He owned Bitcoin and Ethereum, but this coin made him rich: Ripple ex-CTO’s crypto strategy decoded

Former Ripple CTO David Schwartz shares his crypto strategy that led to significant wealth through XRP, shifting focus from Bitcoin and Ethereum.

When it comes to wealth accumulation in the cryptocurrency world, it often seems like Bitcoin and Ethereum are the go-to options for investors. But as former Ripple CTO David Schwartz reveals, a different coin crypto strategy could be the key to unlocking significant gains. So, what does Schwartz’s journey with XRP tell us about investment choices in the ever-volatile crypto market? What Coin Made David Schwartz Rich? It's not Bitcoin or Ethereum that made Schwartz exceptionally wealthy—it's XRP. As a co-founder of Ripple, Schwartz had early access to XRP, allowing him to own a staggering 26 million tokens at one point. XRP peaked at $3.65 in July 2025, substantially outpacing Schwartz’s other crypto holdings. How Does XRP Compare to Bitcoin and Ethereum? While Schwartz’s holdings included approximately 1,000 Bitcoins and 40,000 Ethereum tokens, it was XRP that yielded the most remarkable returns. At its current value of around $1.46, XRP is still one of the largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, ranking fourth. What Regrets Does He Have? Despite his success with XRP, Schwartz has some regrets regarding his other investments. He disclosed that he sold his Ethereum holdings around $1.05 each, missing out on a substantial increase, as Ethereum is currently trading at approximately $2,297. Likewise, he reduced his Bitcoin holdings down to less than one coin before Bitcoin crossed the six-figure threshold. What Investing Behavior Does Schwartz Exhibit? One of the notable aspects of Schwartz's investment strategy is his risk aversion. He has expressed a consistent pattern of cutting back on his crypto positions, a behavior that stems from his instinct to lock in gains rather than gamble on future price rises. He once noted his difficulty in embracing risk in the crypto sector. What Advice Would He Give to His Younger Self? If Schwartz could speak to his younger self, he would encourage taking more risks in crypto investments. However, he humorously acknowledg