Ripple CTO David Schwartz has laid to rest long-running speculation surrounding the existence of a “private XRP” operating on undisclosed ledgers. Responding directly to a community question, Schwartz confirmed that no private XRP version exists and that no private ledgers currently use XRP as a fee currency. His statement immediately cleared years of confusion and reinforced the transparency behind XRP’s utility.
A Simple Question Sparks a Clear Response
The speculation began anew when a user on social media asked whether XRP gets burned on private ledgers. The assumption behind the question was logical: if burning does not occur on these private systems, then any deflationary pressure applied to XRP must come only from the public XRP Ledger (XRPL).
Schwartz responded with clarity: “No private ledgers today are using XRP as a fee currency.” He further explained that if any such ledgers were built in the future, the fees would likely go to those ledger operators rather than be burned, as is the case on the public XRPL.
No “Shadow XRP” or Dual Pricing System
Schwartz’s statement hits at the heart of a long-standing narrative that Ripple could be operating behind closed doors with an alternate XRP version. Some community theories suggested that Ripple’s work with CBDCs might involve private XRP networks with different rules, possibly even a different market value or burn rate. Others believed that institutional players might be accessing a “premium” version of XRP outside the public market.
However, Schwartz directly dismissed these ideas, stating that there is no special institutional XRP. There is no separate pricing structure for private systems. He also noted that there is no secondary burn mechanism operating in secret. What exists is a single, unified XRP token, with all transactions, fees, and burns taking place publicly on the main XRP Ledger.
The XRP Token Remains Singular and Transparent
Even if governments or large financial institutions deploy private instances of the XRP Ledger, Schwartz emphasised that XRP itself remains a single, unified token. These private ledgers do not mint or use a different version of XRP. The asset retains the same supply model, public valuation, and burning structure across all use cases.
By issuing this clear statement, Ripple’s CTO has not only ended years of quiet speculation but also reaffirmed the project’s commitment to transparency. Investors and community members can be confident that XRP behaves the same on-chain for everyone, regardless of the platform or user type.
Related article: If XRP Hits $10, Here’s How Much Top 10% Holders Could Earn
Conclusion
David Schwartz’s direct response closes the door on any lingering theories about the existence of a “private XRP.” With no alternate burn system, pricing model, or institutional variant in play, XRP continues to operate as a singular, decentralised, and transparent asset. For those who value clarity and trust in blockchain systems, this confirmation from Ripple’s top technologist offers exactly that.
