'Not A Valid Argument': Ex-Ripple Cto Shuts Down Viral Xrp Rumors Once And For All

The debate over XRP's decentralization resurfaced after Ethereum supporters claimed the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is centralized due to its 134 permissioned validators. A screenshot from XRPL.org was circulated to support the allegation, sparking criticism from the XRP community, which emphasized the structural differences between Ripple and XRP and argued that validator count alone doesn't equate to control.

Ripple's former CTO, David Schwartz, responded by reiterating that validators on XRPL do not have the power to approve or reject individual transactions. Instead, they help resolve cases of conflicting but valid transactions, without the ability to enforce upgrades or override network rules. According to Schwartz, XRPL operates through coordination rather than centralized governance.