto and blockchain sectors.
Ripple Community Reacts to Schwartz’s Announcement
David Schwartz’s departure from his CTO role has sparked mixed reactions from the Ripple community. Some people are concerned about how the leadership change might impact Ripple’s direction. However, others have pointed out that Schwartz’s new role on the board is significant and that he will still play a key part in the company’s future.
For those who are concerned David is stepping down, being a member of the board of directors is a bigger and higher-ranking position than a Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
He can basically have a say in firing Brad for example :)) . Just kidding, but that is technically true. pic.twitter.com/D7dZb0kJbZ
— Dan’s Odyssey (@dan_tfhc) September 30, 2025
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse responded positively to Schwartz’s transition, praising his contributions to the company. In a lighthearted moment, Garlinghouse joked about Schwartz now being his boss, given his new position on the board.
Despite the change, Schwartz’s continued involvement with Ripple reassures many in the XRP community, who are eager to see how the XRP Ledger evolves in the coming years.
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