XRP Ledger Foundation Names Ripple's David Schwartz Honorary Board Member

Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz joined the XRP Ledger Foundation as an honorary board member, adding technical guidance from one of the ledger’s original architects. The role comes as the Foundation expands leadership across engineering, operations, and community work.

Key Takeaways:

• • David Schwartz joined the XRP Ledger Foundation as an honorary board member.
• • Foundation leaders are assigning engineering, operations, and community responsibilities across defined roles.
• • Schwartz will support the Foundation’s technical stewardship as it expands its leadership structure.

XRP Ledger Foundation Adds Schwartz to Honorary Board Role

The XRP Ledger Foundation announced on X on May 11 that Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz joined the organization as an honorary board member. Schwartz helped design the XRP Ledger and will support the Foundation’s technical stewardship efforts as the organization expands its operational and engineering leadership team.

A separate announcement published by the Foundation on X on May 8 introduced its broader leadership structure. Brett Mollin was named executive director, Denis Angell chief technology officer, Rene Huijsen director of operations, and Hussein “Vet” Zangana director of community. Mollin sets strategy with the board, while Angell leads engineering work tied to amendments, standards, and production contributions.

The Foundation stated:

“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’s honorary board position adds a technical advisory role alongside the team handling daily Foundation work. Huijsen manages financial coordination and operations after earlier payment operations work at Ripple and participation in a Bank for International Settlements cross-border payments taskforce.

XRP Leader Team Structure Shows Engineering and Community Focus

Community responsibilities now sit with Zangana, whose work covers communications, validator and developer engagement, ecosystem storytelling, events, and content. His previous XRP ecosystem activity included infrastructure work, amendment proposals, documentation, educational content, X Spaces, livestreams, and XRP Cafe.

Engineering and community duties are being separated across defined roles as the Foundation outlines its next phase. Angell moved from XRPL Labs to guide technical direction, while Zangana will serve as a liaison for builders, validators, and other ecosystem participants.

The Foundation said:

“The power of the XRP community has always been its many layers rallying together behind a shared vision, and that’s what we’re here to strengthen and deliver on.”

Together, the May 8 and May 11 posts show the Foundation pairing a formal staff structure with Schwartz’s honorary board appointment. Its stated work remains centered on supporting the XRP Ledger and those contributing to it.