Ripple has demonstrated its stance on the decentralization of the XRP Ledger, stating that the network operates independently of company control.
Confirmation of Decentralization
Ripple's CTO David Schwartz confirmed in an interview that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a fully decentralized network. According to Schwartz, the company does not have 'secret access' to the network. 'We are a significant contributor to the ecosystem. It is certainly very important to us. But we have no interest or desire to control or manage the network,' he stated.
Structure of XRP Ledger Validators
Critics have pointed to the relatively low number of validators on the XRPL—187, much fewer than Bitcoin’s roughly 23,000 nodes. However, Schwartz emphasized that the number alone is not the key metric; the distribution among independent operators matters most. According to him, Ripple operates only one of 35 validators—less than 1% of the total network. All major protocol changes require 80% agreement from network participants.
Denial of Market Manipulation
Some critics allege Ripple influences the market by periodically selling XRP tokens—it currently controls about 38 billion XRP. However, Schwartz denies any manipulation, stating that sales from escrow affect liquidity but do not impact blockchain operations. Ripple’s decentralized governance model, with less than 1% control over validators and strict consensus rules, ensures no single entity, including Ripple, can unilaterally control or manipulate the XRP Ledger network.
Ripple's declaration of the XRP Ledger's decentralization emphasizes the network's independence and resilience against control by individuals or companies. This could enhance user and participant trust in the system.
