The XRP community is currently in a frenzy following a series of candid remarks from Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz. For years, the "$100 XRP" target has been a rallying cry for the "XRP Army," but Schwartz’s recent refusal to validate that specific moonshot has sparked a heated debate between market realists and hopeful dreamers.
The Spark: Why Schwartz is Playing it Safe
The controversy began when a user on X (formerly Twitter) urged Schwartz to tell supporters once and for all that XRP could never reach the $50–$100 range, citing concerns for retail investors' savings.
Schwartz’s response was a masterclass in nuance: “I don’t feel comfortable saying something like that.” While he admitted he doesn’t think such high levels are "likely" in the near term, he refused to rule them out entirely. His reasoning? A humble look back at his own track record of underestimating the very asset he helped build.
The "Schwartz Effect": A History of Being Wrong
To provide context, crypto analyst Bird (@Bird_XRPL) highlighted that Schwartz has a history of being "too cautious."
* The $0.10 Exit: Schwartz famously began selling his own XRP at $0.10, believing a climb to $0.25 was "insane." History proved him wrong as XRP soared past $3.00 in 2018.
* The Bitcoin Lesson: Schwartz recalled a time when Bitcoin hitting $100 seemed like an "impossible dream." Today, with BTC trading around $82,000, that dream looks like a distant memory.
Bird argues that Schwartz’s caution isn't "bearishness"—it’s professional prudence. If the man who co-created the ledger was wrong at $0.10, his skepticism at $100 might be equally misplaced.
The Market Math: "If $100 Was Likely, We’d Be at $10"
Schwartz followed up with a sobering thought experiment for investors. He argued that if rational, big-money investors truly believed there was even a 10% chance of XRP hitting $100 in the next few years, the price wouldn't be sitting below $2.00 today.
> "Those with that belief would quickly buy up most of the XRP... and soon the supply well below $10 would dry up."
>
In Schwartz’s view, the current market price is a "referendum" on collective belief. For XRP to hit triple digits, the market needs a catalyst that isn't currently priced in—such as massive institutional adoption or a total shift in global liquidity flows.
The Silver Lining: Utility Demands Value
Despite the caution, Schwartz reiterated a core principle: XRP cannot remain cheap if it is to succeed. He has long maintained that for the XRP Ledger to handle trillions in global payments, the price must be higher. A higher price means more "liquidity room" to move massive value without moving the market.
Investor Outlook: Accumulation in the Shadows?
While the headlines focus on the $100 debate, on-chain data shows a different story. Since the start of 2026, over 42 new "millionaire" wallets (holding 1M+ XRP) have appeared. Despite a recent price dip to the $1.70–$1.80 range, whales appear to be using the "FUD" to accumulate.
News Type: Market Analysis / Expert Opinion
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#Xrp🔥🔥 #Ripple #CryptoNews $XRP What’s your take? Is David Schwartz being a realist, or is he underestimating XRP for the third time in a row?
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