A heated dispute over decentralization standards has placed the XRP Ledger at the center of industry debate. The exchange unfolded publicly on X, where Cyber Capital founder Justin Bons urged the crypto community to distance itself from networks he considers centralized.
Bons argued that XRP does not meet the standards of a fully permissionless blockchain. He stated that Ripple’s Unique Node List structure effectively makes validators permissioned. In his view, diverging from the published list risks network forks and concentrates influence around Ripple-linked entities.

Moreover, he extended his criticism beyond XRP. He cited Stellar, Hedera, Canton, and Algorand as permissioned networks. However, his strongest remarks focused on XRP, which he described as structurally dependent on trusted validator lists.
Bons framed decentralization as a strict requirement rather than a sliding scale. He insisted that true blockchains must rely on either proof-of-work or proof-of-stake systems. Networks outside those models, he argued, depend fundamentally on authority rather than economic incentives.
Also Read: $4.5 Million XRP Transfer in a Single Day Sparks Attention – Here’s What’s Happening
Additionally, he described permissioned elements as incompatible with crypto’s founding principles. Institutional hesitation toward open networks, he suggested, should not justify structural compromises. He urged market participants to support chains that operate without centralized oversight.
David Schwartz, former Ripple CTO, responded directly to the allegations. According to David Schwartz, claims that Ripple controls the XRP Ledger are objectively incorrect. He compared the accusation to suggesting that the majority of miners could arbitrarily create unlimited bitcoins.
Furthermore, Schwartz explained that the XRP Ledger differs significantly from Bitcoin’s consensus structure. He said each node independently selects validators it trusts. If a validator attempts censorship or double-spending, an honest node would simply disregard that validator.
Schwartz emphasized that consensus depends on agreement thresholds among chosen validators, not directives from a central authority. In his explanation, no single entity can override the system if independent nodes refuse malicious changes.
The exchange gained widespread attention across crypto circles. Supporters of XRP pointed to the technical clarifications as evidence of decentralization safeguards. Meanwhile, critics maintained that reliance on recommended validator lists remains a point of contention.
The public clash highlights ongoing disagreements within crypto over validator control and governance design. As adoption grows, debates around decentralization standards continue shaping the industry’s direction.
Also Read: Bitcoin’s 4-Year Cycle Warning Signals Massive Shift Ahead Now
The post Crypto Founder Warns Community to Reject XRP Network – Former Ripple CTO Fires Back appeared first on 36Crypto.


