David Schwartz, Ripple's CTO emeritus and co-architect of the XRP Ledger, has shared surprising, behind-the-scenes details about the cryptocurrency's early days in a casual thread on X (formerly Twitter). The revelations demystify several long-standing community questions about XRP's terminology and corporate identity, portraying a development process that was more improvisational and human than previously understood.
Schwartz addressed the origin of the term "drop" for XRP's smallest unit, stating his "best guess" is that fellow co-architect Arthur Britto first coined the term. He clarified he could not be definitive, explaining that early terminology was more of a "builder shorthand" rather than a formal decision by a naming committee.
The discussion also provided a rare comparison between the two architects' intellectual styles. Schwartz described himself as operating with conventional intelligence and quick processing, while characterizing Britto's intellect as functioning on "another plane," with traits most people lack. He recalled that Britto would often ask him to slow down during explanations, even when Schwartz was unpacking Britto's own ideas.
In perhaps the most unexpected revelation, Schwartz explained the origins of Ripple's domain name. He stated that ripple.com was obtained from a Grateful Dead fan who had registered the domain years earlier because of the band's song "Ripple," not as a result of any corporate decision. This connection was further highlighted by users who noted Ripple's old 404 page once featured the band's "Dancing Bear" imagery.
Through these anecdotes, Schwartz reframed XRP's origin story as messy, human, and occasionally accidental, contrasting with polished corporate narratives. The thread, which unfolded on January 28, 2026, provided concrete, personal details that offered the XRP community new perspectives on the project's foundational days and the personalities behind its creation.
