Ripple CTO and Custodia Bank CEO Clash Over XRP Debate

Ripple CTO David Schwartz and Custodia Bank CEO Caitlin Long engage in a dispute over XRP’s decentralization on August 7, 2025, following critical remarks by Long.

The debate centers on XRP’s efficacy and market impact, raising questions about its decentralization and institutional adoption.

Ripple CTO David Schwartz reacted to criticisms made by Custodia Bank CEO Caitlin Long regarding XRP’s decentralization. Schwartz invited Long to a fact-based discussion to address her concerns.

Long’s remarks likened XRP’s early funding to an ICO and questioned its impact on the ledger’s decentralization, which Schwartz immediately countered by defending Ripple’s development strategies.

The crypto community is deeply involved in this debate, with social media platforms ablaze with support and criticism. Key figures in the Ripple community have voiced strong defenses of XRP.

Financial analysts speculate that institutional trust in XRP may be affected. Long’s comments about potential preference for Ethereum in tokenizing T-bills further intensified market discussions.

Caitlin Long, CEO, Custodia Bank, said, ‘Ripple’s been at this longer than almost anybody else and they haven’t made a lot of progress. It’s really that simple.’

Previous comparisons between Ethereum’s ICO and XRP’s launch highlight differing governance models. Experts note the ongoing tension between Ripple and regulatory bodies, although this event has not triggered new regulatory actions.

Market analysts are watching for historical patterns, suggesting that previous legal disputes have resulted in mixed outcomes for Ripple, impacting investor sentiment slightly but not triggering massive market shifts.