Ex-Ripple CTO: Why Is XRP Not Already $20 If There’s Even a 1% Chance of $10K?

Crypto analyst Steph Is Crypto (@Steph_iscrypto) has drawn attention to recent comments from Ripple’s former Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, about XRP’s price potential and Ripple’s strategy. The comments have put Schwartz at the center of a heated debate about the $10,000 XRP price.

A user asked Schwartz to weigh in on the theory based on Chris Burniske’s crypto valuation formula, and many in the community did not appreciate Schwartz’s answer. Schwartz applied basic expected value logic to the $10,000 thesis.

He explained that if wealthy investors genuinely believed there was even a 1% chance of XRP reaching $10,000 within a decade, market forces would have already pushed the price to at least $20. As XRP trades well below that level, Schwartz used the gap to challenge the theory’s credibility.

Ripple Is Not Sitting on a Price Switch

A follow-up comment pushed further, suggesting Ripple could use its own products, Ripple Prime and Ripple Treasury, to drive XRP above $100. Schwartz rejected the premise. He acknowledged that there may have been a time when it was plausible to argue Ripple was holding back some mechanism to dramatically increase XRP’s price, waiting for the right moment.

He said that the argument is very difficult to make today. Schwartz stated that Ripple has been open about what it is doing and why. He added that while the company is not transparent about everything, it is not concealing any grand conspiracy.

The Bigger Picture on Regulatory Clarity

In a clip shared by Steph, Schwartz outlined Ripple’s position on crypto legislation. He expressed support for securing regulatory clarity now through the CLARITY Act, even if the resulting bill is imperfect.

He described Ripple’s strategy as enterprise adoption first, with retail expansion to follow. He sees that path mirroring how the internet developed, starting with government and corporate users before reaching everyday consumers.

Schwartz acknowledged that some in the industry, including Coinbase and Charles Hoskinson, have threatened to oppose legislation that does not meet their standards. He gave them the benefit of the doubt, suggesting this may be a negotiating posture rather than a firm position. The goal, in his view, is to secure the best possible bill without closing the door on new entrants to the space.

Disclaimer: This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.

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