- Ripple CTO Emeritus Schwartz confirmed XRP originated from new code.
- Ryan Fugger created RipplePay before OpenCoin replaced its technology entirely.
- Older patents fueled speculation but Schwartz rejected those claims completely.
Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz has dismissed long-standing claims that Canadian programmer Ryan Fugger created XRP, clarifying that the cryptocurrency and the XRP Ledger originated from entirely new code written in 2012. According to Schwartz’s latest publication, Fugger’s RipplePay project only contributed its name, while the technology behind XRP came from a separate engineering effort.
According to Schwartz, that connection overlooks the actual development history. He explained that RipplePay, launched in 2004, operated as a payment network built on trust between participants. However, it never used blockchain technology or included a native digital asset.
Schwartz added that the project changed hands in 2012 when Chris Larsen and Jed McCaleb acquired RipplePay from Fugger. He said the acquisition focused on the Ripple brand rather than the platform’s technology.
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XRP Ledger Was Built on New Code
Schwartz explained that the original RipplePay infrastructure did not become the foundation of XRP. Instead, engineers Jed McCaleb, Arthur Britto, and David Schwartz developed a completely new ledger and digital asset. He emphasized that only the Ripple name remained from Fugger’s earlier platform. Every technical component supporting the XRP Ledger came from newly written code.
Moreover, Schwartz said RipplePay relied on trusted relationships to process transactions. By comparison, the XRP Ledger introduced a decentralized network with its own consensus mechanism and native cryptocurrency. Consequently, he rejected claims suggesting RipplePay gradually evolved into XRP. He maintained that both projects differ in architecture, design, and technical implementation.
Schwartz also addressed recurring theories surrounding his distributed computing patents filed between 1988 and 1991. Those documents have repeatedly appeared in online discussions claiming he created Bitcoin or secretly designed XRP years earlier. According to Schwartz, those patents describe technologies that differ significantly from the XRP Ledger. He said they should not be viewed as evidence supporting alternative narratives about XRP’s creation.
Additionally, he explained that people often combine unrelated historical events to build convincing stories. However, he stressed that those connections lack technical support.
Schwartz Reaffirms XRP’s Official Development Timeline
Schwartz maintained that XRP’s documented history begins in 2012 with the work completed by the OpenCoin engineering team. He said the ledger and token resulted from an independent development process rather than modifications to RipplePay.
He also noted that attempts to identify hidden creators before 2012 ignore the project’s documented technical evolution. Instead, he urged observers to separate historical speculation from the verifiable development timeline.
Schwartz’s latest clarification reinforces the official account of XRP’s origins by separating RipplePay from the XRP Ledger’s development. His explanation also rejects recurring claims involving Ryan Fugger and older computing patents, reaffirming that XRP emerged from original code created by the OpenCoin engineering team in 2012.
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