Ex-Ripple CTO Says He Could Miss Crypto Biggest Wealth Opportunity

Former Ripple CTO David Schwartz acknowledges crypto’s massive wealth-creation potential while admitting he could miss part of that upside.

In an industry where many investors aggressively pursue high-reward crypto opportunities, Schwartz prioritizes financial stability and peace of mind over maximizing profits.

Key Points

David Schwartz acknowledged that his conservative investment approach could cause him to miss part of crypto’s upside potential.

He revealed that he has shifted most of his exposure away from direct cryptocurrency holdings and toward Ripple stock.

Schwartz disclosed reducing his $XRP holdings from more than 26 million to just over 1 million, while also cutting his Bitcoin position from roughly 1,000 $BTC to less than 1.

The former Ripple CTO admitted that taking greater risks with $XRP and other crypto assets could potentially have made him a billionaire.

Ex-Ripple CTO Admits He Could Miss Crypto Wealth-Generation Opportunity

Taking to X, Schwartz stated that cryptocurrency could still represent a rare wealth-generation opportunity capable of delivering extraordinary returns. However, he revealed that he has shifted most of his assets away from direct crypto exposure, except for his holdings in Ripple stock.

Although he recognizes crypto’s long-term growth potential, Schwartz said he is comfortable missing some upside if it allows him to maintain greater peace of mind. Consequently, instead of heavily concentrating his portfolio in volatile digital assets, he prefers indirect exposure through Ripple stock.

I fully recognize that crypto may be a once-in-a-generation chance to get rich that we have not missed yet and that may mean that I miss a lot of it. I'm okay with that and hope my Ripple stock gives me enough exposure. I sleep better at night that way.

— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) May 4, 2026

I’m Not a Diamond Hands Guy: Schwartz

Schwartz made the remarks after disclosing that he sold most of his 26 million $XRP holdings. Nevertheless, he confirmed that he still owns more than one million $XRP. He also significantly reduced his Bitcoin and Ethereum positions, cutting his $BTC holdings from roughly 1,000 coins to less than one and reducing his Ethereum holdings from 4,000 ETH to fewer than two.

Furthermore, Schwartz emphasized that he is not a “diamond hands guy,” a concept commonly associated with crypto investors who hold assets through extreme volatility in pursuit of massive long-term gains.

Instead, he described himself as an investor who values sensible decision-making, disciplined risk management, and long-term financial comfort.

Schwartz Says He Could Have Been a Billionaire If He Took More Risks

Although Schwartz acknowledged that taking greater risks, such as increasing his crypto exposure through his $XRP holdings, might have made him a billionaire, he stressed that he remains satisfied with his decisions.

In his view, investment success is not defined solely by achieving the highest possible returns, but also by maintaining a strategy that aligns with personal comfort and long-term stability.

For context, if David Schwartz had retained his 26 million $XRP instead of selling most of them at $0.10, the holdings could have been worth nearly $100 million when $XRP climbed to $3.65 last year. Likewise, his 1,000 Bitcoin holdings could have been valued at about $126.19 million at Bitcoin’s peak price.

However, Schwartz explained that he never believed the assets would become extremely valuable. As a result, he sold most of his holdings to reduce risk and maintain peace of mind.