David Schwartz, Chief Technology Officer of Ripple, has stated that there are no major secret projects hidden behind non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for XRP.
In a recent podcast episode, Schwartz clarified that while nondisclosure agreements are common in Ripple’s business dealings, this is essentially standard practice. He emphasized that this does not imply any hidden, earth-shattering revelations are about to surface.
Key points
Ripple's Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, said none of Ripple's 1,700 NDAs conceal any XRP breakthroughs.
He explained that non-disclosure agreements are standard business practice and do not prove the existence of a secret, disruptive XRP adoption plan.
Schwartz dismissed claims that the government is hiding policies or multi-year XRP catalysts as unfounded speculation.
He urged investors to focus on Ripple's tangible progress rather than price expectations driven by conspiracy theories.
Ripple's 1,700 confidentiality agreements
Back in 2025, Ripple’s 1,700 confidentiality agreements with financial institutions attracted widespread attention. Notably, the issue of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) came to light during Ripple’s legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Since then, XRP holders have speculated that something hidden behind these protocols could push up... XRP price once revealed.
However, Schwartz now put an end to these speculations. He explained that most agreements the company signs include confidentiality clauses, simply because partners want to protect their business privacy.
He believes that the idea these protocols obscure a long-term, game-changing XRP adoption plan is largely mistaken.
Schwartz emphasized that, in most cases, what you see is what you get, and added that rumors from unofficial sources are usually false or, even if they contain any truth, will become public knowledge shortly.
He noted that, to his knowledge, there are currently no long-term secret plans involving XRP, nor any coordinated government initiatives related to this asset.
XRP has no "hidden catalyst."
The former chief technology officer also warned investors not to rely on conspiracy theories when making decisions about XRP. He stated that anyone expecting a sudden price surge for XRP due to some “major secret event” may be deluding themselves.
Schwartz acknowledges that he is aware of some developments within the Ripple and XRP ecosystem, including the XRPL Foundation, but he adds that he is not familiar with every external entity.
However, he still maintains that there is no evidence of a hidden, long-term secret plan.
Subsequent posts reinforce the message
After the podcast episode aired, Schwartz posted on the X forum to reiterate his position amid growing questions from community members.
He clarified that while there are indeed "many secrets" due to confidentiality agreements, these should not be confused with the various claims circulating online.
Schwartz emphasized that any claims suggesting an imminent major event or that governments are preparing significant actions related to XRP are “almost entirely wrong.” He also added that it is unwise to invest time, money, or effort based on such claims.
No, what I mean is there are many secrets. Many of Ripple’s partners insist on signing nondisclosure agreements to ensure their trade secrets are protected. What I mean is, those conspiracy theories claiming that something big is about to happen or that the government will take major action… almost always…
— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz)April 23, 2026
Community response
Community figure Daniel Keller believes these statements may mark the end of the "XRP mystery" or the beginning of a new round of interpretations.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kaulman, the founder of the cryptocurrency, stood by Schwartz, calling this a much-needed reality check for many XRP holders. Just because certain information is not public does not mean all theories are correct.
Another user, Ocean, also agreed with Schwartz's position and mocked those who still treat his statements as hidden messages.
David Schwartz: "What you see is what you get"
If you believe that the success of a project is influenced by some supernatural or cosmic force, to be honest, I think you might be a bit delusional.
Lore bros: "He's speaking in riddles; this is coded language, it's a智商 test."
— Ocean ◽️ (@OceanXRP_) April 23, 2026
In summary, Schwartz’s remarks encourage people to focus on tangible, verifiable progress rather than rumors and speculation about Ripple and XRP, especially when making investment decisions.