XRP Centralization Addressed by Ripple CTO

XRP continues to spark debates within the crypto community, particularly concerning its level of decentralization. Addressing these ongoing concerns, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has recently clarified critical misunderstandings about the XRP Ledger and its governance structure.

At the start of the week, questions began circulating across social media platforms, especially on X, surrounding the decentralized status of XRP. Some users raised concerns about Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, being perceived as the symbolic leader of XRP — a stark contrast to Bitcoin, which has no central figure.

In response, David Schwartz directly tackled this issue in a statement on X. According to Schwartz, XRP does not have a central issuer. All tokens were generated at the inception of the XRP Ledger. Unlike other blockchain networks that often carry out periodic or continuous token releases, XRP’s design choice significantly limits control over token dispersion and reinforces its decentralization ethos.

He further elaborated that the XRP Ledger was structured without a central party controlling the distribution. Instead, anyone had the opportunity to claim tokens in the early stages. Schwartz also encouraged users to deeply consider what decentralization means to them on a practical level — not just as a concept, but in terms of what behaviors or risks they want the system to mitigate.

He posed a critical thought: “Ask yourself what you want to be assured will happen and what you want to be assured won’t happen.” This line of thinking would, according to him, help people better assess what decentralization truly protects against and how XRP measures up in that regard.

Amid this clarity on XRP, the market also witnessed significant financial maneuvers involving Bitcoin. A major institutional transaction triggered attention when Whale Alert identified a sizable Bitcoin transfer to Coinbase Institutional. Initially, a batch of 619 BTC was moved, valued at around $68 million based on current trading conditions. However, a much more substantial withdrawal occurred soon after — over 8,000 BTC, translating to approximately $878,917,974, was transferred to an unidentified wallet.

These vast fund flows raised eyebrows as they happened while Bitcoin’s price dropped to around $107,478. The transferred BTC units — split across multiple transactions of 200 BTC each — highlight the active role played by institutional investors and the ongoing high-stakes movement of crypto assets between exchanges and private wallets.

On another front, Ethereum also made headlines as it approaches a key price threshold. Since May 24, ETH has been on a recovery streak and jumped nearly 2.9%, reaching as high as $2,636 after dipping to $2,500 earlier in the month. Analysts are watching its bid to surpass the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) level of $2,699 – a technical indicator frequently used to evaluate market momentum.

However, breaking this resistance might not be sufficient. Glassnode’s on-chain indicators suggest potential selling pressure near the $2,800 mark, as many investors might take profits or sell at breakeven. In general, the fact that Ethereum’s value sits above its market mean of $2,400 gives bulls a reason to remain optimistic, but the true test lies in pushing past $2,900 to confirm sustained upward momentum.

These recent developments offer important signals about the broader digital asset market. With Ripple making strides in clarifying its technical direction, large Bitcoin moves shaking institutional desks, and Ethereum climbing toward significant resistance levels, the next phase could be crucial for investors and blockchain watchers alike.

Related: Expert Advice: Sell XRP If You’re Confused

As debate around XRP’s decentralization evolves, Ripple aims to cement its narrative of transparency and autonomy — a move that may shape long-term investor confidence in the ecosystem.