TLDRDavid Schwartz will step down as Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer at the end of 2025 after more than 13 years.Schwartz will focus on spending more time with his family and returning to personal hobbies after his departure.He will remain involved with Ripple as a board member and CTO Emeritus.Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse praised Schwartz for his exceptional vision and contributions to the company.President Monica Long acknowledged Schwartz’s key role in building Ripple’s strong community and technology.Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, announced his decision to step down at the end of 2025. After over 13 years of service, Schwartz will transition from his day-to-day duties at the company. He shared his plans to spend more time with his family and rekindle his personal hobbies.Ripple CTO David Schwartz Remains Board MemberSchwartz confirmed that he will leave his position as Ripple’s CTO in December 2025. Reflecting on his time at the company, he called it “one of the greatest honors and experiences of his life.” Despite stepping down, Schwartz will remain involved with Ripple as a member of the board of directors.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, 2025In his farewell statement, Schwartz expressed his deep appreciation for Ripple’s leadership and the community. He thanked CEO Brad Garlinghouse, President Monica Long, and co-founders Chris Larsen and Arthur Britto. Schwartz also emphasized his continued connection with the XRP community and his role as CTO Emeritus.Ripple President Long Hails Schwartz’s Leadership ImpactRipple CEO Brad Garlinghouse praised Schwartz’s contributions to the company. He described Schwartz as “the smartest (and maybe the funniest) person” he knows. Garlinghouse further highlighted Schwartz’s exceptional vision and insight in the crypto space, adding, “You are a legend.”The smartest (and maybe the funniest) person I know. A true OG in crypto with the conviction and vision to see what others couldn’t – you are a legend. Thank you David for everything you’ve done for the industry, for Ripple and for the XRP Ledger. We are all forever grateful…… https://t.co/tt4uX4JlkV— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) September 30, 2025Monica Long, Ripple’s President, also reacted to Schwartz’s departure. She expressed her admiration for his qualities, calling him “ingenious” and “humble.” Long acknowledged that the “mighty community” that Ripple has today would not exist without Schwartz’s leadership and vision.D Schwartz, this mighty community wouldn't exist without you – nor the inventions of Proof of Association, the DEX, smart escrow, continuous auction in an AMM… I could go on! I deeply respect your ingenuity, integrity, humor and humility, which you demonstrate daily (starting… https://t.co/icMJqUArou— Monica Long (@MonicaLongSF) September 30, 2025David Schwartz’s departure marks the end of an era at Ripple. He played a pivotal role in shaping Ripple’s technological advancements and its standing in the cryptocurrency industry. Even as he steps down, Schwartz’s legacy will continue to influence Ripple’s future growth and success.The post Ripple CTO David Schwartz to Step Down After 13 Years of Service appeared first on Blockonomi.