David Schwartz, former chief technology officer of Ripple and widely known online as JoelKatz, revealed this week that he once held 26 million XRP, a sum worth approximately $36.6 million at current market prices. XRP was trading near $1.40 at the time of writing, up around +0.4% over the previous 24 hours, with technicals on lower timeframes sending mixed signals.
Responding to a question on X about the size of his personal position in XRP, Schwartz offered an unexpected reference. “My idea of not much is still more than a million,” he wrote. “I already had 26 million XRP.”
Schwartz reveals over a million $XRP Assets, said #Ripple and XRP remain crypto exposure only.
Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz revealed that he once held 26 million XRP.
Although he described his current holdings as “not much,” he clarified that they still exceed one million XRP.
He also… pic.twitter.com/nu3OKd9gjQ
– TheCryptoBasic (@thecryptobasic) May 5, 2026
This comment comes against the backdrop of a broader conversation about risk tolerance among Ripple’s founding figures. Schwartz also brought up co-founder Arthur Britto, saying his vague memory from years ago was of Britto selling Bitcoin to cover his living expenses while holding on to most or all of his XRP. “I vaguely remember him saying that he was selling Bitcoin to cover expenses and that he had sold no XRP, or very little,” Schwartz wrote.
Ripple’s leadership and acquisitive position have attracted sustained attention throughout 2025 as the company expands its footprint. The disclosure comes amid fragmented but watchful dynamics in the XRP market and the broader question of what insider behavior in founding-era holdings actually indicates long-term conviction.
(SOURCE: TradingView)
Can XRP Price Reclaim $1.50 This Week After Insider Holdings Disclosure?
The price action of XRP has been unstable. The token has been valued near $1.40 over the past few sessions, with a 24-hour range of $1.39 to $1.42, representing an ~+3% upside from current levels. Support appears to be consolidating around the $1.38 low, while resistance nears $1.43 to $1.45.
Technical signals are not uniform. The Fear & Greed Index has finally moved out of fear territory and is now neutral, reaching 50/100 for the first time in 2026.
Three scenarios seem plausible in the short term. The bull case sees XRP clearing $1.45 in volume, with a trajectory towards the weekly target of $1.55 if institutional interest materializes around the Ripple regulatory narrative. The base case keeps XRP in the $1.35-$1.44 band throughout the week, with consolidation preceding any catalyst-driven breakout.
The bearish case, worth watching given recent volume trends, involves a move below $1.38 support, which could open a retest of the lower levels reported by some patterns near $1.30. Position sizing around this bottom currently appears to be the key question for active traders.
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LiquidChain targets early mover upside as Ripple consolidates on key support
XRP’s consolidation near support reflects a pattern familiar to holders of longer cycles: assets with strong fundamentals and internal conviction often compress before making a move. But at a price of $1.40 and with a market cap already in the tens of billions, the asymmetry captured by early XRP holders is structurally different from what new entrants face today. Supply dynamics continue to evolve, but easy multiples belong to a different era.
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Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article is intended to provide accurate and current information, but should not be considered financial or investment advice. Because market conditions can change quickly, we encourage you to verify the information for yourself and consult a professional before making any decisions based on this content.
Daniel Frances is a technical writer and Web3 educator specializing in macroeconomics and DeFi mechanics. Hailing from crypto since 2017, Daniel leverages his experience in on-chain analytics to write evidence-based reports and in-depth guides. He holds certifications from the Blockchain Council and is dedicated to providing “insight gain” that overcomes market hype to find real utility for blockchain.
