The debate over the decentralization of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has gained new momentum following comments from Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz. Addressing concerns that Ripple controls XRPL, Schwartz offered insights into the network’s governance structure and Ripple’s influence.
According to Schwartz, decision-making within XRPL is not dictated solely by Ripple. He presented a hypothetical scenario where a large group of XRPL users and developers advocate for privacy features that may not align with Ripple’s business interests.
He emphasized the uncertainty of such decisions, stating, “What will happen? Do you think you know because I don’t.” This highlights the decentralized nature of the ledger, where consensus determines outcomes rather than directives from Ripple.
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Ripple’s Role in XRPL Decision-Making
Schwartz explained that Ripple does not control XRPL but instead relies on persuasion to influence decisions. If certain features were seen as harmful to Ripple, the company would focus on convincing stakeholders that excluding them benefits the broader XRPL ecosystem.
“The two tools Ripple would use the most are convincing people that the XRPL is better for everyone without those features and convincing people that at least in this case, what’s good for Ripple is good for XRPL,” he noted.
He also addressed concerns about validator control, explaining that resolving the double-spend problem requires validator scarcity to maintain network integrity. “Because to resolve the double-spend problem, you need something scarce. Otherwise, there would be no way to know when you reached consensus,” he stated.
The XRP Ledger currently has over 150 validators, with 35 included in the default Unique Node List (UNL). Ripple operates only one of these validators, ensuring no single entity dominates network consensus.
Additionally, XRPL’s opt-in structure allows participants to select their own UNLs, meaning that if Ripple were to cease operations, users could migrate to a different list from another publisher.
Schwartz’s remarks provide insight into Ripple’s role within the XRPL ecosystem. While Ripple plays a significant part in its development, network governance ultimately depends on broader community consensus rather than direct corporate control.
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