Former Ripple CTO Predicts XRP Could Overtake Bitcoin

David Schwartz, the longtime architect of the XRP Ledger and Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer emeritus, stated that XRP could eventually overtake Bitcoin by market capitalization. During an X Spaces discussion, he answered a direct question about a possible “flippening” and affirmed his belief, adding a key condition.

Growth, Not Decline, as the Driver

Schwartz emphasized that the scenario would not result from Bitcoin losing value. Instead, he expects XRP to grow faster than Bitcoin, especially as the overall digital‑asset market expands.

Technical Advantages Cited

The XRP Ledger was designed for higher transaction speed and scalability compared to Bitcoin’s base layer. Schwartz argues these features could attract users and capital seeking more than simple store‑of‑value functionality.

Historical Context

In late 2017 and early 2018, XRP briefly became the second‑largest cryptocurrency by market cap, surpassing Ethereum and narrowing the gap to Bitcoin during that bull run.

Current Market Gap

As of September 10, 2026, Bitcoin traded around $77,165 with a market cap of roughly $1.54 trillion, while XRP traded near $1.35 with a market cap of about $85 billion, making Bitcoin about 18 times larger. Matching Bitcoin’s valuation would require XRP to trade near $24.50, assuming Bitcoin’s market cap remains steady.

Community Reaction

Schwartz’s comments have energized parts of the XRP community, though he presented the possibility as conditional rather than imminent.