Ripple’s David Schwartz has responded to longstanding claims that the company is quietly working with dozens of central banks on $XRP adoption.
In a podcast, Schwartz dismissed conspiracy-style narratives suggesting that “something big” is coming for $XRP based on NDAs.
He stressed that while Ripple does have confidential partnerships, most claims of a major hidden rollout involving $XRP are false.
Notably, he confirmed that many partners operate under non-disclosure agreements. However, that doesn’t mean there are secret, game-changing events waiting to be revealed.
“Ripple’s partners insist on NDAs to keep their business confidential,” Schwartz said.
Key Points
- Schwartz dismisses claims of a secret $XRP rollout, saying most NDA theories are false.
- Ripple’s central bank ties are real but largely known, not hidden conspiracies waiting to be revealed.
- Earlier claims of 30 central bank engagements reflect discussions and pilots on CBDCs, not confirmed $XRP adoption.
- Schwartz warns investors against relying on conspiracy theories when making $XRP investment decisions.
What About the 30 Central Banks Ripple Is Working With?
Expectedly, Schwartz’s statement stirred unease in the $XRP community. Notably, community figure Mickle referenced earlier statements from Ripple board director James Wallis, who previously said Ripple was engaging with close to 30 central banks.
According to those remarks, Ripple had:
- Five publicly announced partnerships
- Five unannounced collaborations
- Over 20 central banks in active discussions
Mickle questioned how these claims align with Schwartz’s stance that there are no major hidden developments. He asked whether such large-scale engagements should have been public by now.
Schwartz Clarifies: Public Partnerships vs. Speculation
Responding directly, Schwartz clarified that Ripple’s relationships with central banks are not secret conspiracies. Instead, he stressed that the partnerships referenced by Wallis are broadly known or have been disclosed over time.
Meanwhile, he added that the real misconception is assuming central banks will back their currencies with $XRP based on those partnerships.
Overall, Schwartz’s statement draws a clear line between real business deals and speculation, where many $XRP holders tend to focus.
Right, those relationships are public. A conspiracy theory would be something like claiming that many of those central banks are going to back their currencies with $XRP.
— David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) April 23, 2026
Ripple’s CBDC Push Across 30+ Countries
Back in July 2023, James Wallis revealed that Ripple was in discussions with more than 30 countries regarding its central bank digital currency (CBDC) platform.
These efforts span multiple regions, with Ripple confirming partnerships across continents, including its collaboration with Montenegro on CBDC exploration.
At the time, the scale of engagement suggested that over 15% of the world’s countries were at least exploring Ripple’s technology for digital currency infrastructure.
Not Hidden Catalysts for $XRP
Essentially, while Ripple is working globally, central bank deals usually take years due to regulation and testing before anything goes public.
Schwartz’s comments suggest that even though Ripple is actively working with major institutions, the idea of governments suddenly adopting $XRP is unrealistic.
He stressed that those investing time and money based on conspiracy theories about hidden deals are only deceiving themselves.
