XRP Drops as CTO David Schwartz Makes XRPL Hub Public

XRP trades near $2.03 after a sharp 4.6% drop in the last 24 hours and an extended decline across the past week. Traders watch the pullback carefully because XRP sits under selling pressure while Ripple’s CTO David Schwartz triggers one of the biggest transparency moves in XRPL’s recent history.

The decision shifts internal network data into public view for the first time and opens a new chapter in how operators track system performance.

XRPL Hub Goes Public With Real-Time Performance Metrics

Schwartz revealed the XRPL Hub that he has been running privately for years and opened full access to the broader community. The hub now shares live operational information such as uptime statistics, peer connections, latency levels, and traffic throughput. The hub runs on version 2.6.2, and Schwartz says the system has operated for more than a month without issues.

His decision converts the hub into a reference point for developers, node operators, and analysts who want direct visibility into XRPL’s technical behavior. The dataset includes the hostname and port for those who want to connect, along with detailed charts that show patterns in peer counts, response times, and disconnection activity. Developers believe that this transparency gives them a better way to compare their own setups and diagnose potential issues before they escalate.

Network Prepared for Higher Demand

Schwartz says the hub remains under capacity because peer reservations have not been necessary yet. He monitors demand carefully and stands ready to activate reservations if usage increases. His comments signal strong preparedness for spikes in activity as adoption grows or as new features enter the network.

The timing of the reveal lines up with increasing community debate about XRPL’s future programmability. Some members argue that validators should receive financial benefits when new features land on the ledger. Schwartz disagrees with that position and says XRPL never intended to reward validators based on upgrades. He supports features that offer measurable utility rather than those that create incentive structures that could distort priorities. His remarks reject the idea that staking rewards serve as a strong enough reason to re-engineer the network’s design.

Schwartz Warns Against Major Smart Contract Additions

Schwartz also stepped into the ongoing conversation about expanding smart contract capabilities on XRPL. He warned that radical upgrades could trigger unintended consequences and introduce risk factors that conflict with the ledger’s core architecture. He acknowledges the progress of automated market makers and supports their evolution, yet he believes the community still needs proof of meaningful real-world volume and consistent usage before considering more ambitious upgrades.

His comments urge developers to adopt an evidence-driven approach that prioritizes network safety and stability. He stresses that XRPL must avoid changes that compromise reliability or introduce unpredictable behavior. His stance reinforces the belief that every major alteration should follow visible demand and not speculative interest.

Ripple’s Investment Activities Expand XRPL’s Reach

Ripple’s influence continues to grow outside the XRPL Hub announcement. The company led the $25 million Series C round that funded Bitnomial’s new CFTC-regulated spot exchange. The platform listed XRP on its first day and now supports spot markets, futures, perpetual contracts, and options trading. 

Source: X

Ripple-backed infrastructure powers parts of the exchange’s ecosystem, which places XRP inside a regulated environment with oversight from U.S. federal authorities.

The exchange’s presence strengthens XRP’s foothold in institutional markets and supports traders who prefer regulated venues. The event reinforces Ripple’s focus on expanding XRPL’s global utility while ensuring compliance in major jurisdictions.

David Schwartz’s decision to make XRPL Hub data public marks a milestone for transparency in the XRP ecosystem. His balanced approach to upgrades, paired with Ripple’s strategic investments, shapes a new era for the ledger’s evolution.