One-Man Project? Ripple CTO Clarifies His Loyalties
Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), David Schwartz, has been confronting various misconceptions and speculations surrounding him. This week, questions arose regarding his wealth and billionaire status concerning NBA game seats.
Now, the cryptocurrency community ponders Schwartz’s relevance at Ripple and where his loyalty lies – with his employer or the technology he helped develop.
Who Does David Schwartz Pledge Loyalty To?
Following the clarification that he isn’t a billionaire, Schwartz faced further speculative comments and criticisms regarding his position at Ripple Labs and his loyalty.
A user suggested that the CTO is merely an employee of Ripple Labs, stating, “His allegiance is to Ripple, not the XRPL nor XRP.” Schwartz addressed the comment, explaining his allegiance and reasoning.
He recounted how Ripple’s co-founder, Chris Larsen, invited him to join the board due to his perceived loyalty. Schwartz pledged loyalty to Larsen as long as he felt Larsen was the right leader for Ripple and committed to being loyal to his employer.
However, Schwartz elaborated on his concept of loyalty, emphasizing that it must be earned and deserved. He applies this belief to his personal life as well, rejecting undeserved loyalty. Even his harshest critics, he believes, would acknowledge this aspect.
Schwartz maintains that his loyalty to the project remains, but he would cease working for Ripple if he no longer believed in it, albeit refraining from publicly denouncing it out of self-interest.
Critics noted the absence of mention of the XRP Ledger, which they felt validated the original criticism.
Is Schwartz Comparable to Ripple’s Steve Wozniak?
The comparison of Schwartz to Steve Wozniak sparked debate, with some disagreeing and others highlighting Schwartz’s contributions to blockchain technology and the XRP Ledger.
Schwartz addressed speculation about his role, stating that he would stop working at Ripple when it ceased to be enjoyable. He emphasized the importance of authenticity and avoiding insincere statements.
As one commenter pointed out, preferences vary – some are passionate about leadership roles, while others prefer focusing on research and development. This choice, they noted, depends on personality and life stage.
