XRP Ledger Foundation Appoints David Schwartz of Ripple as Honorary Board Member

May 12, 2026

The XRP Ledger Foundation has welcomed Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz as an honorary board member, solidifying technical guidance from one of the original architects of the ledger. Schwartz’s addition to the Foundation comes as it expands its leadership team to include roles focused on engineering, operations, and community engagement.

In a recent announcement, the XRP Ledger Foundation shared that David Schwartz, known for his role in designing the XRP Ledger, would be providing technical stewardship to support the organization’s growth and development. In a separate disclosure earlier this month, the Foundation introduced key figures in its leadership structure. This included Brett Mollin as the executive director, Denis Angell as the chief technology officer, Rene Huijsen as the director of operations, and Hussein “Vet” Zangana as the director of community.

The Foundation highlighted the significance of Schwartz’s experience, stating, “As one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger, David brings deep technical insight and a long-term perspective that will help strengthen the Foundation’s technical stewardship of the ecosystem.” Schwartz will act as a technical advisor alongside the leadership team responsible for daily operations. Huijsen, who previously worked in payment operations at Ripple and contributed to a cross-border payments taskforce for the Bank for International Settlements, will manage financial operations within the Foundation.

With the new leadership structure in place, community-related responsibilities have been assigned to Zangana. His work will involve communication strategies, engagement with validators and developers, ecosystem narrative development, event planning, and content creation. Zangana’s previous involvement in the XRP ecosystem includes infrastructure development, proposal of amendments, documentation creation, educational content production, hosting of X Spaces events, live streaming sessions, and facilitation of the XRP Cafe.

Separating engineering and community roles across distinct positions aligns with the Foundation’s vision for its next phase. Angell, transitioning from XRPL Labs, will lead engineering efforts focused on amendments, standards, and production contributions. Meanwhile, Zangana will serve as a point of contact for builders, validators, and other ecosystem participants, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration.

The XRP Ledger Foundation emphasized the strength of the XRP community, highlighting the collective efforts and shared vision that have driven its success. The recent appointments of Schwartz and the new leadership team members demonstrate the Foundation’s commitment to supporting the XRP Ledger and those involved in its development and growth. By uniting a formal staff structure with technical expertise and community engagement, the Foundation is poised to continue its mission to enhance the XRP ecosystem.