Ex-Ripple CTO: I Sold 40,000 ETH at $1.05

David Schwartz, former CTO of Ripple, recently shared a personal reflection on his early decisions. Responding to a post about missed gains in Ethereum, Schwartz admitted he sold 40,000 ETH at $1.05, believing he was an “investing genius” and had made a smart investment choice.

Ethereum (ETH) would eventually rise to an all-time high of $4,953.73, with Schwartz missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in potential gains. This revelation highlighted how even experienced figures in the crypto space can misjudge potential growth.

Same. Sold 40,000 ETH at $1.05 and though that I was an investing genius.

— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) March 1, 2026

Schwartz’s Early XRP Sales

Schwartz’s experience with XRP mirrors his Ethereum trades. Early in XRP’s growth, he sold his tokens at $0.10, not expecting the asset to rise significantly. By July 2025, XRP had reached an all-time high of $3.65, vastly exceeding the price at which Schwartz had exited.

Experts and analysts had consistently advised holding XRP due to its practical applications, strong liquidity, and integration with global financial institutions.

Despite missing these substantial gains, Schwartz’s early technical contributions and strategic vision for the network established the infrastructure and credibility that have allowed XRP to achieve its current prominence in the market.

XRP’s True Potential

XRP’s performance following these sales demonstrates the cryptocurrency’s potential. Following its peak in mid-2025, experts have set ambitious targets, with double or triple-digit prices for the coming years. These targets reflect XRP’s growing adoption in global financial systems and its role as a reliable liquidity solution.

Schwartz’s public reflection provides a reminder to investors about timing and conviction. While selling early can provide immediate returns, holding onto assets with strong fundamentals can generate exponential growth. Schwartz’s experience illustrates that market participants often underestimate long-term growth potential, even when initial gains appear significant.

We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1

— TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025

Schwartz’s Lasting Impact

Though Schwartz may not have accurately predicted XRP’s peak, his contributions to Ripple were instrumental in the token’s development. His technical expertise helped design a scalable and efficient payment protocol, enabling XRP to gain traction among banks and financial institutions. The architecture he helped create remains central to XRP’s network and underpins its future growth potential.

Schwartz’s experiences with Ethereum and XRP provide insight into the challenges of cryptocurrency investing. Selling XRP at $0.10 and ETH at $1.05 shows that even experts can misjudge growth potential, and reinforces the stance that investors should not sell XRP early.