The XRP Ledger Foundation (XRPLF) announced on May 11, 2026, that Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz would join the organization as an honorary board member. Schwartz, one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), will provide technical stewardship support as the Foundation expands its operational and engineering leadership.
Core Architect Joins to Bolster Technical Oversight
In a post on X, 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.” During his tenure at Ripple, Schwartz spearheaded the design and development of the core XRPL protocol. His honorary board role means he will not be involved in day-to-day operations but will offer advisory support on key technical decisions, protocol upgrades, and standards development.
Foundation Unveils Full Leadership Structure
Earlier, on May 8, the Foundation had already introduced its broader leadership team via X. Brett Mollin was named Executive Director, setting strategy with the board. Denis Angell was appointed Chief Technology Officer, leading engineering work tied to amendments, standards, and production contributions. Rene Huijsen became Director of Operations, handling financial coordination and operations; he previously worked on payment operations at Ripple and participated in a Bank for International Settlements cross-border payments taskforce. Hussein “Vet” Zangana was named Director of Community, covering communications, validator and developer engagement, ecosystem storytelling, events, and content production.
Engineering and Community Roles Clearly Separated
The Foundation emphasized that engineering and community responsibilities are being separated into defined roles as it prepares for its next phase. Angell moved from XRPL Labs to guide technical direction, while Zangana serves as a liaison for builders, validators, and other ecosystem participants. “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,” the Foundation said.
Together, the May 8 and May 11 announcements show the Foundation pairing a formal staff structure with Schwartz’s honorary board appointment. Schwartz’s presence not only adds technical authority to the Foundation but also lends important credibility and transparency to the governance of the XRPL ecosystem.