•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The XRP Ledger Foundation (XRPLF) has added David “JoelKatz” Schwartz as an honorary board member, formalizing the role of one of the XRP Ledger’s original architects as the organization reshapes its leadership and operating structure.
In a post on X, the Foundation said it was “honored to welcome David Schwartz as an Honorary Board Member of the XRP Ledger Foundation.” The XRPLF described Schwartz as an original architect of the XRP Ledger who brings “deep technical insight and a long-term perspective” to strengthen the Foundation’s technical stewardship of the ecosystem.
Schwartz’s appointment also drew attention because it follows his departure from full-time work at Ripple. In response to a user asking why he left Ripple and whether he sold his XRP, Schwartz said the decision was personal rather than strategic.
“I left Ripple because I had been working non-stop since the end of 2011 and felt it was time to stop doing this full time,” Schwartz wrote. He added that he still holds some XRP, but has been “drastically reducing” his cryptocurrency holdings since 2013 due to what he described as a “psychological aversion to risk.”
Although Schwartz is no longer in a full-time executive role at Ripple, he said his work across the XRP ecosystem has continued. In another reply, he outlined current commitments spanning multiple organizations and community-facing activities.
“I made a list of all the things I’m doing now, and it’s long,” Schwartz wrote, adding that his responsibilities include being a board member at Ripple, advising Evernorth, running a large hub, serving as an honorary board member at XRPLF, attending XRPL events, and holding regular meetings with developers.
The Foundation’s leadership changes suggest Schwartz’s transition is less of a withdrawal from the ecosystem and more of a move toward advisory and infrastructure-facing involvement across XRP Ledger stakeholders.
Days before the honorary board appointment, the XRPLF introduced a new operating team led by Executive Director Brett Mollin. The Foundation named Denis Angell as chief technology officer, Rene Huijsen to take over operations, and Hussein “Vet” Zangana to lead community efforts.
According to the Foundation, the changes are intended to tighten technical stewardship, strengthen community engagement, and improve institutional coordination around the ledger.
The XRPLF said it is “starting to collaborate with XRP ecosystem stakeholders to advance every area of community and technology — openly, transparently and with the public.”
At press time, XRP traded at $1.46.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
