Cardano founder praises XRP Ledger design after reevaluating XRPL consensus model
May 15, 2026
Cardano co-founder, Charles Hoskinson, recently commended the XRP Ledger’s consensus model during a discussion with David Schwartz in a live X Spaces session. Hoskinson spoke highly of the XRPL’s architecture, emphasizing its efficiency, low-latency settlement structure, and focus on payments infrastructure. This newfound praise highlights a growing narrative of mutual respect between two prominent ecosystems in the crypto industry.
The XRPL, established in 2012, employs a unique Federated Byzantine Agreement (FBA) consensus mechanism that allows for quick transaction settlement without relying on proof-of-work or proof-of-stake mining. Instead, the network depends on a group of trusted validator lists (UNLs) to reach consensus. While its speed has received praise, the trade-offs in decentralization have been a subject of debate.
Following Schwartz’s appointment to the $XRP Ledger Foundation board, key leadership changes were made, further solidifying the platform’s development. Brett Mollin was named executive director, Denis Angell as chief technology officer, Rene Huijsen as director of operations, and Hussein “Vet” Zangana as director of community. Schwartz’s understanding of the XRPL’s design decisions played a crucial role in his addition to the board.
Hoskinson revisited the XRPL while working on a new project called the Midnight glacier drop, where the XRPL was intended to be one of the networks utilized. In this venture, the XRPL’s design and functionality were explored more deeply as Cardano engineers sought to navigate the technical aspects of integrating the XRPL into their platform.
Hoskinson’s admiration for the XRPL’s Unique Node List (UNL) design stemmed from its ability to exclude unreliable validators, thus ensuring transaction confirmations are not hindered when dealing with disappearing validators. This design choice has been a point of controversy, with criticisms of centralization countered by arguments for network security and prevention of denial-of-service attacks.
Schwartz has been a vocal defender of the UNL system, asserting its role in preventing attacks and maintaining network integrity. While some perceive the UNL as compromising decentralization, Schwartz sees it as a necessary middle ground to balance security and usability. Despite being a critic of centralized systems, Hoskinson’s positive assessment of the UNL showcases a shift in perspective and a recognition of the strategic design choices made by the XRPL team.
In conclusion, Hoskinson’s recent acknowledgment of the XRP Ledger’s consensus model reflects a broader trend of reevaluation of early blockchain systems as the industry undergoes rapid growth and evolution. The ongoing dialogue and exchange of ideas between key figures in the crypto space highlight the collaborative nature of blockchain technology development and a shared commitment to innovation and progress within the ecosystem.
