Coinpaper
April 5, 2026 5:31 PM UTC

“I’m Not Bound by NDA” — Former Ripple CTO Fires Back After Shutting Down $10K XRP Dreams

David Schwartz Pushes Back on $10,000 XRP Hype, Says Market Would Already Be Pricing It In Former Ripple CTO David Schwartz has reignited debate in the crypto space after pushing back against the popular $10,000 XRP price prediction, arguing that current market conditions do not support such an extreme valuation. Schwartz responded on X, formerly Twitter, to push back on claims that an NDA was shaping his comments. He argued that if even a small group of rational, high-net-worth investors genuinely assigned a 1% probability to XRP reaching $10,000 within the next decade, market behavior would already look very different. In his view, that level of conviction would trigger aggressive accumulation long before now, driving prices significantly higher than current levels, potentially even into double-digit territory. The fact that this kind of positioning isn’t visible in the market, he suggested, is telling. His broader point was simple that if the upside thesis were truly as credible as some believe, it should already be reflected in capital flows. The absence of that demand, he implied, raises a straightforward question about how widely that $10,000 scenario is actually taken seriously by informed investors. He added that he prefers to avoid speculation altogether rather than give an answer he doesn’t stand behind, underscoring that his views are based on personal analysis, not outside influence or legal constraints. XRP Valuation Debate Heats Up as Schwartz Counters Regulatory Fears and Market Realism Clash with Bullish Narratives Well, the debate has intensified around XRP’s long-term valuation, with supporters citing future adoption and expanding global liquidity, while critics point to supply dynamics and market cap limitations as key constraints. Amid this renewed discussion, Schwartz also entered a separate policy debate, pushing back on warnings from Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson about the proposed CLARITY Act. He argued that the crypto industry should engage with regulators rather than retreat, warning that overcorrection in policy could end up stifling innovation. Therefore, the exchange highlights a familiar split in the market when it comes to bold long-term valuation narratives on one side, and regulatory caution and market realism on the other.